Question 1

Does it feel warm and inviting?

Accepted Answer

When you walk through the doors of the school does it feel warm and inviting? The young childhood years should be focused on your child developing a strong community. The feeling of warmth, connectedness, and attentiveness should permeate throughout the hallways and classrooms. Many people’s perception is bigger and brighter is better. However, children would rather have warm, caring people to share their stories with, share their excitement, and be given time to just reflect with someone.

Question 2

Is the staff engaged with the children?

Accepted Answer

Do the administrators, teachers, and support staff understand child development and know when to assist a child and when to observe? Are they willing to teach the child skills necessary to become independent and master skills successfully? When my children are away at school, it is important for me to know that they are building a relationship with their teachers and feel safe and secure in their environment.

Question 3

Is the classroom peaceful?

Accepted Answer

What does the classroom environment look like? The children should be drawn to the materials on the shelves and learn while they are at “play.” Is the classroom neat and orderly, and does it look like a warm and inviting place that even you want to get down on the floor and try something new? Some children become withdrawn when there is too much going on within the classroom. From wall displays to loud noise, massive amounts of manipulatives, and toys, some spaces can be overstimulating for children. A peaceful classroom with a nice steady hum of children’s voices and teachers’ conversations can allow each child the ability to develop concentration and focus on their creativity and work.

Question 4

Will the environment allow your child to blossom?

Accepted Answer

Are the children looked at as individuals who are growing, developing, and constructing themselves at the pace they are meant to do? One cannot rush development but provide the opportunities, experiences, and materials to allow each child to work and grow to their fullest potential.

Question 5

Do the teachers model the rules and expectations?

Accepted Answer

As the saying goes, monkey see monkey do! If an expectation is for children not to shout across the classroom, then the teachers too must follow their own rule. The teachers are the guides in the young children’s lives and setting the example and expectation of grace and courtesy, caring for the materials, and respecting others’ opinions should be played out by each member of the classroom community.

Question 6

Are the children allowed to collaborate with their peers?

Accepted Answer

Collaboration builds strong communication skills, develops a deeper level of critical thinking, and creates a result that one may not have known could be possible. Being in a rich environment where the children can take what they are learning and continue exploring their interests creates self-directed guidance, internal motivation, and self-confidence in understanding they do not have to be limited to what they already know.

Question 7

Do you have a partnership with the provider?

Accepted Answer

One of the many keys to a child’s success is partnership. A partnership between home and school shows children the value of their learning and the commitment their parent(s) and teachers have to their growth.

Question 8

Is there a focus on freedom of choice and repetition?

Accepted Answer

Does the teacher set up the children’s day, or are the works out for the children to freely make their own work choices and repeat them until the child is satisfied. Repetition allows children to learn, feel secure and develop mastery. Remember, you can’t force development, but you can aid in refining it!

Question 9

Is there consistency?

Accepted Answer

Consistency in teachers builds security, trust, and safety in knowing who your child’s teacher is. It is important for the teachers and staff to be committed to the work that they do. Children develop relationships with those around them. Knowing that their friends and teachers will be there every day when they arrive at school helps make the drop-off and pick-up so much more peaceful. Every parent wants to know that their child is being attended to and valued. It makes it easy to say goodbye when you know your child is looking forward to seeing their teachers and friends.

Question 10

Does your child love learning?

Accepted Answer

Is your child yearning to learn? You have done an amazing job teaching, nurturing, and parenting. Providing your child the opportunity to have a HUGE jump start in the rigorous  classroom experience they will receive during their elementary years can be overwhelming, frustrating, and burdensome to many. Giving your child the confidence in knowing they can succeed and accomplish something that may be challenging, but their teachers know they are ready for can boost their morale and give them the knowledge that THEY’VE GOT THIS! The overall sense of walking into a new school in kindergarten or first-grade reading, writing, counting to 100 and beyond without it being redundant already provides your child the confidence to focus on making new friends, connecting with a new teacher, and establishing a new routine.

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