But then it hit me. Three separate times I was blinking back tears – once as we walked into the school, then when I saw my son walk into the classroom without a glance back at me, and finally as my husband and I walked out of the school, leaving our big boy behind. I gave in that last time, letting the tears cross the rim of my eyes. My husband hugged me and said to let it out, but that was all I could give. It is, after all, a good thing. My son is ready, and we, as his parents, are to credit for that.

My husband didn’t go to Kindergarten. His mother says she preferred to keep him and his brother at home. I did go. Back then, Kindergarten wasn’t mandated, as it is now in my state. I think I would have sent my son anyway, not just for the free childcare public school offers, but because Kindergarten would feed his insatiable hunger for learning far better than I could. I simply don’t have the knowledge or patience for structured teaching.

I’m sure when I was a kid, Kindergarten was little more than a daycare. I’m told kids in Kindergarten these days are learning what those my age learned in first grade. Still, I’m not sure how one measures a good Kindergarten (other than teacher-student ratios). I sought answers on Scholastic and learned that there are certain basic agreements among educators as to what makes a good program. Here are those agreements:

• Expand your child’s ability to learn about (and from) the world, to organize information, and to solve problems. This increases his feelings of self-worth and confidence, his ability to work with others, and his interest in challenging tasks.
• Provide a combination of formal (teacher-initiated) and informal (child-initiated) activities. Investigations and projects allow your child to work both on her own and in small groups.
• Keep large group activities that require sitting and listening to a minimum. Instead, most activities feature play-based, hands-on learning in small groups. As the year progresses, large group activities become a bit longer in preparation for 1st grade.
• Foster a love of books, reading, and writing. There are books, words, and kids’ own writing all over the classroom.

But I wanted to hear from the biggest critic of all, my son. When we picked him up after his first day of school, he said, “Kindergarten is awesome.” And that just rocks.

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

What an Ideal Kindergarten Should Look Like

Ready for the First Day of Kindergarten

When we checked the posted list of teacher assignments last week, I’m not sure what I was looking for. Perhaps I hoped to recognize some of the other students in my son’s class. I didn’t. I didn’t even recognize my son’s teacher’s name. Hers was a grown up name, not really a word but more of a sound a cat might make while bathing herself. I pictured her old, like me, with baggy chinos and frown wrinkles. It’s not that a schoolmarm can’t make good a Kindergarten teacher. But I hoped that Truman would have one of those dewey, youthful teachers with a sing-song voice and blue birds floating behind her. It would surely mean he would have a pleasant Kindergarten experience, because mine was far from ideal.

Kindergarten is designed to be a “smooth, sunny introduction to real school for your child,” according to Scholastic. It gives kids an environment to learn social skills, process emotions, and understand how to problem-solve so they have a strong foundation for all their future learning. A child’s experience with Kindergarten – for the good or bad – could ultimately impact his feelings toward school for years to come.

Mrs. Springfield was my Kindergarten teacher. She was large and unaffectionate. Those who acted up were sent into the private bathroom attached to the room. They sat there, often in the dark, until she was ready to deal with them. When she did, those of us on the outside listened with fear as she roared and screamed and smacked things. I never saw the inside of that bathroom – if I did, I do not recall. It would have been a most frightening memory for a 5-year-old, and could likely explain my overwhelming fear of enclosed spaces.

Naturally, I hoped Truman’s Kindergarten experience would be better than mine. But how could I guarantee that it would be? Scholastic suggests giving both the program and the teacher some time to get the year going. “Many programs start slowly, taking time to help children separate from their families and feel confident in school before adding learning demands,” says Scholastic. If after the first few weeks your feelings about the teacher haven’t changed, Scholastic says it’s time to talk to the principal. Perhaps another teacher or even another school is the answer.

I knew I shouldn’t base my opinion of Truman’s teacher simply on her name, so I eagerly awaited Kindergarten orientation. We piled into the cafeteria late last week to hear the principals explain the carpool procedure and other items of interest for newbie parents like us. Then one-by-one, the principal called out the name of each Kindergarten teacher, and the students assigned to him or her quietly shuffled out of the room. The last teacher called was ours, and the woman with the schoolmarm name appeared at the front of the room. She was angelic, so much so my son whispered to me, “Where is she? Where is my teacher?” I’ll call her Ms. Adorable, because she was. Yet she had just enough youthful innocence that we mothers could rest assured our husbands would not want to run off with her. When she spoke to my son, he blushed. Honestly, he blushed. I suspect Ms. Adorable will be the subject of his dreams for many years to come.

That evening I asked Truman what he thought of Ms. Adorable. He said, “I thought she was going to be wearing a black shirt with glasses, but she wasn’t. She was wearing a purple shirt and no glasses. I like that.”

As my son nestled into my arms, I said, “Me too.”

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

The Importance of a Good K Experience

WAIT! Hold your horses. I am pretty sure children are gonna love these books I’m giving away, and maybe get them to read more this summer! My personal favorite in the lot – The Encyclopedia of Immaturity. It kept me laughing and wishing I had an excuse to be a child again.

