Education
A Child’s Ability to Communicate Starts at Birth
Kids start developing communication skills from the moment they’re born. Newborns quickly begin to recognize important sounds in their environment, such as their parents’ voices. As they grow, babies start recognizing the sounds that form language, such as the way syllables, words, and sentences work.
In fact, the first three years of a child’s life are the most critical for speech and language development because the brain is best able to absorb language during this period. That’s why it’s important to talk, listen, read, sing, and play games with young children and help teach important language skills that will last a lifetime.
The Magic Number
This time of year I often get asked, “At what age should I start my child in music lessons?” The answer is not an easy one as each child develops at their own pace. For children, starting music at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons. Some people will tell you, “the sooner, the better”, but if children are put into lessons too soon they may feel overwhelmed and want to stop music altogether.
The Antidote for Educational Disarray
One has to have empathy for the public schools these days. They are expected to do everything: prepare students for college or vocational technical jobs, enable both brighter and slower students to excel at their respective levels, inculcate the “right” values, teach proper sexual behavior, teach students to think critically, raise the self-esteem of students, discipline children, prevent them from turning to drugs, alcohol, or suicide, teach a wide-ranging curriculum, create racial, sexual, and gender understanding and harmony, win ball games, and do it all in a manner that is pleasing to the students so they will not be bored or discouraged.
26th SCAA Art Classic Held at Hart Park
Saturday, October 17 will be the 26th Annual Art Classic fine arts competition presented by the Santa Clarita Artists Association (SCAA) and the County of Los Angeles. Â The Gala event will be held at Hart Hall at William S. Hart Park in Newhall, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
No More Back To School Blues for Special Needs Students
Just hearing the words, “back to school” can incite trepidation in the hearts and minds of special needs parents and children. The joy and anticipation inspired by returning to school is often overshadowed by anxiety and fear.
There is nothing simple about the transition from vacation to school, but there are several ways to reduce anxiety and increase optimism for the new school year. Establishing a team approach including parents, students and educators is important.
Hooray for Sulphur Springs Union School District!
Sulphur Springs Union School District’s parents, students, staff, teachers and administrators are off and running with the 2015-16 school year. The doors of the nine elementary schools are open as students have started their learning. Parents have attended Back to School Nights. Staff and teachers are providing the very best instructional program so that each and every student succeeds. Site administrators are excited to have everything in place so that school will be engaging and motivating for students to help prepare them for the 4C’s of the 21st Century-Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity and Communication.Â
Creativity through Failure
About 240 years ago, some very creative guys in Philadelphia had some really creative ideas about government. We don’t think of our Declaration of Independence as a “creative” document, but we know that those “radical” ideas literally created a revolution. Creativity is like that. You don’t know what’s going to happen when you let it loose. Wikipedia (another creative idea), defines creativity as a phenomenon where something new and valuable is formed. That definition might seem highfalutin, but it is what can happen when we bring our ideas into the world.Â
Saugus Union School District-Excellence in Elementary Education
Welcome to the 2015-16 school year in the Saugus Union School District with fifteen award-winning schools serving the communities of Saugus, Valencia, and Canyon Country! With over 100 years of experience and traditions, our Vision, Academic and Personal Success for Every Child, inspires and guides our Saugus teachers, staffs and administrators to achieve Excellence in Elementary Education.
Saugus High School REACH – Crystal Hilstein provides the academic environment for students to reach for the stars!
Like many students in the past two decades, Crystal Hilstein was the first in her family to go to college. Â An accomplishment extremely important to her, Crystal’s continued education wasn’t going to happen unless she made it happen. Â That goal drove her to an intense passion for education—something that clearly started long before she became 2015 Saugus High School Teacher of the Year. Â
Ronald McDonald Helps Santa Clarita Kids
Child & Family Center has received a Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California Community Grant in the amount of $16,610 to purchase therapeutic equipment and toys for Child & Family’s Bright Beginnings Therapeutic Preschool as well as other programs, which help young children at the Center.
Primetime Preschool to Add More Classes for 2015–2016 School Year
The City of Santa Clarita’s Primetime Preschool has added additional classes for the 2015-2016 school year at the North Oaks Park and Newhall Park locations. The Primetime Preschool Office is currently accepting online and walk-in registration.
SCVi Welcomes New K-8 Director – Latimer Brings 27 Years’ Experience to iLEAD Schools’ Founding Campus
SCVi Charter School has hired a new lower campus director who brings nearly three decades of education experience to her new role overseeing kindergarten through eighth grade at the founding campus of iLEAD Schools.
Lisa Latimer arrived on the Hasley Canyon Road campus this month after 17 years teaching kindergarten through fifth grade, followed by 10 years as campus director of a private school in Lancaster.
Committed to Education
Pinecrest Schools have one of the best educations in the country. With five different campuses throughout Southern California, Pinecrest Schools crave to achieve excellence from Toddler age through middle school.
Founded in 1951 by teacher Edna Mae Dye, Pinecrest has a long history of building the minds of future leaders of our country. Pinecrest is one of the rare private, family-operated schools in the United States. Each campus offers different programs, but collectively have one goal in mind: Giving the best education to children and offering them great care, all at an affordable price.
Gardening with Children in Preschool
We have a garden at our preschool, why would you not?
Gardening gives children an opportunity to work together, interact and be in a natural environment where they create their own work by imitating what adults do, and listening to their guidance. It is “work” and when children are working it is very important to let them do it themselves, it empowers them. Gardening fosters nurturing; children learn the importance of taking care of living things and natural resources.
Tips For Getting Your Kids To Practice – That Really Work!
As September approaches and another school year is upon us yet again, things tend to get very busy here at the Academy. We sign up more students during the months of August and September than any other time of year. The one thing I hear from parents, especially of our newer students, is that they can’t or don’t know how to get their kids to practice at home. As the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect”, and though it’s cliché, it’s a true:
Get the Skinny on Extra Curricular Courses for High School
Wow so many options, how can a parent decide on what is right for their child: traditional school, private schools, home school, on line schools, middle college high schools, alternative schools, supplemental education schools, or hybrid models. This is so confusing!
Will Your Student Approach the SAT with Panache?
Is your plan for SAT Preparation filled with panache or procrastination? When should students prepare for the upcoming SAT Test? I am trying to be pithy when I share that procrastination prevents practical preparation. The research is in and is undeniable that professional preparation that combines an individual analysis of strengths and weaknesses, a game plan for test strategies and lots of opportunities for content question practice leads to higher scores.
SCVi – A School where Kids Want to Learn
As the 2015/2016 school year approaches, students and families across town are scrambling to squeeze in the last bits of fun before school begins. However, many of the learners from SCVi, iLEAD’s founding school, feel a bit differently about being away from their campus.Â
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