Instead of the Dishes » Education
Preschool Resources
If you’re currently on the search for a preschool for fall, I have some resources that might help make your search a little easier. Arkansas Child Care Database – This searchable database contains all licensed child care facilities in Arkansas, including preschools. Just select “Preschool – 30-72 months” from the age list, and enter any other criteria you want. In the Better Beginnings drop down box, you can specify a level to search by. Level 3 is the highest level of quality rating given by the state. If you’re not in Arkansas, check with your state department of education – this type of resource should be available in every state. Savvy Source – The preschool section of the Savvy Source website has a nice collection of preschool resources, including reviews and information … Read entire article »
On Education: Part 4 – We’re In!
So, it’s official. Carina has completed her kindergarten screening, and we’ve paid the first of the enrollment/registration/building fees. She’ll be attending kindergarten at The Anthony School this fall. We are very excited! As I mentioned in my previous post, taking the school tours and asking lots of questions was what really helped us make the decision. Much like buying a house, we certainly analyzed all the facts and figures, the school stats and programs, etc., but when it came down to it, The Anthony School just “felt right” when we walked through. The school is small, but not too small. It looks and feels like a typical elementary school – not too fancy, but not stashed in a basement or retrofitted into an old office building. The fact that there are … Read entire article »
Making a Plan…
Tomorrow is the 50th day of the year. I can’t believe it – those 50 days have gone by quickly! I’m still getting used to writing 2011 on everything. Today I’ve been in spring-summer planning mode, thanks to a great article I found on The Savvy Source website called Planning Your Year. The article starts with an introduction to planning, and then highlights specific holidays and seasonal pass-times with links to specific crafts and activities for each month. From doing coin rubbings this Monday for Presidents Day, to planting a garden, to planning summer camp for the kids, there’s a bevy of great preschooler-friendly ideas and resources here. From the main article, you can click “Next Article” at the top of the page to take you to planning ideas for February. Click … Read entire article »
On Education: Part 3 – On Tour
Once we learned that private schools did not have to use August 1 as a cutoff date, we began vehemently researching dates, prices, and curriculums. The most difficult pill to swallow – the average $8,000 in tuition it would cost us to send Carina to kindergarten in a private school. We decided that as long as our household budget could handle the monthly payments, we felt it was important to give Carina the opportunity to go to kindergarten. In the midst of all this, we learned more about eSTEM Charter School in downtown Little Rock. After having watched Waiting for Superman and learning more about the school, their structure really appealed to us. The have a year round school schedule and an extended school day. The school is public, so it’s … Read entire article »
On Education: Part 2b – A Correction
Early registration in several AR school districts is now open, so I wanted to correct some mis-information I had in my last education-related post. I had stated that my kids did not have access to a free prek-4 program because we do not live in the Little Rock school district. However, during an interview with the Director of Early Childhood Education for that district, I learned that once the district has processed all the applications for kids that live within the boundaries, they give any remaining available seats to students who do not live within the district. Chances are good that they’ll have some room left over, as there are a total of 1500 seats available in the district, which is the largest prek program in the state. So, if you have … Read entire article »
On Education: Part 2 – The Dating Game
When we moved to Little Rock in August of 2008, we found a specific neighborhood that we loved. Luckily, our realtor informed us, we were in one of only about three good elementary school districts in Little Rock. This was a relief, as several people had warned us about the city’s “bad” education system. Before we moved, Craig visited the elementary school, Baker Elementary in Pulaski County Special School District, and met the principal. All was well and good, he reported. We also scouted a Parents Day Out program for Carina to attend. We wanted her to have social interaction, and quite honestly, I needed a break from juggling a baby and a toddler. She started the program at St. Margaret’s Episcopal in September and loved it. While the program was … Read entire article »
