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Kindergarten

“Why We Like to Go to School at World Cup”

December 2, 2019 by The Inside Press

Courtesy of World Cup Nursery School & Kindergarten

1. I like to run on the playground.

2. I like to eat lunch with my friends.

3. I like doing my job of the day (they are hired!).

4. I like playing with my friends and the toys.

5. I like to make things with play dough.

6. It’s special and magical.

7. It’s fun and I like to make the loft a pet shop.

8. I like to make my friends laugh.

9. There are no monsters in school (we loved this one!)

and, the #1 response was…

10. I love my teacher!

Visit us at worldcupnurseryschool.com

Filed Under: Words & Wisdoms From Our Sponsors Tagged With: Kindergarten, Nursery School, playground, preschool, Teachers, World Cup

Child Care Support in New Castle

November 13, 2019 by The Inside Press

This area offers places and people who bring peace of mind to busy working parents who may not have their own sitter, or who may need additional care for their child or children. Here are a few affordable options that many in the community rely on and value enormously.

Chappaqua Children’s Workshop (CCW)

CCW provides an exciting educational experience for children before and after school in the Chappaqua School District. The educational programming is geared to helping each child gain confidence, independence, and a positive self-image. CCW serves children from elementary schools: Grafflin, Roaring Brook and Westorchard (additional separate programs available for middle school students). ccwkids.org

Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC)

Established in 1971, MKCCC provides high quality, affordable care and early education to a diverse group of children in a safe and healthy environment. MKCCC, a non-profit organization, cares daily for 145 children, ages three months to 11 years in a modern, state-of-the-art facility. An 8-week, full-day summer camp is offered for school-aged children in Kindergarten–5th Grade. MKCCC’s award winning curriculum includes a Feed Me Fresh garden-to-table nutritional program and intergenerational programming with My Second Home. With over 20,000 square feet of living space, the Center features growth and learning opportunities in a cozy setting with the warmth and security of home. In addition, 7,500 square feet of outdoor play space is perfect for everything from picnics to gardening. mkccc.org.

Oak Lane Child Care Center

Year-round, full-day program founded in 1972 by a group of working parents from the Pleasantville Cottage School. The organization began as a community of families and staff working together to create the best environment for the children, and officially opened in Chappaqua in 1982. Oak Lane offers four classes in its Center. The Toddler classroom accommodates children who range in age from 18 months to 3 years. In three Pre-K classrooms–two for children between the ages of three and four, and one for children four-turning-five. Nutritious meal plan provided by our on-site chef. oaklaneccc.org

A Note about PRESCHOOL and KINDERGARTEN

Many move to Chappaqua with their youngest in tow, or soon to be in tow, seeking excellent preschool options too. Prior to elementary school, the district offers full day kindergarten. Fortunately, quality preschool choices abound too from the many programs found in area houses of worship to private and not for profit options. Be sure to schedule visits and meet with the preschool director and take a tour to find the best fit for your child and for your family.

Descriptions above courtesy of respective organizations mentioned.

Filed Under: Discover New Castle Tagged With: Chappaqua Children's Workshop, child care, Kindergarten, Oak Lane Child Care Center, preschool

My School Days as a Twin

August 29, 2018 by Julia Bialek

(L-R): Rebecca and Julia Bialek on the first day of kindergarten
PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA BIALEK

I have a twin sister, but we were born on different days. Throughout our lives, our parents worked hard to ensure that we were not grouped as a unit; in their minds, the fact that we shared a womb had no bearing on our ability to act and be treated as individual people. And it doesn’t. Whether it was pure luck or my mom’s greatest intentional gift to us (as she will claim), the fact that my sister was born before midnight and I was born after has profoundly impacted the course of our lives. Our separate birthdays have infused a sense of individuality into both of us from the very beginning, allowing us to retain our own identities. Yes, we are twins, but we aren’t “the twins.” We are Julia and Rebecca. It only made sense that when the first days of school approached, my parents continued this arrangement.

