Big Changes for Kindermusik

November Song Sweepstakes

Share your child’s favorite Kindermusik song this November for your chance to win a $50 Kindermusik Prize Package!

Tell us your child’s favorite song from their Kindermusik album this November for your chance to win!

To Enter Contest:

Simply fill out the form on our November Song Sweepstakes page.

All entries will be entered into our Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the year to win an iPad.

Good luck to all!

Bring Kindermusik home - or take it out to eat...

Indeed, you can now take Kindermusik with you everywhere and anywhere! You can listen to the music streamed from your Smartphone or tablet device directly to your ears and delight! And, because our@Home learning platform is Web-based and NOT an app, you can access our music from any phone, including iPhones, iPods, Droids, iPads, Kindles, and any device that allows for Internet browsing!

Mobile @Home Platform

Each month, parents enrolled in our new Kindermusik curricula will receive a NEW streaming music album with 15 to 20 songs. Also, each month, you will receive a new eBook story to share with your child along with a fun assortment of multimedia activities for kids and families, videos and video field trips, crafts, recipes, and more!

Tablet @Home Platform

We encourage parents to use these educational activities to extend the magic and learning of your Kindermusik classroom into the home. As educators, we also respect the need to limit children’s screen time and have chosen digital because it is easily accessible and delivered via sustainable means, but have designed the learning activities with your child’s best interests in mind. The purpose of these activities is to provide suggestions for parent/child fun that can be done with the prompt of a screen and taken offline. See below for our extended notes on screen time.

When used together, the Kindermusik class and @Home experience is a fun, active, and engaging multi-sensory workout for your young learner. The best part is that month after month, you’ll receive brand-new content and a new Kindermusik album and you will always have access to the prior months activities, eBooks, and music as long as you are enrolled!

Remember, there are certain things mobile devices cannot do. They do not download. To actually download the music, story or download activities, you will need to download the files from yourmy.kindermusik.com login on your computer.

To get access to this amazing digital platform, reach out to your local Kindermusik educator!

____________________________________________________________________

Our family has rules about screen time. How can we use these materials?

Kindermusik International knows and respects that each family gets to decide what’s best for them when it comes to this issue. In creating this digital resource, Kindermusik has read about and researched this topic thoroughly. We have aligned our stance with that of the highly respected NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning, recognizing that children can benefit from a responsible and age-appropriate use of technology in combination with hands-on experiences and in partnership with an actively involved caregiver. We are proud to bring these high-quality materials to your family which truly embody the very best of both worlds- a responsible introduction to technology and sustainability AND lots of hands-on, movement-rich, in-your-lap, down-on-the-floor learning.

These educational activities for kids are designed for you and your child to use cooperatively, engaging with one another as you read, watch, discuss, and discover. Most of the videos are less than 2 minutes in length. The book can be used as an e-book or can be printed from the Download Center and enjoyed traditionally. Activities can be printed from the Download Center and enjoyed over and over again. Parents can read, watch, and learn about the latest research in early childhood education and their child’s development. They are truly a rich and exciting tool that’s now available to you anytime and anywhere!

Knoebels Picnic

Knoebels Grove Amusement Park

Wednesday, May 15

Pavilion K (for Kindermusik)

9:30 am Miss Ann will be ready and waiting at the Pavilion

10 am Brunch &
10:40 Door Prizes

10:45 am head over to the handstamp stand

11am Handstamp and ride from 11-1:30 $7.50

Families please bring a covered dish and your own drinks 

Miss Ann will bring plasticware, plates and napkins for the whole crew.

Let's hope Mother Nature is kind to us. I know that many of you use precious personal days from work for this.

Shake fast, fast, fast, and slow

Will Ferrell Ribbon Dancing in Old School

Shake fast, shake fast, shake fast, and slow, and slow, and STOP!

Our little ones are instinctively interested in fast and slow (especially fast!) In activities like Lento y Rapido we capitalize on that and provide a multisensory medium for children to completely understand the concept of fast and slow. 

It is all about engagement. First, the child hears fast and slow in the music; then the child moves his/her body around the room fast and slow; he/she sees others moving fast and slow and moves with them; additionally, the child commands the scarf or ribbon rings that move fast and slow. That's how we create happy kids who have a stake in their own learning and play.

Howard Gardner has put forth the Multiple Intelligence Theory as a way to frame the multifaceted concept that is intelligence.  Gardner's theory has sparked some debate. The way I see it, for our purposes, the scientific legitimacy of measuring intelligence through this multisensory approach is not applicable to us.  We come to Kindermusik to grow a child's potential; not measure it scientifically. In my nearly 20 years as an educator, I know this, by and large children enjoy being steeped in all aspects of an activity.  Appealing to multiple senses tends to increase the level of enjoyment and engagement for most children.

