Education & Enrichment Guide - Early Learning Elementary & Secondary Enrichment Special Education - Pittsburgh Parent
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Education &
Enrichment Guide
Early Learning
14 - 18
Elementary & Secondary
19 - 27
Enrichment
28 - 31
Special Education
32 - 33
JANUARY 2021 13
Early Learning
Benefits
of half-day Kindergarten
By Cheryl Maguire
an we go to the library playroom dergarten versus half day (at first there
and do a puppet show?” my six- were some gains but it was short-lived).
year-old daughter asked. More time to play
“Sure. Do you remember when While my kids were in half day
we used to come here for story time in Kindergarten they had the opportunity
the morning before you went to after- to have unstructured play time either
noon Kindergarten?” alone or with other friends. The benefits
“Yes, with Miss Carol! It was so much of unstructured play include a stronger
fun.” bond to family members, better peer
I have warm memories of library relationships, improved problem
story time with all three of my children. solving and healthy develop-
We had this experience since they ment.
attended half day Kindergarten. In My children developed
their school, I had an option to pay for They will be in
friendships during this
full-day Kindergarten whereas half day school for six
time which they main-
is free. There are a limited amount of hours a day
tained over the past six
full-day spots so if you are interested in for the next
years. I also met and
full-day Kindergarten you are placed in twelve years
socialized with their
a lottery system. My twins were not se- so I’m grateful
friend’s parents. We did
lected for the lottery full day spots, but I for the addi-
activities such as library
discovered it was for the best. Because tional time with
story time which had
I enjoyed having a few extra hours with them.
some structure mixed
my twins, I chose half-day Kindergarten with unstructured time to Five year olds
for my younger daughter as well. allow the children to social- low attention
No significant educational benefit ize with one another. span
The main reason I wanted to enroll More time with family Most five-year-olds
my twins in full day Kindergarten is (the age children are in Kinder-
Research from the University of Illi-
because I thought they would receive garten) have a limited attention span.
nois found when families regularly spent
more education which would help them According to the website Day2Day
time together (in this case they studied
excel academically the following year. parenting, the average five-six-year-
going on nature hikes) they functioned
Both of them have done well in school old child can attend to something of
better as a family. The study suggests
academically despite the fewer hours in interest to them for ten-15 minutes, but
the time together enables families to
school. this time frame decreases to only five-
better read social cues which led to
ten minutes for uninteresting topics. A
Research by Philip DeCicca at feeling less irritable and more in control.
school day is six hours long which may
McMaster University in Hamilton had I look back on those extra hours I be difficult for children at this age to
similar findings to my experience. He had with all three of my children with remain on task for this time period.
tested children at the end of first grade fond memories. Besides going to library
and found there was little difference in story time we also went to playgrounds, Costs less money
both the reading and math test scores playgroups, and other similar activities. The cost of full-day Kindergarten is
of children who attended full-day Kin-
14 JANUARY 2021 Early Learning PittsburghParent.com
expensive. In the school my children at-
tend it is $3k per child so for my twins it
would have been $6k! Instead of spend-
ing the money on school I was able to
save some of it. I used the remainder to
pay for activities such as a gymnastics
class or dance class. There are only 180 Celebrating over 45 years of excellence
days of school and some days are half • Accredited by the National Association for
days. After I realized this with my twins the Education of Young Children since 1986
for me it wasn’t worth spending an extra
$3k for only three hours extra per day • A four-star facility by Keystone STARS Program
for my younger daughter. • Awarded gold environmental certification from
the US Green Building Council as an Existing
What is best for your child Facility
You know your child better than • Multiple grassy and tree-lined outdoor play
anyone. If you feel they would benefit spaces with new playground equipment
from full day they might. Also some • Accepts children six weeks to six years
parents may think full day Kindergarten • Exceptional child/staff ratio
is a good alternative to day care. At the
time I made the decision, I thought my • Fully licensed, exceptional all-day
children would receive more education Kindergarten
which would help the following year. • Open Mon.-Fri., 8:00am to 5:00pm
When we ended up not making the lot- • Located in a quiet residential area
tery for full day we made the best of the • Limited number of spaces still available
situation and in the end it worked out
for us. n
Call 412-421-0300
for information
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of
Counseling Psychology degree. She
married and is the mother of twins and
a daughter. You can find her at Twitter @ Carriage House Children’s Center
CherylMaguire05 Wightman School Community Building
5604 Solway Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1264
www.carriagehouse.org
PittsburghParent.com Early Learning JANUARY 2021 15
EducationConnection Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Dear Teacher
Success secrets in content area subjects
Q: My son is only in third grade
and is having difficulty under-
standing math, science and
social studies. What can I do to help him
The essential vocabulary of each
content area is not easy to identify. These
words are not usually found in basal read-
ers nor on general vocabulary lists.