Parents of twins have a choice: place their twins in the same classes or separate them. Naturally, my parents elected to separate us, placing us in different classrooms in which to grow and learn independently of the other. Although one of the built-in perks of having a twin is never needing to face a new situation alone, our parents wanted to provide us with the space to become our own people. I am so grateful for that. As we enter our senior year and reflect on our time as students, people, and twin sisters, it has never been more apparent how much of a gift that decision has been. Thank you mom and dad.

Growing up as twins, Rebecca and I have experienced most of our milestones and achievements together, from first days of school and first days of camp, to becoming bat mitzvahs and getting our driver’s licenses. In many cases, the memories I lay claim to also belong to her, with our shared experiences outnumbering our individual ones. But when it comes to school, most of my memories belong solely to me, as our separate educational paths have rarely collided. We always had different teachers, we were always in different classes, and we were always happy that way. As twins, we have spent nearly 18 full years side-by-side, growing up in rooms next to each other, spending the summers in the same bunk at camp, coming home to the same house, and so on. Despite our love for each other, that is a lot of time to spend with one person. Going to school each day allowed us to spend healthy time apart, providing us with a place to be our own people (albeit in the same building). In fact, school is the only place where our individual memories, experiences, and stories outnumber our shared ones.

Spending our days separately and pursuing our educations independently of the other, my sister and I have been able to learn, grow, and prosper in our own unique ways. That time apart, that time to explore who we are without the influence of the other twin, has been essential in shaping the people we have become. For my sister and me, being twins has always meant going through life as our own people, just doing it next to each other. But as college approaches and my sister and I face being separated by a greater distance than just our bedroom wall, we are confronted with the reality that we must continue our lives as our own people, but not side-by-side. For the first time in our entire lives, not only will our educational careers be separate, but our entire lives will be separate.

For the first time in our entire lives, we will not be together.

As we tour colleges, write applications, and begin our last year of living together in the same home, I cannot help but wonder how different our lives are going to be without having the other twin a shouting distance away. Even though Rebecca and I have very different personalities and interests, even though we were happy to be in separate classes, even though we are both ready for this change, it is going to be a shock to live without her. I have never known life without my twin sister, and I know that I will have to cope with a Rebecca-shaped hole in my life. It feels like yesterday that we were walking off of the bus together after our first day of kindergarten, and now we are seniors in high school preparing to live our lives as independent people in college. While it feels surreal that time has passed so quickly, I am eased by the knowledge that my twin sister is experiencing these changes with me, even if she is not residing in the bedroom next door.

As we approach this new and exciting time in our lives, I realize that this is the first chapter of my story that will not feature my twin sister as a main character. But Rebecca, as we continue to write our narratives and live our lives, I want you to know that I am me because of you. You will always be an important part of my story, because you are an important part of me.

Filed Under: Et Cetera Tagged With: Essay, First Day of Kindergarten, Growing up as twins, Julia Bialek, Kindergarten, life, Parents of Twins, School Days, siblings, Twin Sisters, twins

Local Author Tackles Tough Topic in Latest Children’s Book: Repeating Kindergarten

August 29, 2018 by Julia Bialek

Becca Eisenberg, book author

It is always inspiring to meet people who are guided by their passion, especially when that passion is helping others. Rebecca Eisenberg who goes by “Becca,” a speech language pathologist, author, instructor, parent, and Armonk resident epitomizes that sentiment. A proponent of children’s literature, Eisenberg recently self-published a children’s book entitled My Second Year of Kindergarten aimed at providing parents and teachers with a resource on the topic of repeating kindergarten. The inspiration for the book? Her own experience.

They say necessity is the mother of invention and Eisenberg can attest to that. When she and her husband made the difficult decision to have their son repeat kindergarten, she searched for a children’s book to help explain the transition to her son; disappointed to have found no such publication, Eisenberg decided to write her own. “As a speech pathologist and mother, I have always looked for children’s literature to help explain difficult transitions or complex issues, and when I was looking for a book about repeating a grade, there was no book at all! I decided I was going to write my own. I tend to create my own work when I can’t find it. I read the draft to my son, and he loved it. The more I thought about it, the more I was devoted to putting it out there,” says Eisenberg.

