Preschool Predictor

Can you believe it? A recent study from Georgetown University found that those who attend preschool are getting better scores in math and reading in Jr. High School!  The researchers follow 4,000 kids in Tulsa, Ok. and found that a high quality preschool, "has a long term cognitive effect."  This continuing study began in 2006 and found that in their 8th grade year, students who attended preschool were ALL scoring higher on their standardized tests and were more likely to be taking Algebra which is a predictor for college readiness.  They have forecasted that since these kids will be making more money and avoiding incarceration, every preschool dollar spent will actually make them $2! 

AH THE POWER OF PRESCHOOL!

Why All the Fuss Over Books?

Reading aloud and sharing stories with your child is a great way to spend time together. Reading and storytelling also helps promote language, literacy and brain development.
According to Sonya Nedovic, early childhood educator from the Royal Children's Hospital Education Institute, reading can:

• help your child become familiar with sounds, words, language and the value of books
• spark your child’s imagination, stimulate curiosity and help his brain development
• help your child learn the difference between ‘real’ and ‘make-believe’
• help your child understand change and new or frightening events, and also the strong emotions that can go along with them
• help your child develop early literacy skills like the ability to listen to and understand words.

One of the first ways that children learn to understand and love book is by picture walking, this is the practice of just opening a book and looking at the pictures.  A guided picture walk, or storytelling, can also have the same effects as the the above mentioned benefits of reading.

So Run, don't walk to your nearest library and Get Reading!

Don't Send Them Sick

I know it is hard sometimes to know when your child is truly sick enough not to go to school, so here are a few things I will call home for.

1. An uncontrollable, deep, junky cough.
2. A fever.  No exceptions.
3. A pale face.
4. Acting droopy or slow with any of the above symptoms.

I realize some of these symptoms may not have happened when they were at home and can come on suddenly at school, but if your little one seems to be getting worse, please leave them home.  Preschoolers are not known to be the cleanest of little creatures.  I do often remind them to cough or sneeze into their elbows and we use sanitizer liberally, but good habits take time to form.