Guest Post: Building Good Teacher/Day Care Provider Relationships

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Published: 08/28/2012

Building good relationships with your daycare provider/teacher

By Nicole Dash, Tiny Steps Mommy

The start of school is a time of new beginning for many families. This year, my three older children start eighth grade, first grade, and kindergarten (insert sad face here). In my daycare, I am welcoming a few new children to replace my rising kindergarteners.

For many parents with children beginning daycare, preschool, or kindergarten for the first-time, the question is always the same. How do we stay connected with our children? When they are infants, we depend on and expect their providers to relay pertinent information about what how many ounces they drink, what they eat, whether they had a BM or not, etc. As they get a little older, our child care providers and teachers may share information about what they are learning, what story they read, and what fun activities occupy their day. But, this is not all we want to know. Are they having fun? Do they have a best friend and play well with others? Are they discovering something new each day? Did someone hurt their feelings? Do they enjoy learning?

So, how do we find out the answers to all these questions? The truth is as our children grow, we have to accept that sometimes we will not know everything that happens each day. Not even a webcam can tell the whole story. As children spend more time away from us, they develop a world beyond our scope. It hurts to think about, but it is a normal part of growing up.

There are ways, however, to gain glimpses into this world. And this is through the eyes of their teachers and child care providers. As a child care provider, I feel privileged to witness the dynamics between the children who spend so much time together. With each month, their relationships become more intricate. Some days, I feel like I am observing a social experiment.

If you build a positive and open relationship with your child’s provider/teacher then perhaps you will hear about stories that go beyond the daily report. Here are some tips for building a relationship with your child’s daycare provider/teacher. These tips may not make a difference beyond kindergarten, but are certainly worth a try.

Introduce yourself. This may seem simple, but as your child heads into a larger setting, you want your child’s teacher to know you beyond “mom of one of the students.” You want your child’s teacher to know your name, face, and perhaps something about you.
Ask their preferred form of communication. Don’t bombard your teacher/provider at the end of each day. Instead ask their preferred form of communication. Let them know you want to hear stories and updates. Not just on their “academic” progress, but about their social interactions. Sometimes you just have to ask.
Don’t over communicate. Just because your teacher/provider gives you his/her e-mail or cell phone number does not mean you should call or e-mail every day, on weekends, or just because. Save your phone calls and e-mails for real questions or occasional check-ins. And be patient with a response. Your teacher/provider has a personal life and may not be able to (want to) respond at midnight or on Saturdays.
Volunteer your time. Find out how your provider/teacher feels about volunteers. Even if you work full-time, try to make yourself available at least once or twice a year. I have always worked, so my ability to volunteer regularly is limited. I do, however, make a point to attend special events, like Thanksgiving lunch, Mother’s Day teas, or other special events. Your teacher and children will appreciate the effort.
Offer to help. Teachers and providers often spend their own money on supplies. Ask if there is anything you can provide or bring to the classroom. Even better is to simply donate supplies like tissues, glue sticks, and anti-bacterial wipes throughout the year without waiting to be asked.
Get to know them. Be interested in your teacher/provider as a person. Ask them about their weekend. Get to know if they have a family. Did they grow up locally? Is this their first year teaching? Did they have a profession before teaching? Don’t interrogate, but let this getting to know you process happen organically. The more you and your provider/teacher get to know each other, the more comfortable he/she will be sharing about your child.
Be appreciative. You don’t have to buy expensive gifts or make grand gestures to show your appreciation. My favorite things have been handwritten and personal cards telling me how I have made a difference. Showing your appreciation is important, because it helps teachers/providers get through the hard days.
Be proactive. If you sense a problem at school, or if your child is suddenly acting out at home, please do not wait to communicate these issues. Your teacher/provider is there to help you and your child. They may not be aware of an issue, but probably have the insight needed to fill in the blanks.

Taking these steps may not guarantee the extra information you desire, but, it can go a long way to making you feel connected. And the next time your provider/teacher witnesses a funny scenario or example of some positive accomplishment, he/she may think to pull you aside or e-mail you to tell you the story simply because of the mutual relationship.

