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.