Inspiring a Growth Mindset

For over two years Eisenberg worked hard to create a book with which all children and parents could identify. My Second Year of Kindergarten is about a boy named Peter, named for a student she worked with who defied all odds and learned to spell, write, and communicate beyond expectations, who is repeating kindergarten. The book follows Peter’s progress from “last year” to “this year,” highlighting the skills Peter gains from repeating the grade. With this book, and the reading guide for educators and parents she created to accompany it, Eisenberg hopes to inspire a growth mindset for children by changing the default attitude from “I can’t do it,” to “I’m learning how to do it.”

Eisenberg draws from her own personal experience to offer advice to parents who are considering having their child repeat kindergarten. Tips such as, “Be honest! Explain the reasons why you have made the decision to have your child repeat kindergarten,” and “Connect with other parents whose children already repeated kindergarten” are compiled in the back of her book. Although Eisenberg had what she described as an “ideal experience” with repeating kindergarten (due to a supportive school and family), Eisenberg knows that some people still treat the topic as something shameful and not to be discussed. Through her book, she hopes to change that. By starting meaningful and honest conversations through literature, she is well on her way.

Although Eisenberg believes that repeating kindergarten does indeed have benefits, she does not advocate it for every child. “If a child is repeating kindergarten, there is a reason for it; either social or academic delays,” explains Eisenberg. “When parents and their ‘team’(their school and other individuals involved in the decision) make the decision to repeat kindergarten, it is about making the best decision for the child.” Eisenberg stressed that she did not write the book to promote the idea of repeating kindergarten for all children, but rather to provide a resource for the families who decide that their child will benefit from it. Some benefits she cites of repeating the grade include social closeness with peers and more time to understand information, which can increase a child’s confidence and happiness at school.

Web Resources for Parents, Children and Educators

As a web savvy author, she also created a website www.mysecondyearofkindergarten.com to serve as a resource. With downloadable worksheets for children and podcasts it offers valuable information so that children repeating a grade can view it as an empowering and positive experience. In addition to the website for the book, she writes an impressive blog called www.gravitybread.com that forms the foundation for all of her work and emphasizes learning during mealtimes. Since 2012, she has updated her blog with language tips, special needs resources, book and app reviews, her interpretations of research articles, and other information with the goal of sharing her passion of connecting with children through storytelling with other parents.

Hearing her talk about her book, her blog, and the other resources she has created with such pride, Eisenberg’s profound commitment to others shines through.

“I have always been passionate about helping other people, for work and in my life. Ever since I was little I have felt the desire to help people with different abilities and needs. It is just a part of who I am.” She truly embodies what it means to put your heart into your work.

Kindergarten Skills

Deciding whether or not to repeat kindergarten can be a very hard decision for families. Dawn Lorenz, a kindergarten teacher at World Cup Nursery School in Chappaqua for 24 years, notes that children entering kindergarten should have the following skills:

  • The ability to listen attentively
  • Follow multi-step directions
  • Stay on task for increasing periods of time
  • Work cooperatively
  • Resolve conflicts socially
  • Function independently (put on shoes, use bathroom independently, etc.)
  • Transition between tasks or locations
  • Follow classroom rules
  • Ask for help when needed

Lorenz warns parents against having their child repeat kindergarten so they can gain an advantage in academics or sports. “There needs to be a clear reason to repeat the grade. It isn’t about being the oldest, fastest, best, or smartest, it is about that individual child and how they will feel during that kindergarten year. Childhood is a journey, not a race; the social-emotional skills are a foundation for academics, now and in the future, so we should not rush our kids to attain skills. We need to respect that five-year-old year and how important it is to a child’s life and development,” she explains.

Potential Reasons to Repeat Kindergarten

  • Social or emotional immaturity
  • A slower developmental timeline
  • Any reason that leads you to suspect that your child may need just a bit of extra time

Lorenz says that she has never had parents who came back to her regretting their decision to have their child repeat kindergarten, but there are many parents who wish they did make that decision because their child just was not ready yet. “We have to make the decision based on our individual children after taking into consideration advice from the “experts” in our lives (whether that be teachers, school districts, preschool directors, etc.).”

