Sweet Summertime!

So, here we are again…summer!  How does it come so quickly every year?  I know by the time I blink my eyes it will be gone again.  Like many of you, I have been putting in place insurances so my children do not lose what they have learned over the past school year. I am having my children work on skills that need reinforcement and enriching the areas where they excel.

TJ has been struggling for a while with comprehension although his teachers have said this was not an issue.  My theory was confirmed during ERB testing this year.  He will begin next week working with a reading specialist from Little Scholars to remedy this problem.  It is always amazing to me what one hour of undivided adult attention can do for a child’s academic performance. 

WJ is a speed demon!  He just flies through a book (I think he reads about every 5th word).  Lucky for me I know some of the best educators and educational enrichment programs in Richmond.   Wade is going to be participating in the Little Scholars Boys Only summer reading group in August to work on fluency.  He thrives in a small group where he has peer role models and instruction can be tailored to him.

AP is going to be starting her last year of preschool in the fall.  She has already begun working with one of Little Scholars’ best teachers on number sense and pencil grip once a week.  AP loves school though and she is doing LOTS of Little Scholars preschool summer enrichment programs.  She will get to be one of the many children who are alumni of our cornerstone program, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. 

It is not too late to get the ball rolling with your gang either. Little Scholars individualized approach to educating children will help you map out a plan that is specific to your child. To hear more about what we can do for you, call 804-241-6006, email me at sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com, or visit us at www.littlescholarsllc.com.

Five Strategies To Inspire A Weary Reader

How could this happen to me?  The other day driving to a soccer practice my oldest son tells me he does not like to read.  Are you kidding me?  Who is this child?  Did I pick up the wrong child at school?  Clearly something has happened and I do NOT like where this is heading.  Fortunately, later that night I did catch him reading.  It was a Spanish-English dictionary he had won at school that day.  I know… a dictionary!!! BUT, he was reading and really fascinated by it. 

Here are FIVE strategies to inspire your child to read and create a love of learning:

1. Is your child a sports freak like my boys?  Are dinosaurs running wild in his imagination?  Does she love wizards and fairies?  Find out what interests your child has and watch them get hooked on reading!  Read the stats on baseball cards, find your child’s favorite comic…reading comes in all shapes and sizes and doesn’t have to be a book.  It can be a newspaper, cereal box, a postcard from grandma, or a magazine.  Studies consistently tell us the more a child reads the better he will become at reading.
2. Geronimo Stilton, Ricky Ricotta, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, Magic Tree House…children love book series.  They tend to latch onto the characters or an author.  Encourage your child to pick a series where he can fluently read 90% of the words and understand 75% of the material.  If the book is too difficult, try it as a read aloud to your child. 
3. Children are creatures of habit.  Pull out the picture books from their younger years and listen to them read .  These books are wonderful way to boost their fluency, comprehension skills and confidence. 
4. Grab a non-fiction book for your child at the library! Boys especially love non-fiction literature because it provides a direct links to their interests.  Non-fiction books provide solid support for struggling readers, such as bold headings, pictures with text, summaries, and illustrations.  
5. Be a good reading role model! Surround yourself with reading material, discuss what you are reading, take a trip to the library or book store. Read for pleasure and discuss the importance of reading to your child. 

HAPPY READING!!!

March Madness

It is my favorite time of year!  Okay, I know I sound like Jay Bilas, but March is my favorite month.  AP is turning four, Wade is turning seven and I am turning….well, that is not important.  I get excited about the potential for a snap of warm weather on any given day.  I also like the hustle and bustle of Spring.  Soccer, baseball, ballet, soccer, soccer, baseball, in that order every week until the end of May.  Many of our schools start their spring enrichment programs this month.  Kindergarten registration is coming soon!  Summer planning is in full swing!  My favorite part is getting the opportunity to spend a small fortune to register my children for summer programs and camps.

I have to admit, I USED to be one of those moms who had my kids summer camps planned the first week in February.  I waited and waited for the mailman to deliver the summer camp catalogs.   I circled and highlighted in a different color per child the program that I thought they were interested in.  I honestly think I can say we have been to every summer camp in Richmond for children under the age of eight.  Who knew a child’s interest could change from animals to soccer in two weeks?  Every year we have our favorites…this year will be no different.  However, this year I am letting the kids pick their camps mostly.  Here are the rules:

1.  It has to be in Richmond.

2.  You get to pick three camps.

3.  You must have a good reason for choosing the camp.  A good reason would be “I want to learn how to draw cartoon characters” or “I want to learn how to kick the soccer ball with more force.”  A not so good reason is “all my friends are going.”  

The boys have been reading and circle much like I have done in the past.  Tough choices!  I can’t wait to see what they choose this summer!

If you or your children are looking for summer programs with an educational flair, visit www.littlescholarsllc.com for a full list of our summer offerings. 

We will also be at Peak Experiences for the Richmond Family Summer Camp Expo on March 27^th!  Hope to see you there!