Do you have suggestions for building a positive relationship with your child’s teacher? Do you have a story about a good or bad relationship with your child’s provider? I want to hear from you. Connect with me on the Tiny Steps Mommy Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/TinyStepsMommy) and visit www.TinyStepsMommy.com, a blog about family life and caring for children – yours and mine, to read more.

About Nicole Dash, The Tiny Steps Mommy

Nicole Dash, creator of the blog Tiny Steps Mommy (www.TinyStepsMommy.com), is a mother of four, childcare business owner and writer living in Annandale, Va. Five days a week she welcomes infants, toddlers, preschoolers and all their parents to Tiny Steps Day Care, her home-based daycare and preschool.

Blog- www.TinyStepsMommy.com

Facebook – www.Facebook.com/TinyStepsMommy

Twitter – www.Twitter.com/NicDash

Pinterest – www.Pinterest.com/NicoleDash

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Guest Post: Last-Minute Back to School Shopping

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Published: 08/25/2012

Thanks to Laura Harders, AKA Beltway Bargain Mom, for following up with us on her input to PotomacLocal.com about back to school shopping!

Back-to-School shopping can be stressful and expensive, and perhaps you've been putting it off to the last possible moment. Whether you've been dreading *or delighting* in the back-to-school frenzy, I want to encourage you not to panic! Here in Prince William County, the public schools start back up the day after Labor Day, so you still have some time to get in gear for the school year. In case you need to do some shopping still or want to donate supply items on-the-cheap to local charities or organizations like Operation Christmas Child, I'm here to help! Here are my top 7 savings tips to help you with your last-minute back-to-school shopping:

Shop in your house first.If your child has supplies from last year that are still good this year, like scissors, colored pencils, highlighters, ruler, calculator, etc, you don't need to buy new ones. Check your supply closet or craft drawer for items you already have.
Stick to your list.Check your school's website for your supply list by grade, so you know the exact supplies you need. After you "shop" in your house, then make a list of the items you need to buy.
Shop the sales.There are still some great deals to be had! The office supply stores have many 1-cent deals or 50%+ deals on back-to-school supplies. Take advantage of these sales and stock up.
Use Coupons.You'll find many school supply coupons in your Sunday paper as well as printable coupons online. Also, some stores accept competitor coupons as well.
Drug Stores & Office Supply Stores.Check out the drug stores & office supply stores for deals. Look at the weekly circulars for extreme deals such as Staples 1-cent Extreme Deals, and free-after-rebate items. You may not think of the drug store or office supply stores as your center for back-to-school deals, but they have quite a few!
Price match.Take advantage of stores that price match, such as Office Depot, Staples, Target and Walmart. If a hot sale item is out-of-stock at a store and they don't offer a rain check, you can take your store ad/circular to a competitor that price matches to get the same deal. Price-matching can also help you save time, by combining shopping trips into 1 stop at a single store for that week's sale items.
Go plain.If your child is intent on buying name brand or "official" rockstar/sports team/super hero branded gear, encourage them to buy a plain/generic item and decorate. You can buy stickers, patches and other DIY items on the cheap at your local craft store to help give notebooks, binders, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. a personal touch.

Credit: Amber Seat Photography

Laura Harders lives in Prince William County and is a native Northern Virginian who loves to share ways to save. She runs the blog BeltwayBargainMom.com and teaches local Savings Nation coupon workshops. You can find Laura sharing tips & being social on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Reading Freebies for Summer!

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Published: 05/21/2012

Teachers want your kids to keep reading during the summer. For some of you, that's probably easy, but for others, it might be like pulling teeth. If only there were some free summer reading incentive programs for your children!

Never fear, there are! Bribery is an awesome tool in the parenting tool kit ;)

We're not here to judge.

Here's a great list of ways to keep your child reading throughout the summer!