The contest is easy:

• Just browse the selection of books on the next page, and let me know the two (2) choices of books you want to receive. There is only only 1 copy of each book, so first come first served.
• This time, one entry per person only.
• It’s open to residents of the 48 contingent US states only.
• Contest ends 12:00 midnight EST on June 27, 2008 (Sunday). Nine winners will be randomly chosen and announced via blog and email the week after.
• If the winner does not reply within 3 days, he/she forfeits her winnings and an alternate winner will be chosen.

The Scholastic books treasure trove include:

Health-Related Books and Activities:

The World of Germs from The Magic School Bus Series science kits from Young Scientists Club. This kit allows young scientists to grow bacteria and fungi, test antibiotics and cultivate bacteria. (Age 5+)

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon–What if a dinosaur catches the flu? Does he whimper and whine between each “At-choo”? Does he drop dirty tissues all over the floor? Does he fling his medicine out of the door? Just like kids, little dinosaurs hate being sick. And going to the doctor can be pretty scary. How DO dinosaurs get well soon? They drink lots of juice, and they get lots of rest; they’re good at the doctor’s, ’cause doctors know best. As in their previous book, Yolen and Teague capture children’s fears about being sick and put them to rest with playful read-aloud verse and wonderfully amusing pictures. (Age 2+)

The Magic School: Inside the Human Body–When the Magic School Bus is swallowed by a bewildered Arnold, Ms. Frizzle takes the class on a tour of his stomach, intestines, and bloodstream. (Age 4-8)

For Older Kids:

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity–The seed for this project was planted way back in 1977. That’s when we published Juggling for the Complete Klutz®, our first effort to teach a skill essential to something we thought was a very important part of living right — never growing up. We never did. And now we’ve written the ultimate how-not-to guide.

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity contains more than 300 entries: How to Skip a Stone, How to Do a Wheelie, How to Hang a Spoon from Your Nose, How to Really Annoy Your Older Sibling… all painstakingly explicated and illuminated with full-color photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and the occasional footnote. Written by the editors of Klutz. (Age 8+)

The Adventures of Captain Underpants–He used to be Principal Krupp, but now he’s the crime-fighting, wedgie-dodging Captain Underpants, the only superhero wacky enough to tackle the evil Dr. Diaper. (Age 7-10)

Paint the Wind–Maya is a captive. In Grandmother’s house in California, every word and action is strictly monitored, and even Maya’s memories of her mother have been erased — except within the imaginary world she has created. A world away, in the rugged Wyoming wilderness, a tobiano Paint horse called Artemisia runs free, belonging only to the stars. She embodies the spirit of the wild — and she holds the key to Maya’s memories. How Maya’s and Artemisia’s lives intertwine, like a braided rein, is at the heart of this richly drawn adventure about captivity and freedom, about holding on and letting go. (Age 7-10)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret–ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. (Age 9-12)

 For a Green and Healthy Planet:

The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming–Irreverent and entertaining, DOWN TO EARTH is filled with fact about global warming and its disastrous consequences, loads of photos and illustrations, as well as suggestions for how kids can help combat global warming in their homes, schools, and communities. Engagingly designed, DOWN TO EARTH will educate and empower, leaving readers with the knowledge they need to understand this problem and a sense of hope to inspire them into action. (Age 9-12)

You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference–This book is a call to action for children everywhere. The effects of pollution, global warming, and the destruction of our planet have never been so visible or measurable. The book introduces and explains massive global problems that need to be addressed now. It’s packed full of 50 useful things kids can do to make their homes, schools, adn neighborhoods more environmentally friendly. (Age 9-12)

image: sxc

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: Scholastic books for children

And now we have winners of the Scholastic books give-aways. By random drawing, the three winners are –

Congratulations! I will be sending email instructions for claiming your prize. And as the rules say – you’ll have 3 days to claim it, otherwise your winnings are forfeited and I choose another winner.

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: Scholastic Books winners

Now, introducing Little Scholastic, a developmental publishing program of interactive books created exclusively to give babies and toddlers a head start in learning. Every book features: * Interactive components * High color contrast * Rhyming, repetitive, or predictable text * Familiar subjects and surroundings * Simple concepts * Distinct leveling between the ages of 0-3 years:

· The Tiny Tadpole–Discover nature through this rhyming story with realistic surfaces to touch! Gorgeous textured art and informative labels help explain the life cycle of a frog. Surprise pullout at the end!

· Numbers– Bold and bright, this tactile board book features numbers to count and touch. Review basic numbers with this appealing, hands-on format!

· Baby Days: A Collection of Board Books–From BABY FACE COUNTING to BABY FACE FEELINGS, there’s a book for every occasion. This set includes a mirror on the inside cover for kids to check out their own faces, too!

I’m giving away these 3 books! Here’s how to join:

• In the comments, share share your child’s favorite baby books.
• Additional entry will be given to those who link this contest post on their site! You need to include your post URL.
• Eligibility – one entry per person per email daily (so you get more entries if you come back tomorrow, but I need different books each time).
• It’s open to residents of the 48 contiguous US states only. If you have a blog, do post your URL as well, as I love to visit my readers’ sites and catch a conversation.

Contest ends 12:00 midnight EST on June 8, 2008 (Sunday). Three winners will be randomly chosen and announced via blog and email the week after. If the winner does not reply within 3 days, he/she forfeits her winnings and an alternate winner will be chosen.

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: Scholastic Books for younger children