I love making crafts and think they make lovely presents and gifts… but truth be told, there’s plenty of crafty things to make during the holidays and I usually realize I need to get gifts for the teachers the Wednesday before school is out for the winter break.

Consider this your reminder (and mine) that it’s holiday gifting time and if you’ve got a particularly fabulous teacher you might want to put them on your list this year.

First things first, pass on the knick knacks, 30 kids for just 5 years and you already have the potential for a loooootta “greatest teacher” goods.

Here are some easy gifts teachers will love:

Books Your favorite book or your child’s favorite book for their classroom.  Have your child write a special note inside if they are old enough.

Games for the Classroom Pick up a board game for kids to play when recess is inside.  Find a fun educational game, or go with a classic favorite (try to avoid Monopoly and other games that last 3+ hours).  Puzzles are great for younger kids and preschoolers as well.

Practical Gift Cards Target, Amazon, book stores, teacher supply stores… Even MARTIN’S.

Divide your budget up and split the gift cards for the classroom and for themselves (for example one Barnes & Noble gift card for themselves and one to buy a book for their classroom) packs of multiple gift cards are perfect for this idea.

Fun Gift Cards  Teachers are people too and gift cards are a great one-size-fits-all gift, especially if you haven’t gotten a chance to get to know them well. Gift cards for movie tickets or a dinner out is always a great gift that teachers can enjoy with their family or spouse.

Multi-Family Gift Talk to a few other parents and go in on a massage from Massage Envy for a little R&R.

School Supply Basket Many teachers spend a lot of their own money on additional classroom supplies and by mid-year a lot of their supplies have depleted. Put together a little classroom supply refresher gift basket.

Include:
-Pencils and Pens
-Loose leaf paper
-Tissues (and more tissues)
-Hand sanitizer
-Glue sticks (lots and lots of glue sticks)
-Post-it notes
-Dry erase markers
-Favorite snack (get your kid to do some detective work)

A Handmade Card I don’t have time to be crafty, but that doesn’t mean I can’t put the kids to work. Keep it simple and have your kids make a card with a special note inside.  Sometimes a heart felt note is worth much more than any gift.

Gotta little time?  If you can’t send in a gift without a crafty touch. Check out our Pinterest Board with a lot teacher gift ideas.

Ever Present by JD Hancock is licensed under CreativeCommons license 2.0.  Modified to include type.

By Steve Green, Executive Director
Sylvan Learning of Richmond

It’s that time of the school year again – report card time.  While many students will come home with good grades, others would rather stuff their report cards deep into their backpacks than show them to their parents.  As parents, you want your child to do well in school, so what do you do when your child’s report card doesn’t reflect his or her academic potential?

Children get frustrated and upset when their report cards show they are not reaching their potential. Understanding your child’s personal ability and determining if your expectations are too high will allow both you and your child to set appropriate goals for each class before report cards are distributed again.  It will also help establish an environment in which your child is not apprehensive about sharing his or her report card with you. 

Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, offers the following tips for parents on how to deal with a “poor” report card:

Set expectations. Not every child will earn all A’s, but that doesn’t mean your child should strive for less.  Talk with your child before the school year starts and explain that you won’t be upset if he doesn’t bring home all A’s – but that you will be upset if he doesn’t try his hardest and doesn’t ask for help.

Communicate with your child.  Don’t wait until report cards are issued to talk with your child about school and grades.  Talk with her every night and every week about homework.  Ask how she is doing in school and what subjects she finds challenging.     

Discuss your child’s performance with his teacher and/or guidance counselor.  Your child’s teacher and/or guidance counselor are the best sources for information about your child’s scholastic performance.  Your child’s teacher can recommend ways to help your child or point out difficulties he is having.  His guidance counselor can provide progress reports between reports cards or help set up additional parent-teacher conferences when necessary.    

Set goals for improvement with your child.  If your child is currently a C student — then setting a goal of getting all A’s may not be reasonable.  However, creating an improvement goal for each subject will help her work toward an attainable level for each class. 

Establish a personalized study plan with your child.  Your child should keep a schedule of all classes, assignments and key dates (e.g., project deadlines, big exams, etc).  As part of that schedule, he should include specific time for studying, projects and extracurricular activities.  The more comprehensive the schedule, the more efficient your child will be in completing his homework and the better he’ll do in school. 

Seek outside help.  Some children may need additional attention that can’t be provided in school.  Speak with your child’s teacher about tutoring or supplemental education providers to help your child work towards better grades in school.

