Early Childhood Education Welcome Letter: Fill & Download for Free

This is a problem I have from time to time. A parent who dresses their child in outfits they don't want dirty or stained and then sends them off to play in the mud is a fool.Children are inheirantly messy and the “work” children do while at preschool is sometimes extremely messy. I always provide smocks and do my best to roll sleeves but it sometimes makes no difference.How to deal with the parent when they complain is fairly easy to defuse. First,in the welcome letter it is clearly stated that the children will be messy and we are not going to limit their experience over clothing. Dress you children in play clothes.We can suggest bringing a small adult tee-shirt we can put on over the nicer clothes; especially if the child refuses to wear a smocks.I am always polite about it and most parents get it that their child is learning through their play and things happen.On one instance, I had a little girl that always came to school dressed up like a beautiful doll. We regularly asked the parent to dress her in muck clothes for school and never would. She would then complain, huff, and puff, fussing over the child clothes when picking up. We would change her clothes after mom left and put the dress back on when it was near her pickup time to go home. Luckily, she only attended for one semester.

Why Preschool MattersChildhood experts agree: Attending a high-quality program prepares kids for kindergarten and beyond. But finding the best option for your child takes time and research. To get you started, I've answered your biggest questions.The Importance of Preschool1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule (for example, a few hours a day, two to five times a week) as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool.2. How important is preschool?There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool, At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time.Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise his/her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, he/she will learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behaviour.In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.3. What will my child learn?In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time. Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.4. But what about learning his ABCs?Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it. They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks. To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.Choosing the Right Preschool5. How old should my child be when he/she starts?Most preschools serve 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, and many kids begin at age 4. (Some preschools will start accepting children at around 2 1/2, but that doesn't mean your child will be ready when he/she reaches that age.) You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one. Your choice will depend on your family's situation -- working moms might prefer five days a week -- and on your child's temperament.Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend. But if you live in a big city, where competition for spots can be fierce, you'll want to start applying even earlier and to more than one place.6. How do I choose the right preschool?Research, research, research. First, decide on location (close to work or home?) and hours (half-day, two or three days a week, full-time?). There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institutions (like synagogues and churches), state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms. Next, check whether the schools are licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing.The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards. In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit.Call each school you're considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you've narrowed down your choices, schedule visits. Most preschools run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers. Visit each school with your child and see how he/she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.7. What should I look for during a visit?Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level. I tell parents to pay special attention to the artwork on the walls, Would you be able to pick out your child's artwork? If all the pictures look the same, then your child will learn to make a bunny just like everyone else's. That's not really the goal.The classroom should have a variety of activity areas -- a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach, a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time; they should be playing with toys or other kids but still well supervised.Finally, do you feel comfortable? You want to be confident that once you drop off your child, he/she will be happy and well taken care of.Making the Right Decision8. What makes a good teacher?Find out about the teachers' training and credentials. Ideally, head teachers should have a minimum of an associate's degree and formal training in early-childhood education. Research shows that teachers with college degrees and specialized early-childhood training have more positive interactions with children, provide richer language experiences, and are less detached, Also, consider teacher-child ratios. According to standards, there should be at least one teacher for every eight to ten 4- and 5-year-olds, and one adult for every six 2- and 3-year-olds. Low child-teacher ratios are very important, since they allow teachers to give ample attention to everyone. Talk to the teachers about how they work with the kids. Look for teachers who recognize the particular needs of different children, and who know how to adapt a curriculum for those who are ahead as well as for those who need additional help.Visit a class while it's going on. A good teacher talks with children, asking a lot of questions and patiently answering theirs. He/she makes kids feel welcome and fosters their self-confidence. Talk with the teacher about a typical day, and ways in which he/she will keep you informed about your child's progress. If he/she is responsive to your questions and you're happy with his/her answers and his/her classroom style, you've found a good fit.