49% of children from middle class families in Virginia do NOT know their alphabet!!!

WOW!  Really?  I am completely appalled at this statistic.  Parents are not the only ones to blame.  Yes, parents NEED to read to their children every night, talk to them,  explain how things in their environment work and make sure their children attend high quality preschools.  But, parents can’t do this alone.

Didn’t Hillary Clinton say “it takes a village to raise a child?”  Well, I think it is time for the states to become more involved in Early Childhood Education.   This needs to be a priority for our state and local governments.  Why is it we try to fix education from the top down and not from the bottom up?  Quality early childhood programs have time and time again proved to improve the quality of life for millions of children, reduce crime, make the workforce of the future more productive, and strengthen the overall economy.  Not to mention early childhood education is much more economical than building prisons, rehabilitating drug abusers, and supporting a welfare system.  Based on the research compiled by Robert Lynch, he discovered long term findings of children who participated in quality early childhood programs:

• Higher levels of verbal, mathematical, and intellectual achievement

• Greater success in school, including less grade retention and higher graduation rates

• Higher employment and earnings

• Better health outcomes

• Less welfare dependency

• Lower rates of crime

• Greater government revenues and lower government expenditures

Given the consistent results of why a quality early childhood experience is necessary, I urge you to make sure this is a priority for your family by supporting schools that provide exceptional programs and support initiatives to increase funding for early childhood education.

It’s time to hit the ground running!

I am sure some of you are taking the first few days of 2011 literally running!  I wish I could say I was in that group.  I really loved running, but I have come to the conclusion unless I am on the soccer field running for the goal or being chased by a large bear I am not going to run anymore.  I will stick to spin class, the elliptical or stair climber.

I am going to hit the ground running this year with my children’s education though.  I got a head start on my daughter over the holidays by working on some skills she was severely lacking.  I am too embarrassed to list all the things we had to address over the holidays.  I am pleased to say that she started back to preschool on Tuesday on a new foot. WHEW!

January is always the month when parents start to make the realization that their child may not be quite up to speed at school.  This is when they begin to question what should they do to address the situation.  Should you let a few more weeks go by and see what happens?  Should you enroll them in an after school program to help?  Should you vow to spend more time working with them each night?  Should you get them a private tutor?

If you are questioning if your child needs a tutor, here are some questions to ask:

1.       Are your child’s grades beginning to slowly drop?

2.       Is your child showing frustration in a particular subject(s)?

3.       Has your child developed low self-esteem and/or thinks negatively of him or herself in regards to their school performance?

4.       Does your child have anxiety towards school?

5.       Does the teacher send notes home asking you to assist the child with his or her homework?

6.       Has the teacher, school or doctor recommended your child have the assistance of a tutor?

7.       Is your child an advanced learner, a gifted student or needs enrichment beyond what the school can provide?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be a good idea to start looking into a private tutor who can support you and your child.

A tutor can give your child the individual attention that he or she needs, they may readily identify what problem areas your child may have more quickly than a teacher–who has to assist 25-30 students each day, some children tend to take instruction easier from someone they do not have emotional ties with and tutors have the education and experience to help a child with their academic work.   We also know how well children respond to one hour of an adults undivided attention too!

Maybe I will see you on my run!

A Little Scholars Christmas Wish List 2010

(To the tune of Here Comes Santa Claus)

Here comes the Christmas list!

Here comes the Christmas list!

Little Scholars’ favorite toys!

Legos, Bristle Blocks and all the Tangrams,

For building girls and boys!

Bananagrams are spelling, Potato Heads singing,

All is merry and bright.

Hang your HexBugs and line your Inchimals,

‘Cause Santa Claus is coming in sight!

Here comes the Christmas list!

Here comes the Christmas list!

Little Scholars’ favorite toys!

We’ve got a game that is filled with family fun

Double Shutter’s bringing lots of joy!

Hear those Dice jingle jangle,

Oh, what a beautiful sight.

Jump in bed, cover up your head,

And read a good book tonight!

See our 2009 Twas the Night Before Christmas Little Scholars’ Wish List for more gift ideas!

Read like a Scholar!

Can you believe it is already that time of year?  I am not talking about the holidays, but Parent Teacher Conferences! I will be going to my boys’ conferences on Thursday.  I am anxious just writing about it.  Like many of you, I have concerns about my sons’ progress.

Time and time again though, I hear more parents express deep concern about their child’s progress in reading.  Reading is the one skill that a student must be proficient in to be successful in all other subjects.  “Reading” not only means a child’s fluency, but their comprehension of the text too.

Research shows that children learn about reading before they enter school. In fact, they learn in the best manner through observation. Young children, for example, see people around them reading newspapers, books, maps, and signs.*

Parents of preschoolers can foster reading at home by:

1. Talking with your preschoolers about signs in their environment.
2. Showing your children you enjoy reading themselves.
3. Reading to your child and pointing to the words as you read. This helps children begin to notice words and that words have meaning. They also gain an awareness of the conventions of reading, such as left to right progression, and from the top of the page to the bottom, and that sentences are made up of words.

