How Private Kindergarten Programs Have Changed In Past 10 Years

Posted on Thursday February 10 , 2022 by Carin Simon
Kindergarten students sitting on the floor listening to teacher

The private kindergarten school system has come a long way over the past ten years in developing a teaching curriculum that works for children. As the world shifts to a more child-focused teaching environment, private schools are leading the charge. In this article, Strelitz International Academy, a private kindergarten near Chesapeake, VA , reviews the ways that kindergarten has changed over the past ten years.

Kindergarten 10 Years Ago

Within the past ten years, school programs and curriculums have evolved to meet the needs of childhood development. As with many psychological discoveries, new information and techniques are learned every day. Because of this, teachers and administrators are constantly changing school curriculums to meet the needs of their students.

Public Kindergarten

In the public school system, we have seen this develop through the switch from the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) to the new Every Student Succeeds Act (2015). Up until recently, it was standard for kindergarten students to be pushed hard academically. Students were expected to leave kindergarten with enough knowledge to succeed in first grade. This rigorous academic expectation was made at the detriment of the child’s development of inquiry, social skills, and imagination. While this academic approach was effective, it was not the most effective approach.

Private Kindergarten Program

In the private school system, the development of learning objectives and curriculums has followed a similar path. In more recent years, a 2018 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics demonstrates that students learn best through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. This shift towards a more student-centered learning environment has been fully implemented in the private kindergarten program at Strelitz International Academy.

Private Kindergarten Program Now

Unlike public schools, private schools are not directed to teach a specific curriculum by the state. Because of this, private schools are able to stay on top of the most recent childhood development research, and implement it into our learning environment. This has allowed us to switch much faster to a student-led learning environment and perfect this style of teaching much quicker.

Private schools are able to offer student-led learning activities instead of relying on memorization techniques. Similarly, students are not required to meet standardized testing measures and are instead encouraged to learn and explore things that interest them. This provides an opportunity for children to learn basic motor skills in kindergarten without relying on outdated methods of teaching.

International Baccalaureate

One of the ways that private kindergarten programs have created this environment is through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. This program uses the inquiry-based learning approach and encourages kindergartners to explore, play, and learn in a way that suits them. This teaching style has proven to be effective in developing well-rounded, high-achieving, global citizens that exceed inside and outside the classroom.

Your child’s success story starts in the classroom, you want to set them up for success with the right balance of values and academics. International Baccalaureate students are in an environment where their interests and strengths are fostered. This allows them to realize what they learn in the classroom is a reflection of the world around them.

Private Kindergarten in Virginia Beach

Are you looking for a private kindergarten in Virginia Beach that offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program? Strelitz International Academy is the private school for your child! Our team of teachers, administrators, and staff are dedicated to cultivating an environment when your little one can thrive. Our goal is to set them up for success. Not only for their goals as a student, but also for their goals as an individual.

You can read more about our Primary Years Program on our website and discover how your child can thrive. We are currently enrolling for the 2022-2023 school year and would love to see your kindergartner walking our halls.

To find out more and schedule a campus tour, please call 757-424-4327.

Helping Kindergarteners Cope with School Anxiety

Posted on Wednesday November 10 , 2021 by Carin Simon
kindergarteners doing anxiety-free activities

Almost every parent has heard “I don’t want to go to school!” accompanied by sudden complaints about a body part hurting, or feeling sick. If you let your child stay home, these symptoms disappear like magic. This is a normal, if annoying situation if it only happens occasionally, but it becomes a regular issue, this may be a sign of a deeper anxiety. Luckily, there are several ways you can help your kids handle anxiety related to school.

The first step, and a good idea in general, is to listen. Acknowledge what your child is feeling so they’ll know it’s always okay to come talk to you. Be careful that you don’t dismiss a concern (“No need to worry. “You’ll be fine!”) or ask questions suggesting you’re anticipating that your child will be anxious (“Are you worried about going back to school?”). Remember that sometimes kids don’t expect you to fix a problem. They just want to feel listened to about whatever’s bothering them. In this case, all you need to do is validate their feelings (“I know this is hard”) and let them know you’re confident they can handle the situation themselves.

Once you know what’s going on, you and your child can work together on a plan. Ask “Is there anything in particular that’s worrying you?” “How can we make things easier? “Is there anyone else, like a friend or other family you’d like to talk to about this?” Make it clear that, while you’ll do everything you can to offer support, ultimately your child’s job is to go to school, and staying home is not an option.