1. Prince William County Library's Summer Quest Program is always a great option. TEENS CAN GET VOLUNTEER HOURS, but there are reading programs for both younger, elementary, and middle school children to earn rewards for reading books. For older children, be careful not to let them get discouraged as this program is by number of books, not time spent reading or that you read in a given day, so if your child picks up War and Peace, they're not going to make it to 20. In the past, rewards have included swim passes for local water parks like Splashdown in Manassas or Water Works in Woodbridge, Kids in Motion and House of Bounce passes, free slurpees or ice cream, and more. Online registration for this program begins JUNE 1, 2012 and if it's like last year, you cannot sign up in person anymore, so be sure to register before you go. All Prince William County Libraries, both Regional like Chinn Park Regional Library and Bull Run Regional Library to neighborhood libraries like Dale City and Independent Hill participate.

2. Books A Million will have a Kickoff for their Summer Reading Program on Saturday, May 19th. The Prince William County Books A Million is located inside Potomac Mills Mall. This event includes a free cookie with drink purchase, and a free insulated lunch bag when you participate in the Books A Million Summer Reading Program.

3. TD Bank (which used to be Commerce Bank. Sorry, TD, but I miss Commerce desperately). has several locations in our area including TD Bank Woodbridge near the Kohls, TD Bank Dumfries on Route 1, and TD Bank Manassas on Liberia Avenue. All branches, however, will be participating in their $10 for 10 Books program. Children fill out a form with the 10 books that they've read, and TD Bank will deposit $10 into a new or existing youth savings account. Cash Money. Awesome. The TD website also includes several ideas for making reading more fun.

4. Barnes and Noble will allow children to earn a free book for every 8 books they read and record in their reading journal. Their website also includes parent and educator kits to make reading more fun. To pick up your free book, you'll need to head to Fair Lakes or Seven Corners, but there are some great field trips (or malls, mommy needs love, too!) at each stop.

5. Pizza Hut's Book It Summer Program isn't quite the same as school-year Book-It, but sounds fun anyway. Students who were in grades K-6 during this school year can go to the Book It Summer Reading Challenge Sweeptstakes and enter to win a Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summer Prize Pack when they've completed reading 5 books. Other parents suggest continuing Book It at home by continuing to provide a personal pan pizza to your child when they've read the requisite number of books. The prize pack includes books 1-5, 2 DVD movies, a tote, plush, and $20 Visa Gift Card. 50 winners will be selected from among the online entries.

6. Sylvan Learning Centers Summer Book Adventure Program allows children to track their pages and then take quizzes (very similar to how Accelerated Reader or "AR" works) and collect points. Then they have the chance to win prize incentives using their points. Sylvan is also sponsoring a "Page Per Day Sweepstakes" where parents who pledge to read a page per day with their child can enter to win $500 for back to school expenses.

7. iVillage and PBS have teamed up to give you a Summer Reading Challenge. Sign up now on their website and you'll get weekly reminders and chances for your reader to win $1,000 or other great prizes all summer long. The 6-week program begins June 18th.

8. Need more Word Girl than iVillage is giving you? Scholastic (yes, the people who bring you those send-home book orders and twice a year Book Fairs where your kid wants to buy wiggle-eye pencils) has a program called the Scholastic Summer Challenge. Kids read books, log hours, and win prizes. Being Scholastic, they've also got sections for parents and educators, too!

9. Chuck-E-Cheese Reading Rewards will give your child 10 tokens for reading for 2 weeks. Just put a check mark on each day that your child reads (keep it on the fridge or a bulletin board) and bring it with you to the CEC nearest you. PS- Chuck also offers bribes for things like tooth brushing, keeping your room clean, being a good patient/citizen, using table manners, and just about any other common childhood ailment :)

10. Don't forget your child's school! Many schools require a certain amount of reading and might even ask for a project or journal to be kept. If your school has a summer reading requirement, make sure you know before September! Also, some schools (depending on the principal/program) offer a special treat for children who read during the summer like a pencil or certificate, so know your school's programs and prepare accordingly!

Am I missing something? Email me and I'll add it to our list!