Current research in reading reveals three important considerations for parents:  Children who read, and read widely, become better readers, reading and writing are complementary skills, and parents are important to children both as role models and as supporters of their efforts.*

Parents of school aged children can develop reading skills by:

1. Being a good role model by allowing your child to watch you read.
2. Reading ALOUD often to your child even if they are in 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th grade.
3. Providing a variety of reading materials such as books, magazines, and poetry in a vast array of topics.
4. Encouraging activities that require reading such as reading a recipe, making and following a grocery list, or researching their favorite sports team.
5. Establishing a consistent reading time.  My family’s reading time is before bedtime.
6. Writing notes to your children…stick it in their lunch box, post it on the fridge and encourage written responses.
7. Having your child read to their younger brother or sister.  This helps with fluency, expression, and comprehension.

*Excerpted from: Swanson, B. B. (2001). How Can I Improve My Child’s Reading? Parent Brochure. ACCESS ERIC.

To see what reading programs Little Scholars offers, check out our enrichment programs list.  We have not extended our services to Middle Schoolers as well!

Middle Scholars

I have to be honest…Middle School was a struggle for me not only the academics, but the social aspect of middle school. Robious Middle School was a big school with LOTS of new kids and I was not the most popular anymore. Ugh! The thought of having to go through this stage three more times with my own children is scary!

Middle School students can be known as being an intimidating group of children to work with. Well, I have decided to take this challenge on, but not single-handedly, but with a great team of educators!

Middle Scholars is our new division exclusively for middle school students. We will offer the same personalized and rich approach to education, which is important for students of this age. Our goal for each student is for them to possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills that will promote student success across all subject areas. Building confidence and independence as a learner will provide your child with a positive academic career. We provide Educational Development Sessions as well as enrichment programs for middle schoolers coming soon to your home, your child’s school, or our learning academy.

Read more about Middle Scholars and the enrichment programs offered

Back to School!

It really is my favorite time of the year!  I love all the shiny new school supplies and the overall excitement that is amidst us!  There is only one little thing that keeps me in check and that is the exhaustion level of my children.

I am sure you can picture this…your sweet little child hops in the car (or off the bus) and the moment you pull away (or he leaves his bus spot), they change into this child you are pretty sure does not belong to you.  Nothing is right, there is nothing that could possible soothe him and he is STARVING!!! What happened to him at school?  Well, that sweet little child held all of his emotions in check all day at school and now you get to be victim to all of them…yes, all of them!  Guess what? Then you get to tell him it is time for homework, a quick snack, off to practice, home, another snack, shower, read and bed…did I get it right?

I had a parent ask me the other day, how do parents get it all done?  Here was my answer to her:  “I can only speak from my experience with three children and what works best for our family. I only let the boys do one sport/afterschool activity (they always choose a sport and it is torture to only choose one!).  I believe the rest of the time is spent on education and free play. I am committed to making sure I am building a strong educational foundation because it is critical when they are young (90% of learning occurs between birth and age six). ”

I think we often lose focus sometimes about what is really important for our children.  It is essential we provide they downtime for free play. It is critical we provide them an environment where they can have success in education as well.

Is my child ready for Kindergarten? How do I know?

I am a public school girl. All of my education was in a public school setting: elementary, junior high, high school, college and graduate school. My husband and I were prepared to go the public school route for our children. At the last minute, we changed our minds and decided to explore what independent schools had to offer our children. Making the decision to go through the “process” was easy. The testing and waiting were not so easy. Although I was very confident in my child’s abilities, I was not sure what he would do when he was in a private room with a lady he did not know at all or in a classroom with a group of children he may or may not know.

As a parent of young children, I know how stressful the process can be for a parent. One of the reasons I developed our Kindergarten Readiness Assessment was to provide parents with a better idea of their child’s skills before going into a testing situation.

What is Little Scholars Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)? KRA is a one on one analysis of a child’s readiness for Kindergarten through results on six subtests including reading readiness, math concepts, language, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social skills. Additionally, a letter and sound identification checklist will be completed. Following the KRA, an in-depth report of the student’s abilities and suggested activities to improve any areas needing assistance.

When is the KRA administered? KRA is administered before the child goes through Kindergarten testing. Typically, we recommend the assessment to be completed in August through November for independent schools and December or January for public schools.

What are the benefits of KRA? The KRA provides the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the student’s abilities and any factors that might interfere with his or her learning. Little Scholars’ assessment has been instrumental in identifying and overcoming problems and accelerating learning for students. With the KRA results, parents have an added tool in determining the most advantageous avenue for their child’s educational future.

Read More About the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment

Download our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

Talking points from our Kindergarten Readiness Workshop

If you would like to learn more about your child’s abilities or Little Scholars’ Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, please contact us at sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com or 804-241-6006.