Praise your child’s successes.  Praise your child for what she is doing well, whether it’s a specific academic subject or an extracurricular activity.  If your child is not doing well in English, but loves to read the latest Twilight book, show her the connection between the two. 

For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, please visit Sylvan Learning Center online or call 804-782-2377

Steve Green is the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning of Richmond, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels with more than 30 years of experience and nearly 800 centers located throughout North America. Sylvan’s trained and Sylvan-certified instructors provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan also hosts MomMinded.com, a blog offering tips and resources from moms and education experts. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visit www.sylvanlearning.com

Sylvan Learning is a sponsor of Richmondmom
Get 25% off your assessment at Sylvan when you mention Richmondmom.com

By Dr. Elizabeth M. Vantre

You learned through a parent volunteer that not only did your child’s class get a visit from the ice cream truck for good behavior, but your child got the only A+ on the science test.  Why is it then when your child gets off the bus, you excitedly ask, “how was school,” only to receive a simple, “fine”?  You follow with “What did you do today,” only to receive every mom’s favorite response “stuff.”  The eight hours your child has been gone, a time that was likely filled with a plethora of new experiences, is summed up in one lonely syllable.

Try these tools to elicit more than one word responses from your child:

•    Give your children a chance to decompress.  Give them an opportunity to get a snack and run around for a bit before specifically asking them about their day.  Tell them how great it is to see them when they bounce off of the bus and save the questions for later.

•     Ask open-ended questions.  Questions such as “how was school” or “how are you” lend themselves to one word responses.  Try open-ended questions such as “tell me about school today” or “tell me about the playground at recess.”  Refrain from following up with specific questions like “did you like your teacher,” but rather try open ones such as “tell me about your teacher.”  When picking up my 8 year old from his first day at a brand new school recently, his older siblings peppered him with specific questions only to receive one-word general responses.  When I interjected with “tell me about…” my twelve year old groaned, “Mom ALWAYS says that and I never know what to say.”  While true that he may have to think a little more, he always relays more than a single syllabic response.

•    Remain open, approachable and ready to listen.  Kids will tell you the most surprising things during random moments.  I have found that by being available to listen works wonders.  After my 8 year old survived the inquisition from his siblings, it was actually several hours later that he opened up about his day.  I was sitting on my bed reviewing some papers when he crawled up next to me and started to share thoughts about his teacher and new school.  It can be quiet times like this one or in the car when kids are not face-to-face or it could be among the chaos of dinner prep and homework that kids tend to open up.  Make every effort to listen without judging or jumping right in with specific questions, especially if your child is sharing something that is bothering him.  Actively listen and acknowledge their feelings by saying things such as “That must have been a fun gym class or I’m sorry that happened in lunch, that must have been upsetting.”

•    Games are great to get conversation flowing.  Games such as “High/Low” or “Rose & Thorn” prompt kids to relay the best and worst part of their day. Our family goes around the dinner table nightly highlighting the positive (Roses) and negative happenings (Thorns) of our day.  Sometimes Rose & Thorn will apply to more general happenings such as the highs and lows of summer or particular experiences like a birthday or camp.

Refer to Dr. Liz Vantre’s new book, Ready, Set, Parent: Dr. Moms’ Guide to Parenting, for more expert parenting advice

Ready, Set, Parent is available locally at Hip to Be Round in Carytown as well as online at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

About Dr. Vantre
Dr. Elizabeth M. Vantre studied psychology at Wake Forest University and earned her doctorate in School Psychology from Temple University.  She is the mother of four children (ages 7, 8, 10 and 12) and is currently employed as a psychologist at The Steward School in Richmond, Virginia.  Dr. Vantre has been helping parents find success at home for over fifteen years. She has been employed in a variety of settings including public and private schools, health care facilities, and juvenile detention centers.

 

Dr. Vantre has recently published the book Ready, Set, Parent: Dr. Moms’ Guide to Parenting with her co-author, fellow psychologist, and good friend, Dr. Samantha Dawson.  With a combined 20 years of providing parenting advice both professionally and informally, raising 6 children (Liz has 4, Sam has 2), surviving 14 years of motherhood and enjoying 12 years of friendship, Liz and Sam have enough experience, insight, empathy, practical and proven strategies, real life case examples, and humorous anecdotes to fill a bookshelf. 

 In addition to speaking engagements regarding her book Ready, Set, Parent, she is also a contributor to the website Soccerparenting.com. 

 

For many students, the first day of school doesn’t only bring new teachers and new friends – it can also be a source of anxiety with homework assignments and tests just around the corner. Starting the school year off on the right foot can help minimize students’ stress levels throughout the year.