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Henderson Husky 5K and Fun Run 2012

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Published: 05/18/2012

Date

Start: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 8:00 AM

Additional Date Information

8:00 - 1 Mile

8:30 - 5K

Address

Henderson Elementary School

3799 Waterway Dr Dumfries, VA

Fees

$20.00 for 5K and $15.00 for 1 Mile (Click to register)

Registration Closing Date

Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 9:00 PM PST

Brief Description

The 4th Annual Henderson Husky 5K is proud to announce new course for the 5K and 1 Mile, and will be chip timed using the ChronoTrack Bib Tag Timing System.

Early Packet Pickup & Onsite Registration is available on Friday, June 1 at the Henderson Elementary Library from 3:45 PM to 7:00 PM.

Additional Information

Race Day Packet Pickup and Registration is available 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM in the Henderson Elementary Gymnasium.

T-shirt size is not guaranteed after May 18th. Family Discount is not available after May 18th.

Parking is available throughout the residential community.

Awards will be given to the following Age Groups: 5 and Under, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 & 60 and Over.

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Guest Post/Deal: My School Swap

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Published: 04/22/2012

As you may recall, I was a huge sucker and did time in PTA last year. As such, I was always looking for new ideas to raise money. Here's one that contacted PwcMoms and has a deals for current PTA Board members who'd like to try it out.

MySchoolSwap.com

What goes around, comes around.

We know schools can always use extra money—especially this time of year. We can get overwhelmed with fundraisers, yet we know it’s important to support our children’s schools.

Here is a way to do your spring cleaning AND support your school.

A Gainesville mom just launched a new Classified Ad web site that brings the community together to benefit schools everywhere. It’s friendly, easy-to-use and secure. It’s just starting to pick up momentum in Prince William County with hopes to expand.

It’s called My School Swap! www.myschoolswap.com.

Buy and sell used stuff...

Members can post Ads for all kinds of things: used sports equipment, baby items, books, furniture, handmade items, toys, clothing, cars ... all while supporting their schools.

Promote service or small business...

At any given school there are parents who are also small business owners. My School Swap is a great way to advertise to the families of school age children. Tutors, day care providers, pet sitters, Realtors, music instructors, landscapers, home party consultants...can all benefit from this resources

Free Ads for school and non-profit groups...

Teachers and school volunteers can post Ads that reach beyond their school website to announce events, fundraisers or recruit volunteers. Non-profit groups like Girl Scouts, art guilds and sports leagues can promote events or programs—and it’s always FREE!

Each school has it’s own page...

Each elementary and secondary school in the US has it’s own page which creates smaller, convenient communities—yet Ads also reach a national audience. My School Swap is designed for the school community so it does not include categories like Personal but does include categories like School Events and Community.

How it works...

Go to MySchoolSwap.com and choose a school to support when you join. Buy credits securely for $1 each. Post an Ad in any category for 1 credit. 50% of each dollar spent on credits is sent to the school you support. The credit fee is waived for Ads in the School & Non-Profit Notices category so they are free.

(The other 50% goes to online transaction fees, school payment distribution, website maintenance and marketing MySchoolSwap.com as a viable school fundraising program.)

My School Swap, LLC is an approved vendor in Prince William County Schools.

www.myschoolswap.com

Free Credits to PTO/PTA Parent Group Leaders

My School Swap will give 5 free credits to any PTO/PTA Parent Group leader that contacts us by April 31st, 2012. Try MySchoolSwap.com and let your school know about it. This is a $5 value and $2.50 will be donated to your school. Ads for School Notices for PTO/PTA are ALWAYS free, so use your free credits in any other category.

Cathy Shalvey, Co-Founder & President

My School Swap came from an idea I've had for many years that combines various aspects of my volunteer work for schools and the community over the years. For example, with a background in graphic design, I have always been on the 'communications committee' with schools and local organizations. I'm the one that designs the posters, flyers, newsletters, directories and event programs—which has been boatload of paper and ink!

I asked myself: “What if there was an online network where schools could promote events to the community and the community could reach inside the schools? What if there was a way for school families to buy and sell with each other—locally and conveniently? How could something like this benefit our schools?