Bring a Friend to Kindermusik Week

Whoopee - bring a friend to Kindermusik week has been extended.  Due to the weather cancellations last week you are welcome to bring your friends this week, as well.  Simply get in touch with Ann to let her know what day and time you will be bringing your pals.  The host child and the guest child will each receive the gift pictured above - Whoopee...cushion!

Wednesday Time Change

Due to an unexpected change in my college teaching schedule, it is necessary to adjust the time of our Wednesday morning (1-3 yr old) class. Your input on this decision is very important to me. Please take just a minute (seriously, I don't think this will take more than a single minute) to click the link below and answer 2 questions to help me decide. The change will go into effect the week of January 13.

Schedule Change Survey

Kindermusik for the holidays

Black Friday Door Buster

win a kindermusik play date

When you leave your name and comment about Kindermusik below this blogpost  AND share this post on your facebook page.  

You will be automatically entered into a drawing for a kindermusik play date for 10 children. 

The play date winner will be randomly selected Friday November 30 at 8pm and will be announced on www.facebook.com/kindermusikwithannczeponis

Thanksgiving Schedule

Kindermusik Closed Monday & Tuesday

Kindermusik will be closed on Monday due to the impending storm.

Bring a Friend Week

Invite a little friend and grown-up to join Kindermusik with you the week of Oct 22-26. 

*Be sure to reserve your friends' space with Miss Ann*

Your child and his/her friend
will receive a SPECIAL GIFT after class.

Countdown to Kindermusik Opening

COUNTDOWN WEBSITEIt 

It is not too late to enroll.  Use our handy online registration and enjoy our flexible scheduling and payment options.

Are You Ready?

The Studio opens October 1st. We will open with a sha-bang - a new studio and a BOOK FAIR!

Opening Day is now OCTOBER 1

This is an exciting time as we move into our new studio.  We had hoped to move through August and be well settled after the Labor Day weekend.  However, knowing that there is always a snafu I gave myself some wiggle room with our Sept 17 start date.  Apparently Miss Ann has a big wiggle - and will be needing more wiggle room.

Despite the best efforts of all parties involved (library, kindermusik, etc) We were only able to gain access to our new space as of last Friday.  It is not possible to have the space ready for you and your little ones by next Monday (9/17).  In order to have the Studio up to the standards that we have all become accustomed we will delay the opening of the  Kindermusik term.  Kindermusik Classes will begin October 1.  You will still get all the classes you paid for.  The revised schedule has been updated to the right.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kindermusik for Early Childhood Classrooms

You may have noticed that in the scrolling calendar to the right there are classes listed "OLOL PreK" and "OLOL Kdg"  These refer to the classes that are taught at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School.  I am beyond impressed that Lourdes is committed to providing Kindermusik instruction to PreK - 2 classes each week.  The Kindergarten will receive Kindermusik instruction 1 class per week and standard music instruction (taught by the phenomenal Bonnie Klinger) once a week.  

I invite you to spend a minute clicking through the presentation below to fully understand how important these opportunities are for early childhood classrooms.

Kindermusik in the Early Childhood Classroom on Prezi

Easy, Convenient and NEW!!!!!!

Did you hear that the Kindermusik Studio is relocating?  We will be in the same building as the Mt Carmel Library  It's not very far from where we are - see for yourself

We have our own entrance to the left of the main doors of the library.  There are still steps, but fewer of them.   

 

I've been thinking a lot about how I can make Kindermusik easier and more convenient for you and I've come up with a few things and kept some of those that we have been doing:

• Continuous session 32 weeks no re-enrollment rig-a-ma-roll  
• Enroll at any time during the session
• No-hassle unenrollment - just let me know in writing before the first of the month.
• Family friendly payment plans (monthly payments $33; 3 payments $99; 2 payments $148.50; pay in full, $275 BIG SAVINGS; Automatic payments available)
• 15% Sibling Savings
• ONLINE ENROLLMENT (click here)
• Kindermusik Blog with all the latest updates, calendar, developmental news, special offers, studio policies
• Flexible attendance - come to the classes that suit your schedule
• More Bang for Your Buck - you pay for one class each week, but are encouraged to come as many times each week as you'd like