“There should not be any embarrassment or stigma at all if you are making the decision for the appropriate reasons for your individual child. You want to set the stage for the rest of their career in education–you want them to be happy and love learning!” sums up Lorenz.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: book, Kindergarten, kindergarten readiness, Learning, Repeating Kindergaren

Kindergarten Readiness: How to Know and Ways to Help

June 25, 2014 by Inside Press

Kindergarten 1By Dawn Lorenz, World Cup Kindergarten, Chappaqua

For better or worse, kindergarten isn’t what it used to be.  Are we rushing children beyond their developmental abilities?  Are all of the tests valid or necessary?  No matter how we feel about it, agree or disagree, it’s what we are facing right now.  There are ways you can help make your child’s transition to kindergarten as smooth as possible. Even though children learn and develop at different rates, they are all born with an amazing capacity to learn.  Kindergarten readiness doesn’t have to take over your summer; just 15-20 minutes a day of playing, exploring, and learning can make quite a difference.

There’s no one perfect formula for knowing if a child is ready for kindergarten. You may be surprised to hear that; especially with all of the recent national focus on standards and academic skills, most kindergarten teachers are hoping for a range of abilities that are mostly social and emotional in nature.

A student entering kindergarten “ready to learn” sets the perfect foundation for the academic endeavors that are to come.  Independence, the ability to listen and follow directions, the capacity to play well with others (sharing, turn taking, compromising), good manners and respect for authority, the ability to focus and concentrate, developed fine-motor skills, a diverse vocabulary, and a curiosity for learning are good indicators for kindergarten readiness.

A strong, positive self-esteem and a “can-do” attitude will also go a long way in making your child a successful learner.  It’s important to remember that no child will be equally competent in all areas; rather they’ll have areas of proficiency and areas that will require more support.

Kindergarten 2We can’t disregard the academic skill set totally, however.  Most kindergarten teachers expect students, especially those who have attended one or more years of pre-school, to come in being able to label the letters of the alphabet, name shapes and colors, recognize numbers 1-10, count to 20, and recognize, write, and spell their name.

Without a foundation of skills such as these, young students are at risk of falling behind with the more rigorous curiculums being presented.

Here are some things you can do at home or on vacation to work towards academic readiness this summer:

Read every day: at the pool, at the beach, on the hammock, under a tree, in the bathtub…!

  • Discuss stories and ask comprehension questions. Who? What?  Where? When? Why? …
  • Point out common sight words. The, a , an, as, at, on, of, or, …
  • Bring attention to conventions of print: capital letters, spaces between words, upper vs. lower case letters, punctuation, …
  • Point out letters in words, signs, books, …
  • Encourage curiosity.  Be ready to GOOGLE together questions that arise.

Play with rhyming words.  Great activity for the car! 

Play turn-taking games like Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cherry-O, Trouble … Encourage sportsmanship.

Limit screen time to an hour – TV, I-PAD … Limit your screen time too so you’re available and engaged.

Play with math:

  • Sort objects like legos by color, shape, or size.
  • Count cookies, goldfish, pretzel sticks,… by ones and groups of 10.
  • Group items and have your child count and label the group with a # quantity.

Work with play dough to strengthen fine motor skills – rolling, squeezing, and cutting with kid-safe scissors.

Roll play dough “snakes” and make letters and numbers—even your name!

Practice name and alphabet writing in a tray filled with sand, rice, shaving cream, pudding .

Build letters with pompoms, legos, buttons, blocks, bead …

Encourage independence–tying shoes, zipping a jacket, buttoning, cleaning up …

Get a Kindergarten Readiness activity book for the car, plane rides, rainy days, down-time …

Explore websites like Abcmouse, Starfall, ABCya, Funbrain, Cookie …

Talk about the tough stuff—being yourself, bullying, friendship, anxiety about school.  Check with your local library for books on these topics and more.

Most importantly, take time to enjoy your child and make wonderful memories together.  Once school begins they’ll be lots more things to do to support their learning–but that’s a thought for the fall!  Happy learning!!

 

Filed Under: New Castle Releases Tagged With: Kindergarten, pre-school

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