My School Swap takes the traditional Classified Ad and creates a way to give back to schools with this useful tool. Millions of people use online advertising websites already, why not direct some of the revenue to our schools?

Contact cathy@myschoolswap.com for more information.

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Preschool Recommendations

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Published: 07/10/2010

**Disclaimer: These reviews have been submitted by individual parents who are representing their experience with a school. PWC Moms does not necessarily endorse any or all of these schools and encourages parents to visit a school before enrolling their child. After much consideration, it is our policy when asking parents to share their experiences with schools or play areas, or businesses to share those opinions to aid other parents, even if our personal experience contradicts the views of another parent. Please always conduct your own research and site visits in addition to looking at the experience of other parents at any particular school.**

The Schools we received feedback on, in alphabetical order by name of school are:

CLOVERDALE PRESCHOOL

We absolutely love Cloverdale for many reasons, and have used it for both of our older children, our youngest will begin attending, too, in the fall. With programs beginning at 2 and a half years (Half days Tuesday and Thursday) ranging up to an outstanding Pre-K program, Cloverdale has a well-established program that focuses on literacy readiness, core competencies, and social skills. They offer German to the students in the 4 and 5 year old programs, which all of the kids seem to love. The teachers are all amazing and most of them (the exception being the teacher for the relatively new 2 year old program) have been at the school for many years which speaks to the happy, cohesive teaching team at this school. The teachers are as patient and understanding as they are qualified, and have the skills and calm, even tempers needed to help even the most clingy children adjust to being away from their primary caregiver while they learn to function in a school setting. Cloverdale also offers "Stay and Play" for $10, which allows students to remain until 2pm (the normal day is from 9-12) and has been a lifesaver for me on a few occasions where I was volunteering at the elementary school or had a doctor's appointment. Also, Cloverdale offers private K-3 grades if you are looking for a school where your child can stay for the early years of elementary school. We love it at Cloverdale and would never leave if we could keep our kids preschool aged forever!! (Click Here for Website)

EVERGREEN NURSERY SCHOOL

My 3 year old son attends Evergreen Nursery. We started right when he turned 3 and have only been going for a few months, but it is a magical, magical place. Ms. Jody Boronkay is the director of the 12 child max school in the basement of her home (don't let that be a setback, I questioned it for a moment and it is more set up for child learning than many of the preschools we visited- and we visited A LOT). There is a 1:4 teacher:student and the focus is really on children getting excited about learning. When they learned about the rain forest she put a huge pool in the main classroom, hung vines all around, turned the thermostat up so it would be humid, and brought in animals found in the rain forest- FOR A WEEK! so the kids would get the full effect of the rain forest while learning. She also has a part of the program swimming lessons and ice skating lessons. They visit a pond weekly in the spring to watch the changes that happen. I could go on and on. A major selling point for us (as if that wasn't enough) is my son has a severe dairy allergy and has us worried being away from the protective world we are in and not having a full understanding of "safe" foods yet to protect himself. Ms Jody has taken extensive measures to guarantee his safety. She also has chilren with cerebral palsy and autism and the children flourish (dare you to find the child!) and so the children learn how to care and embrace and understand children of handicap. This school is a warm, exciting place that I wish I had as a child. I am feeling very limited in 2 paragraphs in the sharing of just how wonderful this school is. (Click Here for Website)

LAKE RIDGE CREATIVE PRESCHOOL- 2 Reviews

Love the Lake Ridge Creative Preschool, located on the corner of Old Bridge Road and Oakwood Dr. Explorers class for 3-4 year olds is Tuesday and Thursday, either 9:15 - 1:30 or 9:45 - 2:00. PreK for 4-5 year olds is M, W, F, same times. The curriculum is the perfect mix of fun and learning. The children do art projects, sing songs, do puzzles, learn to use the computer, go on field trips, learn Spanish, play outside daily, etc - it is amazing to me the creative ways they get the children engaged in learning. There is an after school reading program for children that show they are ready to begin reading independently, though learning the alphabet and writing skills are taught to all almost from day one! The preschool is open to everyone - non-Lake Ridge residents pay a bit more in tuition, though it is very reasonably priced - last year, Explorers were $120/month for residents, $130 for nonresidents, and PreK was $170/180. Contact the Lake Ridge Recreation Department at 703-497-7112, or stop by the office, located in the vicinity of the preschool at the back of the big parking lot. (Click Here for Website)