CLASS SCHEDULE ---- CLICK HERE TO ENROLL NOW

*there are a few changes

1-3 YR OLDS

MONDAY 4:30

TUESDAY 9:30

WEDNESDAY 10:30

THURSDAY 6:00

THURSDAY 5:00 (pending based on interest)

3-5 YR OLDS

MONDAY 5:30

THURSDAY 9:30

5-7 YR OLDS

MONDAY 6:30

Back to School To-Do List - Meet the Teacher Night

Did you know that before I gained fame and fortune as a Kindermusik teacher I was a 6th grade teacher?  I spent quite a few Meet the Teacher Nights on the other side of that big desk. Now I have 4 of my own children in school (grades 8, 6, 4 and 1) So I know a little something about both perspectives here. This is what I know; parents want their child to start off on the best footing and so does his or her teacher.

The intention of Meet the Teacher Night is to be the first contact that establishes a partnership between home, school and classroom.  It is the dial tone of the school year - an open line of communication.  Meet the Teacher Nights vary by name, and exact setup, but typically, there is a school-wide meeting where the principal welcomes you to the new school year and sets the tone for the school-wide initiatives and culture. Then parents break-out to student classrooms where teachers get specific about classroom expectations, policies and procedures, style of instruction and supply lists. This is when parents inevitably create their first impression about 'how this school year is going to go.' On paper it is the most fantastic premise, but it does not always work so seamlessly.

In a case like mine, there is the predicament of having to be in four classrooms at the same time. There is a possibility that you may not be able to send a parent representative to Meet the Teacher Night at all and there is a possibility that you may leave without the information that is most important to you.

There are some things you can do to get the most out of your Meet the Teacher Night and set your child up for quite possibly the best school year ever.  I put it together in this little presentation below.  Enjoy...

View it larger on Prezi

Back to School To-Do List - Sleep!

It never fails, July 4th comes and my efforts turn to squeezing every last bit of fun from summer, while still trying to balance the enthusiasm that comes with preparing for the start of a new school year and Kindermusik semester. 


My next few blog posts will provide insights for parents that will allow children the best opportunity to transition to the school year or Kindermusik semester. Stores have begun to set up aisles and aisles of back to school shopping, so I'll let Madison Avenue take care of that arena; my Back to School To-Do List has nothing to do with shopping...


Start your day when you will start your day..
Proper sleep will set your child off on the right foot.  Dr. Lawrence J. Epstein of Harvard, Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine tells us that sleep deprivation is closely connected to mood, anxiety, depression, memory loss and judgement and cognition. The Mayo Clinic reports a link to weight gain, as well.  

If your child is excited to be returning to school, the excitement may carry him or her, but it is likely the other shoe will drop at some point and this information will be important.  On the other hand, if your child is meeting the idea of returning (or going for the first time) to school with trepidation this is BIG stuff.

You read it right --- 11ish hours!

Dr. Kevin Smith, a sleep specialist with Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, warns parents not to wait until the night before school starts to adjust their child's bedtime. "The longer the child has to do this, the easier it is. I recommend starting a couple weeks before school.."

Here are some tips to begin the adjustment:

• Start now!
• Move dinner time to the time it will be during school.
• Begin by adjusting the wake up time, then adjust the times in small increments - 15 minutes earlier to bed and wake 15 minutes earlier.
• Reducing your child's exposure to light. Dr. Smith says, "Light affects our body and our sleep-wake cycles. Exposure to light late in the evening can delay our body's ability to fall asleep." Smith urges parents to have their kids come inside earlier and decrease their exposure to bright lights and light from the screens of electronics such as television, cell phone or computer 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.  

I'd love to stand on my soapbox and tell you my children do not have TVs in their rooms and that everyone reads themselves to bed every night, but that would be a BIG, FAT LIE.  Falling asleep sans TV takes a great deal of effort on behalf of parents and kids.  But I'm committed to giving it a try - How about you?  

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Turning off the screens gives us a great opportunity to read together. My girls share a room so it's three birds with one stone here.  Their ages are 11, 9, & 6.  Our nightly read aloud is going to be Frindle by Andrew Clements. 

Winning by Gary Brackett

My son is 13 and can read us all under the table - it's his favorite pastime. Bip, Larry and I will begin reading Gary Brackett's Winning: From Walk-On to Captain in Football and Life together.

It's your turn to chime in.  What will you read to your kiddos to skip the TV before bed? List the Book Title and the age of your child in a comment below.

Everyone who responds will be entered into a drawing to win $25 worth of free book picks at the next Scholastic Book Fair Oct 1-12. Winner will be drawn Sept 3.