Get Cleaning. A dirty, cluttered room is not conducive to studying. Get organized before homework starts piling up.

• Remove seldom-worn clothing.
• Pack away belongings not used on a regular basis.
• For smaller children, label areas so they can easily see where belongings should go.

Carve Out A Homework Spot. Whether it is in your bedroom, the basement, or a family office, find an area where you can work distraction-free and claim it as your official workspace.

• Pick a place that is always available and where you feel comfortable doing schoolwork.
• Stock the area with all of the supplies and tools that are needed to complete homework.

Get Organized. Organization is key to ensure you stay on top of the requirements for each subject.
Use separate, labeled notebooks for each class.

• Create files for each subject. The folders can hold assignments, essays, handouts and notes taken during classes.
• Purchase a planner or calendar to keep track of important dates and deadlines.

Set Educational Goals. Whether it is striving for an A in a certain subject, handing in all homework on time or preparing for tests well in advance, setting goals can help establish a routine for the new year.

• Set goals that are measurable, specific, reasonable and have personal value.

Stay On Schedule. Minimize last minute cramming or deadline mix-ups by creating a detailed school schedule.

• Include all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. Fill in new dates as they arise.
• Schedule specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more helpful it will be to you.

Know The School. If you ever feel swamped with back to school madness, ask for help. Schools assist students with transitioning from one grade to another. Meet with your guidance counselor and/or teachers. If you are still nervous, ask your mom or dad to drop you off at school on the first day of class.

Be Adventurous. Step out of your comfort zone this school year by trying new things academically and in terms of extracurricular activities.

• Try every type of class and/or activity. You never know what your strengths are until you experience as much as you can.
• Challenge yourself. If you have the opportunity, take the hardest classes – not the easiest subjects.
• Ask questions. There is nothing wrong with not always knowing the answer. Asking questions is the best way to learn!

Think Positive. Yes, going back to school means homework and early mornings. It also means reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, resuming fun extracurricular activities, learning more about your favorite subjects and improving on your last year’s performance.
For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, please visit www.SylvanLearning.com or call 804-782-2377

Steve Green is the Executive Director and Owner of the Richmond Sylvan Learning Centers, which is the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels with more than 30 years of experience and nearly 800 centers located throughout North America. Sylvan’s trained and Sylvan-certified instructors provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan also hosts MomMinded.com, a blog offering tips and resources from moms and education experts. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visit www.SylvanLearning.com

This Article is Sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center of Richmond

That’s it, I thought. Elementary school is officially over for us!

It’s mind-boggling when I think about her journey. I still remember a dreamy-eyed little Texas girl, going to kindergarten in Michigan, not too sure what she was getting into… and having to learn to deal with winter gear! Snow pants! Boots! Jacket, hat, neck-gaiter, gloves! The poor kid was the last to get outside and the last to get back to her desk every day that year. But eventually, she learned to love the snow.

When I look at the scrapbooks for the St. Joseph years they were full of post-card pretty images of winter snow-forts, brownie troop events and summers at the beach. But what they don’t show was the growing disconnect between her and school work. Report card comments became very repetitive: “Dahlia is obviously very intelligent but needs to focus more on her work.” “Dahlia has is a very creative child, but needs to listen.” “Dahlia needs to pay better attention to instructions.” What had seemed like normal behavior in kindergarten, by second grade was starting to look like something much bigger.

We didn’t start getting answers until we moved here to Virginia in third grade, and were blessed with an astute teacher, who was our champion during a difficult IEP process, and a great pediatrician, who hooked us up with the right specialists. To our surprise, Dahlia turned out to have not just one learning disorder but several!

Fourth and fifth grade were an even bigger journey for her, not just academically, but also in terms of growing up! Good-bye Hannah Andersson — hello Justice! Good-bye kid shows – hello Disney teens! Strong opinions about music! Nail polish, lip gloss, jewelry… “Should I be crushing on a boy by now?” Answer: “Of course not!” Video games! Cell phone! When did all this happen?!!

And she has become such a character: creative, honest, individualistic, self-aware, and always ready with a quip. One of her teachers once confided in us, “Actually, I think she’s fabulous!”

All I can say now is “You go girl! Middle School better watch out!”

Summer camps are definitely full of fun, but CommuniKids Camp in Richmond, VA is sending kids home better able to connect with the world around them.