I sincerely believe that policymakers and politicians have no real clue as to what goes on in a classroom setting. Honestly, I do not believe that they really care about early childhood education in general.Please note that I am a French Canadian and I am a high school teacher. My field of expertise is mathematics. Over twenty odd years, I have been exposed to all sides and facets of policies and procedures trickling down to us teachers from the political slide of the ministry of education in Ontario, Canada.Also, please note that everything that you will read will come from the rawness of a teacher that actually gives a damn. Hopefully, this does not turn into a rant. Hence, I hope to answer the question as best as I can from a Canadian perspective. Please note that I am a French Canadian and I welcome edits since English is not my first language.1- Those political people that somehow get nominated as the minister of education have no clue really as to what goes on in my classroom. In fact, one minister of education that got nominated in Ontario did not even have his high school diploma. His name is John Snobelen.Anyway, check the list below.In parenthesis, I have included what their career was before being nominated.Please scroll down and have a look at their career choices before they became nominated Minister of Education and also look at the amount of time they spent there. I have highlighted in bold the ones that might have an actual interest in the education of our youth. ( I have also put in bold letters the high school drop out… just because… lol)Ministers of Education in Ontario, CanadaAdam Crooks (1876–1883) Liberal (Lawyer)Arthur Sturgis Hardy (1883) interim Liberal (Lawyer)George Ross (1883–1899) Liberal ( Educator)Richard Harcourt (1899–1905) Liberal (Lawyer)Robert Pyne (1905–1918) Conservative (Physician)Henry John Cody (1918–1919) Conservative ( Priest of the church of England)Robert Grant (1919–1923) United Farmers of Ontario ( Member of the United Farmers of Ontario)Howard Ferguson (1923–1930) as Premier Conservative (Lawyer and later became the 9th Premier of Ontario)George Henry (1930–1934) as Premier Conservative (Farmer, businessman)Leonard Simpson (1934–1940) Liberal (Physician)Duncan McArthur (1940–1943) Liberal ( Lawyer)George Drew (1943–1948) Progressive Conservative (Lawyer and later became the 14th Premier of Ontario)Dana Porter (1948–1951) Progressive Conservative (Jurist)William Dunlop (1951–1959) Progressive Conservative (Principal for schools in Tavistock and Peterborough)John Robarts (1959–1962) Progressive Conservative ( Lawyer)Bill Davis (1962–1971) Progressive Conservative (Career politician and later became the 18th Premier of Ontario)Robert Welch (1971–1972) Progressive Conservative (Lawyer)Thomas Wells (1972–1978) Progressive Conservative (Member of the Scarborough board of education)Bette Stephenson (1978–1985) Progressive Conservative (Doctor)Keith Norton (1985, February–May) Progressive Conservative (Lawyer)Larry Grossman (1985, May–June) Progressive Conservative( ( Lawyer)Sean Conway (1985–1987) Liberal (Politician)Christopher Ward (1987–1989) Liberal ( Politician)Sean Conway (1989–1990) Liberal ( Politician)Marion Boyd (1990–1991) NDP (Environmental business consultant and mediator)Tony Silipo (1991–1993) NDP ( Lawyer)Dave Cooke (1993–1995) NDP - Minister of Education and Training ( Social Worker)John Snobelen (1995–1997) Progressive Conservative - Ministry of Education and Training ( High school dropout- business owner)David Johnson (1997–1999) Progressive Conservative - Ministry of Education and Training (Mayor of Toronto)Janet Ecker (1999–2002) Progressive Conservative (Director of Policy for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario)Elizabeth Witmer (2002–2003) Progressive Conservative ( High school teacher)Gerard Kennedy (2003–2006) Liberal (University drop out, historical researcher)Sandra Pupatello (2006) Liberal ( Board member of various hospitals)Kathleen Wynne (2006–2010) Liberal ( School trustee )Leona Dombrowsky (2010–2011) Liberal ( School trustee)Laurel Broten (2011–2013) Liberal (Lawyer)Liz Sandals (2013–2016) Liberal (Computer professor at the University of Guelph)Mitzie Hunter (2016-present) Liberal ( CEO of Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance)Source: Ministry of Education (Ontario) - WikipediaHope you are with me so far.OK, here goes.2- Most of them have spent from 1 to 3 years in that post. Most of them have absolutely no experience in the education field. Need I say more?3- Through the years, they put in place policies and procedures that look good on paper at maybe to their electorates but once those policies and procedures trickle down to the education pole into the classroom it makes no sense sometimes and are downright ridiculous.It reminds me of this cartoon.Source: what the customer really wantedExample, and please note I am speaking for myself only.In one of my classes, I desperately needed hands on material due to their special needs. There was no money in the budget but not long after, somebody at the ministry of education decided that teachers needed training with all the gadgets of technology. Off we go for training with all kinds of electronic gadgets with bells and whistles. ( Smart boards and all kinds of educational apps.)Yet, I still need my hands on material for my special needs students.I’m still waiting for my hands on material and the Smartboard that I was promised (since I had gotten the training for it) has not been installed as of yet and I’ve been waiting for 3 years so far and still waiting. ( I make the request every year.)WTF!By the way, I purchased the hands on material and paid it with my own money. Total cost 150$ and the students have progressed beyond my expectations when it came time for that infamous EQAO test. I’m still waiting for the Smartboard.4- As teachers, we unite and try to communicate with those supposedly ‘experts’ in the education field that have never been in a school setting or even have a friggen clue of what goes on in our lives. They simply do not listen or care of both.I am speaking from experience because I got involved and participated in projects within the Ministry of Education. I listened a lot and everything having to do with the project and I mean everything had political undertones. I soon realised that they are so far removed from the reality of the classroom that frankly, it’s a lost cause.Example: EQAO Home( I have worked on many of their projects on the French side and well, it’s a joke.)Before they instilled this white elephant at the Ministry, our students scored higher in Math according to the PISA assessment.2015 Pisa worldwide ranking - Math - Canada is in 10th place.Source : The latest ranking of top countries in math, reading, and science is out — and the US didn't crack the top 102003 First results of Pisa worldwide ranking - Math -Candada is in 7th placeSource: https://www.oecd.org/edu/school/programmeforinternationalstudentassessmentpisa/34002454.pdfGo to page 12Please note, I only took the information in Mathematics because it is the subject that I am specialised in.So, we went from 7th to 10th place worldwide since the inception of EQAO.I was involved when EQAO was formed. In the beginning it had noble and pure ideas. Then the politicians that have not set foot in a school for years and have no clue took hold of the reins of EQAO and it has now become a friggen joke amongst many of us teachers at the grass roots level. It is now nothing more than a political tool that has no use for us.Again, the trickle down effect leaves us in the dust.5- My conclusionAs an educator, I just want to be able to do my job and meet the needs of my students and have them have fun in a secure and safe environment where it is OK to make mistakes and in the process learn and hopefully have them enjoy their time in a classroom setting and hopefully become a productive citizen of my beloved country.Seriously, is THAT too much to ask for those political fucktards!OK… time to get of this thread, I feel my blood boiling.