handle these classes? – HELP Most science and social studies and
A: The first thing that you need
to do is to determine with his
teacher’s help exactly why he
is having problems with these three
even math textbooks and e-books do give
students obvious clues about the words
needed to master these subjects. Typi-
cally, they are found in a list at the start
of a chapter or in the end material of the
subjects. Is it a reading problem? Is it
chapter.
possibly a learning disability? If it is one
of these two problems, testing will need When your son starts a new chapter,
to be done to find the way to help him. look over the important chapter words
with him. Choose a few each day and help
On the other hand, the problem
him pronounce them and have him look
could be that your son does not know
up their meaning in the book’s glossary if
the meaning of the new words that are
there is one. Then to reinforce the learn-
being introduced in these content areas.
ing of these words, you may wish to have
Content area vocabulary begins to
him read assignments with you and look up
emerge in third grade. It is the unique
again any words that he cannot define for
technical vocabulary used to teach the
you.
ideas, facts and skills of each content
area subject. For example, understand- It will further help him learn these words
ing words like “fraction,” “numerator” if he does all the exercises at the end of
and “denominator” is necessary to suc- science and social studies chapters — even
ceed in math. if they are not assigned. For further reinforcement and understanding of this new
vocabulary, make it a point to discuss what he has learned in school every day while
trying to use the new vocabulary words.
If learning the content words does not help him, then it is
time for another chat with his teacher.
Understanding multiplication
made easy
Providence Heights Alpha School is an independent,
Catholic school for students in PreK through 8.
Q: A while back I believe that you had an article on mul-
tiplication for those students who were not learning in
traditional ways. You mentioned using 3 paper plates
and 5 blocks to show 3 x 5 = 15 instead of rotely memorizing
3 x 5 = 15. Can you explain it again? I hope this helps my third
grader who just doesn’t get multiplication. – Parent
A: Whether students do or don’t get multiplication, the
best way to acquaint them with the concept is through
the use of pictures, drawings and hands-on material.
This gives them an understanding of what multiplication looks
like and is not the time to drill children to memorize the facts.
r NOW ENROT,T,TNG
Later on, there is time to commit these facts to memory.
Here’s how the paper plate introduction to multiplication
works. Have your children lay out 3 plates and place five blocks
on each plate. Ask, “How many blocks did you use altogether?”
Then have the children count the blocks. Repeat the activity us-
ing different combinations of plates and blocks.
Call for more information or to schedule a private tour. Next, introduce the symbolism for multiplication “x,” the
“times sign.” Use the symbol in a sample multiplication sen-
9000 Babcock Blvd. 412.366.4455 tence, such as 2 x 3. This time use blocks. The height of the
Allison Park, PA 15101 AlphaSchool.org blocks is 2, and the length is 3. The figure contains 6 blocks, so 2
x 3 = 6. Repeat this with other number combinations.
Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence
16 JANUARY 2021 Early Learning PittsburghParent.com
54
Royal Oak
Years Nursery School
& Kindergarten
Est. 1967
Now Accepting Enrollment
Family Owned & Operated • 7am-6pm
State Licensed & Certified Teachers
Half/Full Day Education Programs
Ages 3 thru 6-years-old
Before/After school care
4413 Mt. Royal Blvd.
Allison Park
412-487-1668 • royaloaksch.com
Beulah Christian
Preschool and
Child Care
Preschool Classes—Ages 2 to 5 yrs.
Yearly Child Care—6 wks. to 5 yrs.
Open 7am - 6pm
2500 McCrady Rd. • Churchill/Penn Hills
Classes are open to all children regardless
of race, religion or national origin.
NAEYC Accredited • Keystone Stars 4 Center
To register call 412-242-4424
or visit beulahpscc.org
fact 3 x 5 = 15. Work instead of really reading everything on
through all of the flash all the pages.
cards in this way. Skimming gives you a general
Once children begin overview. Your eyes move quickly over
to learn some of the a page, looking only for highlights, key
multiplication facts, they words and phrases. When you skim,
should write down the you read only a little bit of the informa-
problem with the answer tion on the page. You skip most of the
if they know it. If not, material. If children want to know what a
they can use the plates chapter in their science books is about,
and blocks to determine they will read only the headings and
it. This is better than glance at the pictures and charts. This is
your telling them what a smart thing for them to do before they
the answer is and is the read the entire chapter.
first step in their learning Scanning helps you find one thing
multiplication facts. quickly — like finding one person’s
name on a list. You will need to com-
bine what you have learned about
Now your children are ready to make reading from left to right with reading
multiplication cards, starting with 1 x 1 Skimming and the page from top to bottom. Your eyes
scanning defined
through 6 x 6 for younger children and move quickly. Children should use scan-
continuing to 9 x 9 for older ones. Do ning when they are looking for a specific
Q:
not include the answers (products) on event, like a battle in their social studies
either the front or back of the card as Is there a difference between book. n
the products should be determined by skimming and scanning? Or
the learner. are they both the same skill? Parents should send questions and
Go back to the plates and blocks – Puzzled comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.