I follow your posts via Facebook and read that you were looking for preschool reviews. I saw you had a recommendation for Lake Ridge Creative already, but I decided to send in another one. The following is excerpted from a letter I wrote to the Lake Ridge Board of Directors a few months ago in support of the preschool program. My daughter attended for both preschool and pre-K, and I am very pleased with the school and highly recommend it to others.

When I was looking to choose a preschool for my daughter, my main focus was on the school's reputation and the quality of the program. I had narrowed it down to two schools - the LRPRA preschool and one other local preschool. LRPRA's preschool appeared to be more well-rounded in its activities and learning opportunities, and in preparation for kindergarten. What finally "sold" me was the fact that I heard nothing but good things about the program. My mother, who is a past LRPRA board president, told me that during her time on the board she received many positive reports from parents about the program. A friend who is an elementary school teacher said that the children coming from the LRPRA preschool were generally better prepared for entering the structured environment of elementary school and excelled in their academics. She said there was a notable difference between the LRPRA pre-school graduates and those of other preschools. Nothing beats positive word of mouth "advertising" and opinions from other parents, and to me this spoke volumes as to how good the school is.My daughter has thrived at the preschool, academically and socially. Her teachers are excellent, and I have no complaints. I am already looking forward to when my one year old son is old enough to attend the program as well.

OLD BRIDGE PRESCHOOL:
Old Bridge Preschool, associated with Old Bridge Methodist Church, has been open for 4 years. Besides being a great preschool with very caring staff, the also have a mission of accepting students with special needs. They have special staff for students who qualify for services through the county, and although they aim for 30% special needs, they also do amazing things with typically developing children. Their academic program appropriately prepares students for kindergarten and helps them develop a love of learning. I have had a great experience with the school, with both of my children attending during the 4 years since the school has been open. I highly recommend Old Bridge Preschool. (Click Here for Website)

PRINCE WILLIAM ACADEMY:
We had a horrible experience here and pulled our child out mid-year. The program sounds so great on paper, but the classrooms are dirty and the teachers over-stretched without aids. The preschoolers have indoor gym at the same time as older children and my child came home badly bruised one day when a 4th grader bowled them over and I didn't even recieve a note from the school or the teacher. It's not worth the money.SEVEN OAKS ACADEMY:
My son goes there, and he loved it from day one. He is 4 and can already read a little bit. They actually teach them there, not just babysit them. The teachers are 'real' teachers, with degrees and certificates, and each class has it's own room with a door. This is all great to me because he used to go to (other school name deleted) which is crap compared to this place. He gets a newsletter sent home once a month with 'homework' and it tells the parents what they are working on, and helpful print outs to use at home, like sight words and refrigerator stories. The preschool is from 9-12:30am I believe, but my son does go full time from 9-5:30pm. But the actual 'school' part of the day mostly takes place in the morning before lunch. They offer full time and part time preschool (you can choose 5 days a week or 3 days a week, but they only offer morning preschool, not afternoon). They are affordable compared to other places, and offer morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack.. Their summer camp is GREAT, lots of field trips (about 2 times a week) and other fun activities for a reasonable summer fee. (Click Here for Website)

ST. MATTHEWS DAY SCHOOL:
We love St. Matthews and feel like it is everything a preschool program should be. It is structured enough for the kids to feel secure, free enough for them to explore, and loving so they feel safe in their first school experience. We love that there is a carpool line because with a preschooler and a new baby this past year it was great not to have to get out of the car in the rain or snow with the baby! St. Matthew's was the only school we looked at because on our tour, our child walked right in and acted like they'd been in class there since day 1. It's been great and we're military so we're not sure when we'll have to leave, but we'd be very happy if our youngest child was able to go here, too. (Click Here for Website)

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