There might be something that’s happened recently that could be contributing to the anxiety, such as an illness or death in the family, or a fight with a friend. Anxiety is also often the result of not enough sleep or improper eating.

Finding solutions can give children the confidence to deal with worries about stressful situations, and feeling in control will make your child feel more independent. Most children are extremely resilient and will be just fine once they get through an adjustment period.

As the most important role model for your child, don’t forget to lead by example when it comes to self-care. If you’re feeling exhausted or upset yourself, you might be inadvertently giving off an anxious vibe. Small things that create a brief transition, like a few deep breaths or getting a drink of water can be very helpful. Encourage your kids to join you in healthy coping activities, like getting a drink of water, going for a walk, or blowing bubbles, which usually makes everyone, no matter how young or old, feel better.

Some worry is natural after any transition — especially these days when children are being asked to do many new things all at once. But if your child refuses to go to school on a regular basis or has problems staying in school, school anxiety (also known as school refusal) may be the cause.

Often a symptom of a deeper problem, anxiety-based school refusal affects 2 to 5% of children aged 5 – 6, and/or 10-11, usually at times of stressful transition, such as a move or a new school. Children who suffer from school refusal tend to have average or above-average intelligence. But if their fears keep them away from school and friends for any length of time, counseling is a helpful solution.

At the Strelitz International Academy, we understand that school can be stressful for students. All students participate in recess daily and take brain breaks in class in between subjects. SIA school counselors are available to meet with students when they need an outlet to talk. In addition, we have a partnership with Jewish Family Service for students and families who need further resources.

Are You Looking for a Private Kindergarten School in Virginia Beach or near Chesapeake, VA?

Strelitz International Academy is one of the best private schools in southeastern Virginia. All of the instructors in our IB® Primary Years Programme (PYP), make compassionate instruction a priority. We believe your child will flourish in our environment, thanks to smaller class sizes, a unique curriculum, and exemplary teachers, staff, and administrators. Our goal is to put your child on the path to a lifelong love of learning and educational excellence.

We invite you to visit and learn more about our curriculum. Click here to find out more, or please give us a call at 757-424-4327.

Is Your Kid Ready for Kindergarten?

Posted on Wednesday September 22 , 2021 by Carin Simon
Children are writing

The first day of kindergarten is a major milestone for young students and their parents. You might feel a little anxious as the big day approaches, and unsure if your little one is ready. What skills should your child have before making the leap to kindergarten?

Whether your child will be attending a public or private kindergarten (like Strelitz International Academy’s Early Years Program in Virginia Beach, VA), there are skills that, if mastered before school starts, will make the transition to kindergarten life much smoother.

Read on to learn some of the academic (and non-academic) activities your child should know before entering kindergarten.

Social/Emotional

– Separates from parents or caregivers easily.
– Adapts to new situations with relative ease.
– Sits quietly without interrupting.
– Expresses basic needs.
– Can play independently with other kids
– Works cooperatively and shares during playtime.
– Exhibits personal-care independence (i.e. using a tissue, washing hands, drinking from a water fountain).
– Knows when to say please, thank you, and excuse me.

Language & Reading

– Knows first and last name and can recognize the first name in print.
– Knows at least one parent’s first and last name, and can repeat home address, birthday, and an emergency phone number.
– Recognizes some or all alphabet letters, both uppercase and lowercase (doesn’t have to be in order), and can identify some letter sounds.
– Can say or sing the alphabet.
– Knows when two words rhyme.
– Recognizes familiar words and symbols, like stop signs.
– Pretends to read books.
– Offers input when being read to, and can tell personal stories.

Mathematics

– Recognizes and can say numbers 1-10 (not necessarily in order).
– Counts up to five objects.
– Arranges numbers in order from 1 to 5
– Identifies at least three shapes ( circle, square, triangle).
– Arrange objects in size order.

Reasoning

– Understands (and follows) directions with more than one step.
– Plays simple memory matching games.
– Classifies objects by physical features (i.e., color, shape, and size).
– Grasps the concepts of in/out, front/back, on/off, big/little, and up/down.
– Completes simple puzzles (up to four pieces).
– Identifies up to five colors.
– Understands the concept of cause and effect.
– Draws pictures to express ideas.