While at Spanish Immersion Summer Fun Camp at Heartwood Grove School, kids will have the chance to experience traditional summer camp fun like outdoor play, music, drama, arts and crafts all in a Spanish immersion setting.  All classes and activities are entirely in Spanish with native speakers giving children an incredible opportunity to learn the language while having fun.
Spanish Immersion Summer Fun Camp offers a full day (9am- 3pm) and half day (9 am – 12:30pm) program for ages 3-8 years old and runs June 23 – July 3.

CommuniKids is a popular language program in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area whose mission is to prepare young children to become the global citizens of tomorrow by creating a joyful, playful, and nurturing environment that immerses students in a second language. CommuniKids strives to instill the disposition, knowledge, and skills required to succeed in a highly interconnected world.

CommuniKids Summer at Heartwood Grove

6112 Three Chopt Road
Richmond, VA 23226
1-844-534-2221

Spanish Immersion Summer Fun Camp
Ages 3-8
June 23-July 3, 2014

This post is sponsored by CommuniKids.

In addition to matching contributions, Virginia529 will award one person a $2,500 contribution for a new or existing Virginia529 account. That means if you’re already saving for college with Virginia529, you can enter the drawing to boost your account value and have even more available for your kid’s education.

These offers are only available through May 29 (5/29) because that is 529 College Savings Day, or 529 Day for short. If you’re expecting a baby on or about May 29, you also might be interested in their 529 Day Baby contest. Learn more about 529 Day and all the special activities at Virginia529.com/529day.

If you’re just learning about Virginia529, here’s some quick info:  Virginia529 offers four programs to help people save money for higher education. Their programs can be used for public and private higher education nationwide, including at community colleges. Because the funds can be used for technical, continuing education and advanced degree programs, 529 accounts can benefit adults as well as children. Earnings you accrue on your account are free from federal and state tax when used for qualifying higher education expenses.

This article is sponsored by Virginia529

Photo: Marco Nedermeijer

Q. Is homeschooling legal?

A. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the U.S., and homeschooling laws are unique in each state.
VaHomeschoolers explains Virginia’s legal requirements for homeschooling.

Q. Are there families like ours homeschooling?
Sure, homeschooling is not for everyone, but it is for anyone.

There are all kinds of families homeschooling in Virginia – the stereotypes do not apply. We see homeschoolers from a variety of income levels, a range of religious and political beliefs, all ethnicities, and all kinds of family and work situations.

Additionally, their reasons for homeschooling are varied: some want to spend more time with their children, some seek a more meaningful and customized education rather than focusing on test-based minimums, some seek to impart religious or moral values, some want more consistency since they move frequently with jobs or military service, some have children whose needs have not been met in public school, some want a more positive social situation with more mentors per student.

Once you look into homeschooling, you are sure to find others who are homeschooling for similar reasons.

Q. I want to homeschool this fall. When do I sign up?

August 15, 2014 is the deadline to provide written notice to your school division if you will homeschool in 2014-2015. This is called a “Notice of Intent to Homeschool” (NOI). VaHomeschoolers provides information about how to file your NOI, which is not as hard as it sounds.

If you’ve already been homeschooling, the deadline to file your evidence of progress (testing or evaluation) based on the 2013-2014 year is August 1, 2014.

You’re not really “signing up” for anything the school will provide and you’re not seeking their approval to homeschool – you’re notifying the school that you’re meeting the compulsory attendance law in a way other than sending your child to school. You can also decide later to begin homeschooling mid-year. You don’t need a school division’s “approval” to do this, but here are some helpful ideas for beginning homeschooling once the school year has started.

Q. I have a young child, just transitioning from preschool. How do I know what curriculum to use?
Read a lot about homeschooling to learn the different ways people approach early education at home.

Many people do not use a formal printed curriculum with five and six year olds, preferring a flexible and developmental approach that includes read-alouds, generous creative playtime, arts and crafts, nature walks, gentle learning of letters, sounds, and numbers, and exposure to the world of ideas through field trips, interactive websites, and educational videos.

Others use a Montessori approach, focusing on creating a positive educational environment at home.
Some parents choose a curriculum that does not seem much like a traditional school curriculum, such as Five in a Row or Oak Meadow.

Others choose to use textbooks and workbooks that are used in some schools or closely mirror them. The main thing to know about curriculum is that homeschoolers successfully use hundreds of different curricula successfully, and most if not all homeschoolers change curricula and homeschooling “style” quite a few times over their years of homeschooling. You are not locked in to one curriculum, and the beauty of homeschooling is that you can customize to fit your child’s needs.

Q. Is there any financial help or tax deduction for homeschooling?

A. The cost of homeschooling is completely the parents’ responsibility, and there is no tax deduction for expenses in most states, including Virginia.