A:
and have the children select a multipli- com or ask them on the columnists’
cation card at random. If it is 3 x 5, for Skimming and scanning are website at www.dearteacher.com.
example, they should follow the same different skills. Both skills help
steps as they did earlier. They should you pick out just a few bits
count all the blocks and then write the of information that you can use later
PittsburghParent.com Early Learning JANUARY 2021 17
An insider’s
guide to
choosing the
right daycare Did you walk right in without anyone noticing you? Do the children look
happy and occupied? Notice the teachers: Are they warm and caring? Do
they seem to genuinely like children?
By Rachael Moshman Recommendations
Ask other parents and caregivers who currently use the daycare as well
as former families about their experiences there. Also check with the local
hoosing a daycare is one of the most Better Business Bureau. A quick online search never hurts, either.
important decisions parents make for Cleanliness
their infants and toddlers. Your child
will spend most of his waking hours Sure, with dozens of small children, it’s tough to keep a building clean, but it is
there, so it’s important to find an environ- imperative to keep everyone healthy. Do you notice any foul smells? Teachers should
ment that is safe and nurturing physically, wear gloves for diapering and wash their hands before and after. Procedures should
emotionally and academically. be in place for sanitizing all equipment and toys throughout the day.
I’ve worked in the field of early child- Ratios
hood education for decades. Here are my In Florida, one teacher is allowed by law to be alone with eleven two-year-olds.
top things to look for when searching for The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommends
the right childcare. a one-to-six ratio for the same age group. The lower the ratio, the more attention
Convenience your child will receive. The ratio varies depending on the age group. If your day-
care is NAEYC-approved, find out the appropriate NAEYC ratio for your child’s age.
Consider the following: Do the pro- Check the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to learn
gram’s hours work for your schedule? Is it your state’s health and safety recommendations.
near your home or office? How long will it
take you to get there if there’s an emer- Turnover
gency during the day? Once you’ve found the perfect teacher, you want some assurance that she won’t
Cost leave two weeks after you enroll your child. Find out the program’s turnover rate. If
teachers frequently leave, they may be unhappy about the way they’re treated or
While it’s crucial to find a program about something happening at the school, which is cause for concern.
that fits into your budget, that doesn’t
mean you should scrimp on quality. If Policies and procedures
your dream daycare is too costly for you Confirm the school is up to date on licensing standards by contacting your local
to manage, ask about scholarships. Many department of children and families. Ask to see the school’s policy and procedure
communities have programs to help work- handbooks. They should have plans in place for dealing with a wide variety of issues
ing parents with the cost of childcare. from lice outbreaks to power outages. Ask about the center’s safety procedures.
First impressions Choosing a daycare doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In the end, trust your
Drop in unannounced to get a feel for instincts. n
a place. Pay close attention to how you’re Rachael Moshman, M.Ed. is a mom, writer and educator. Find her at www.ram-
greeted and what’s going on. Is it chaotic? blingrach.com
A safe and positive learning environment
• Infant through Kindergarten
• M - F from 6:30am to 6:30pm
Offering a long tradition of excellence in early childhood education • Now accepting open enrollment for full day PreK
Child-centered curriculum for two-, three-, and pre-k four-and five-year-olds • Now enrolling for the 2021-22 school year
for full day kindergarten
• Foster development of the whole child • Encourage creativity and independence
• Model respect for others • Promote play-based learning and problem solving www.priorycourtchildrenscenter.com
Priorycourt91@gmail.com • 412-487-5758
5121 Westminster Place, Pgh., PA 15232 • 412-681-6311 •ShadySideSchool.org 2566 Duncan Avenue • Allison Park, PA (Just off Rt. 8)
18 JANUARY 2021 Early Learning PittsburghParent.com
Elementary & Secondary
How to survive the elementary school years -
Parenting tips for ages 6 to 10
By Kimberly Blaker
ou survived potty training and the terrible twos; you’ve re- ness with you.
claimed your bed, and your child is now somewhat self-suf-
ficient. Life ought to be smooth sailing from here on, right?
Perhaps. That is if you don’t take into account the elemen-
Media overload. With the overwhelming variety of
media available to kids, it’s hard to know where to draw the
tary school-age battles that lie just ahead. But don’t sweat it. line. But the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends
The following tips will help you ride out this adventuresome kids be limited to no more than two hours of entertainment-
yet trying stage. based screen time per day.