Physical Skills

– Holds a book and turns the pages.
– Builds with blocks.
– Opens lunch containers.
– Tries to tie their own shoes.
– Puts on and takes off a backpack.
– Uses buttons and zippers.
– Pour liquids without spilling.
– Uses pens, pencils, and art supplies with some control.
– Demonstrates gross motor skills like jumping, running, and/or bouncing a ball.

This list might seem overwhelming, but don’t worry! It’s totally normal for children not to have mastered every single skill before kindergarten. Plus, there’s a lot you can do to help them get up to speed.

Some Ways to Help Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

As mentioned above, your child might not master certain skills on the list until kindergarten – and you’ll be amazed at how much material teachers cover in a single year. But there are activities you can do with your preschooler to help prepare for kindergarten. Start by picking a few items on the checklist to try during playtime, and make a note of any that need more practice.

Encourage Independence at Home.

It may be faster to pitch in and help, but let your child dress himself, use the toilet, wash his hands, put on and take off his coat, and put on and remove his own shoes.

Your child should know how to blow her nose and cough into her arm without assistance. But of course, always make sure she’s comfortable asking an adult for help when the going gets tough.

Teach Responsibility.

You may already be doing this, but give your child some jobs to do, like making the bed, putting away toys, or filling water bottles before a family hike. Having responsibilities will make your preschooler feel empowered, and sets the stage for what will be expected in kindergarten.

Stick to Routines.

This is critical since the typical kindergarten day is tightly regimented. Begin waking up at the same time every morning, getting dressed, and loading a backpack well before school starts in the fall to make the transition seamless.

Read Aloud.

Take your child to the library. Checking out books is a surefire way to spark an interest in reading. Read together every day, and read anything you see together, like billboards and signs. Knowing how to rhyme is extremely important when learning to read, so try checking out some nursery rhymes and Dr. Seuss’s books.

Lastly, prepare your child emotionally for this big change by talking about it frequently during the summer months.

Are You Looking into Private Kindergarten Schools in Virginia Beach?

Strelitz International Academy is a top private school in the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia. We’ve developed a unique IB® Primary Years Programme (PYP) designed for 3- to 12-year-old elementary school students. We believe children thrive in smaller classes following a creative curriculum. We’re very proud of our experienced and compassionate teachers, staff, and administrators, all of whom hope to instill a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

Please contact us to schedule a tour and learn more about our programs. We’re eager to share what we offer! To find out more, call us at 757-424-4327.

5 Fine Motor Skills Needed for Kindergarten Readiness in 2021

Posted on Tuesday August 31 , 2021 by Carin Simon
A kid practicing gardening activity

Even if your child has experienced pre-school, moving on to kindergarten is still an exciting step into the “big kid” world. Besides shopping for school supplies and new shoes, there are things you can do to make sure your little one is ready for the transition, including working on fine motor skills.

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

We’re so used to our bodies doing whatever we need them to do for daily tasks that it may seem like gross and fine motor skills are completely intuitive. This isn’t the case. Whereas gross motor skills refer to how well we use the large muscles in our body to run, jump and get out of bed, fine motor skills develop the small muscles in our wrists, hands, and fingers, allowing us to do everything from tying our shoes and buttoning our shirts to typing on a keyboard.

For small children, honing their fine motor abilities and hand-eye coordination are important steps toward independence. The ability to open doors, zip up a backpack, and wash their own hands lays the foundation for skills that come later, such as holding a pencil and playing a musical instrument.

For example, before children can learn to write or draw, their hands need to be strong enough to hold a pencil steady for extended amounts of time. Dexterity and coordination are also essential in order to take part in school sports and games.

Here are 5 skills to help your child master before entering kindergarten:
– Use a pencil or crayon with some control
– Cut with scissors
– Copy basic shapes
– Form numbers and letters, especially the ones in their name
– Put together simple puzzles

What Are Some Fine Motor Activities for Kids?