Some school divisions may offer “virtual school” such as internet-based curriculum that is provided by the public school. Keep in mind that in Virginia, such a full-time school-provided virtual curriculum and enrollment is still public school, and your child will have to follow school requirements and testing.

This approach to education may be the right choice for your family, but keep in mind, it is much less customizable and flexible, and therefore you won’t get all the benefits of independent home education.
Fortunately, there are many ways to homeschool independently and frugally, especially by using the library and internet extensively and by joining in and contributing your skills to learning cooperatives (“co-ops”).

Q. How can I learn more about homeschooling?

VaHomeschoolers offers a free and comprehensive online Homeschool Guide. Additionally, VaHomeschoolers has a dozen free videos about getting started with homeschooling. If you join VaHomeschoolers, you get a subscription to the professional-level full color print magazine that is written, edited, and photographed by homeschoolers right in Virginia – VaHomeschoolers Voice. The VaHomeschoolers website itself is a wealth of free information that has been tried and tested by real homeschoolers, including a special article for parents of kindergarten-aged children.

Jeanne Faulconer is a popular speaker at homeschooling conferences and community meetings. She has homeschooled her children for sixteen years and is a volunteer and former board member for The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, also known as VaHomeschoolers. Jeanne also blogs for TheHomeSchoolMom.com. Read more by Jeanne at her website EngagedHomeschooling.com, where you can also learn about her service providing evaluations for annual homeschool evidence of progress.

Seaborn is one of more than 12,000 children who are in kindergarten this year in the Richmond region. Her mother, Dianne Seaborn, registered her on kindergarten registration day last April so the school could prepare for her child. But, more than 4,000 families in the area registered their children late and many children missed the first day of school.

Children who are five years old by September 30 can start kindergarten in the fall. But first they need to be registered. Thursday, April 10, is regional kindergarten registration day for 15 local school divisions: the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, as well as the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George and Sussex.

Registration is held at every elementary school in the area. See times for registration and information for their specific school district.

“It’s really important that parents register their child on April 10,” said Jacque Hale, Director of Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond at United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. “If parents wait until the summer, then it’s a scramble – both to gather the paperwork and to make sure the child has the necessary skills to be successful in school.”

At registration, schools will identify any missing paperwork, provide information about summer activities or other chances to visit the school. Even if parents don’t have all of the paperwork, they should still come registration. The school will guide parents to resources to help complete the process.

“The office staff was there to greet us and help us get through the many forms that are needed for registration,” said Seaborn, who says her daughter loved seeing the “big” cafeteria on registration day.

Families should bring the child’s certified original birth certificate, the child’s social security number, proof of address, the school entrance health form and a photo ID of the parent or legal guardian. Families are encouraged to still come to registration if they are missing a form because the school can offer resources to complete the process.

Mary Alex Seaborn on her first day of school.

Hale encourages parents to register on time so schools can hire the appropriate number of teachers and prepare for space and materials, while allowing teachers to prepare individually for each child.

“Children love seeing their name on their cubby on the first day of school and their name on the bulletin board. These things really matter to the child and sets them on the right path to succeed in school,” added Hale, who’s excited about her daughter starting kindergarten in Chesterfield County this fall.

Smart Beginnings recommends parents, grandparents and caregivers start preparing their children for kindergarten long before the child reaches the classroom. In the Richmond region, 1 in 7 children enters kindergarten already behind in language and literacy skills. They offer these tips for

families to practice with their children:
• Write their name
• Read and look at books every day
• Practice counting real objects
• Find and name letters of the alphabet everywhere you go
• Show respect and use good manners
• Follow directions and listen to others

“Parents, including expectant parents, need to know they are the first and most important teachers for their children,” said Hale. Seaborn says she started preparing her daughter for kindergarten early by reading books with her, visiting children’s museums and exploring parks.

“I also really emphasized how exciting Kindergarten would be. All children have a wide range of emotions and I didn’t want her to feel nervous or anxious about going,” she said.

“On the first day of school, Mary Alex couldn’t have been more excited! She was so ready to start her day and ride the bus. She was eager to meet new friends and eat lunch in the ‘big’ cafeteria. I was emotional about letting her go, but I was so excited for her at the same time.”

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Here’s a message about kindergarten registration from Maya Smart:

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more information about kindergarten registration and what to bring on April 10, parents can dial the phone number “2-1-1” or visit www.readychildren.net to find information specific to their school division. 2-1-1 connects to United Way’s Information and Referral Center with free information on available health and human services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.