1. Playing with Play Dough
If you don’t have any play clay on hand, it’s easy to make your own. To strengthen hand muscles, encourage your child to squeeze, stretch, pinch and roll “snakes”.
2. Playing with Sponges
Gather together a clean sponge, two bowls, and some water, and you’ll have another fine motor skills activity to strengthen hands and forearms. Fill one bowl with water and leave the other one empty, so your child can soak the sponge in the water and then squeeze it out into the other bowl.
3. Painting
Finger painting is a great way for kids to not only practice using their hands but also get really messy! You can also introduce painting with a brush, which helps children learn how to hold a brush correctly and use it as a tool. Try paint-by-number kits for this activity.
4. Practicing with tongs and tweezers
Moving different tiny objects (like Cheerios or beads) from one container to the other builds strength and coordination – and is also really fun.
5. Water play
Find an eyedropper, fill a cup about a quarter full of water and let your child try to transfer the water from one cup to the other by drawing the water into the dropper and squirting it into the empty cup. To make this even more exciting, have several cups and dye the water different colors with food coloring.
6. Gardening and planting
Digging and gardening might seem more like a way to build gross motor skills but certain enrichment activities, like transferring seedlings, require smaller muscle control and hand-eye coordination skills. Grasping a trowel also practices using a pincer grip.

Are You Looking for a Private Kindergarten School in Virginia Beach or near Chesapeake, VA?

Strelitz International Academy is one of the best private schools in southeastern Virginia. We take pride in our IB® Primary Years Programme (PYP), which is available to 3- to 12-year-old elementary school students. We believe your child will flourish in our environment, thanks to smaller class sizes, a unique curriculum, and exemplary teachers, staff, and administrators. Our goal is to put your child on the path to a lifelong love of learning and educational excellence.

We invite you to visit and learn more about our curriculum. Click here to find out more, or please give us a call at 757-424-4327.

Importance of Pre-Kindergarten

Posted on Saturday July 24 , 2021 by Carin Simon
Teacher teaching all Pre-Kindergarten students

What Is The Difference Between Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten?

Essentially, the goals of both preschool and pre-Kindergarten are the same – to get your preschool or pre-Kindergarten age child ready for kindergarten. One of the main differences between a preschool and a pre-Kindergarten classroom is the age and developmental abilities of the children who participate.

Depending on state licensing regulations and enrollment needs, the appropriate age for preschool is usually from 2 ½ to 4 ½ years old. Regardless of the child’s age, the learning is very similar, with emphasis on learning ABC’s, numbers to ten, and how to interact with other kids.

During the early preschool years, children develop vocabulary and language skills, are introduced to a wide variety of materials, and begin to learn how to work with others as well as independently. Both preschool and pre-Kindergarten classrooms emphasize learning through hands-on experiences, and exploration.

Pre-Kindergarten acts as the essential bridge between preschool and kindergarten and are designed for children who are 4 or 5 years old. While each child develops at his or her own pace, activities in pre-Kindergarten programs are focused on developing the skills and more advanced learning they’ll need to ensure success in kindergarten.

Why Is Pre-Kindergarten Important?

Research has shown that young children who participate in high-quality pre-Kindergarten programs enter school more ready to learn than their peers. A study in Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia found that children in state pre-Kindergarten scored 31 percent higher on vocabulary tests and 44 percent higher on math tests than those of non-participants, placing them three to four months ahead of non-participants.

According to the Urban Child Institutes, school readiness, i.e., the cognitive, behavioral and social skills that help a child perform at an appropriate level in school, is a good predictor of long-term achievement. Research suggests that there are four key dimensions of readiness – language and literacy, thinking skills, self-control, and self-confidence.

When these four foundations are strong, a child is ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. When a child enters kindergarten lacking the necessary skills to be successful, it’s much hard for him or her to keep up with their peers and move forward.

Pre-Kindergarten is also useful because many students need an extra year to get used to a classroom, and an educational environment where they can get excited about learning. Pre-Kindergarten can help a child develop confidence, making it easier to master concepts and learn to cooperate with their peers.

If you’re interested in a private school pre-Kindergarten program, consider our Strelitz Early Years Program. Our teachers guide students in a loving and nurturing environment which encourages language development, creativity, logical thinking, problem-solving and exploration of the world.

We know Early Childhood Education teaches emotional and social lessons along with basic educational skills. That’s why the staff, administration, and teachers of Strelitz International Academy believe in inquiry-based education rather than the standardized curriculums used in public school.

It’s also a reason why we chose to meet the rigorous demands necessary to become an International Baccalaureate (IB®) school, offering their Primary Years Programme (PYP) to students between the ages of 3 and 12 (kindergarten through 5th grade).

We invite you to come join us, learn more about our curriculum and our dedication to helping children learn so we can get their journey started. Give us a call at 757-424-4327.

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