To gain cooperation, invite your child to help you establish
Tattletales. Does your child tattle every time a sibling
or playmate breaks a rule? Kids tattle for many reasons. Some-
media use rules. List the various forms of media used by your
child, including tv, video games, computer and cell phone.
times they don’t understand the difference between tattling Establish a total number of hours per day your kid can use
and telling about something important. Other times, kids are media. Then ask your child to help you break down how much
looking to get another into trouble. of that time can be spent on specific forms. Also, discuss the
So explain the difference between tattling and telling. Tat- measures you’ll take if rules are violated.
tling is when someone breaks a rule (or when there is no rule),
and breaking the rule is relatively harmless. Telling, on the
other hand, is when another child does something that could
Chore wars.
As your child grows,
cause harm to oneself or others. Make a rule that you don’t so should his or
want to hear any tattling, but that telling is okay and even her responsibilities.
necessary. In the elementary
years, kids can pick
Lying. Every child tells a lie at some point or another.
Even most adults are guilty of occasional white lies. Still,
up their rooms, set
and clear off the
teaching kids to be honest is vital to developing into trustwor- table, sort their
thy adults and their ability to form intimate relationships. laundry, fold laundry,
Talk to your child about how lying diminishes yours and put away their clean
others’ ability to clothes, bring in the
trust your child. mail, rake leaves and
Talk to your Explain how it can
impact your child’s
dust, among other
simple tasks.
relationships. So have your
child about how Then, if you catch
your kid in a lie,
child choose a small
number of simple chores. As your kid grows, increase the
explain how his or amount or level of difficulty. To gain cooperation, set a regular
her future freedom schedule for each task, and offer daily or weekly rewards or an
lying diminishes and privileges are allowance.
dependent on how
well you can trust Homework hassles. This is a routine challenge for
yours and others’ your child. many parents. So hold a meeting with your child to discuss
homework. Explain you’re going to set some rules. Then give
Also, to build
your kid’s trust in your kid a couple of choices to increase cooperation. One
ability to trust you, practice being
open and nonjudg-
option might be 30 minutes of free time or media time after
school before having to begin homework. Another option
mental. This will go could be to do chores and free time right after school. Then
homework will start immediately following dinner. But avoid
your child. a long way toward
your child’s open- saving homework until late in the evening.
Continued on page 20…
PittsburghParent.com Elementary & Secondary JANUARY 2021 19
Continued from page 19… ents fumbling. So, prepare in advance
for the inevitable discussions so you
Small classes. Big ideas. can answer questions in the best way
Then require your kids to put their
phones on the charger, away from the possible and without showing discom-
area when doing homework. fort. Your comfort is essential to making
your kid feel comfortable and
will lead to more openness
from your child as he or she
matures.
To get started, during the
early elementary years, read
“Where Did I Come From?”
or another age-appropriate
book to your child. This takes
the guesswork out of what to
Accepting say and how to say it.
In the later elementary
Applications
years, discuss puberty and sex
more completely. Many kids
reach puberty by the age of
for the 2020-2021 school year ten. So make sure your pre-
For more information, please email:
admissions@kentuckyavenueschool.org
or call 412.228.7127
Name - calling and
teasing. Sometimes when kids
5701 Fifth Avenue K-8 call each other names, they’re just
playing. If they’re going back and
(at Negley) forth at each other, both laughing
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 and having a good time, it probably
isn’t a big deal. As long as it’s play,
KENTUCKY AVENUE SCHOOL balanced and no one’s feelings are
kentuckyavenueschool.org getting hurt, you can let it go.
But if it’s one-sided, mean-spirit-
ed, or the child on the receiving end
seems angry, upset, scared or hurt
by it, it’s usually best to intervene.
First, try to empower the teased
child, and encourage him or her teen is fully prepared for the changes
to tell the other to stop. If necessary, that’ll take place. By late elementary,
take a more direct approach, and make some kids are already talking about it
clear to the child doing the teasing how among each other and are full of misin-
hurtful the behavior is and that it isn’t formation. So having this discussion is
acceptable. crucial to ensure your child is accurately
informed about sex
The birds and the bees.
The question of where babies come Defiance. As kids grow, they
from, and discussions of puberty can become more independent – and with
leave even the most open-minded par- independence comes defiance. To deal
with defiance, lay out the rules ahead
of time, so you and your kids know the
First, try to consequences.
When your child is defiant, remem-
Accepting empower the
ber the following. Consistency is crucial
to being effective. Also, don’t argue.
Applications
If your child tries to debate you after
you’ve already stated the issue and
teased child, and laid down the consequence, calmly say
you’ve already made up your mind, and
you’re done discussing it. Then leave
encourage him the room, so you’re not tempted to
argue or give in to badgering. n
or her to tell the Kimberly Blaker is a freelance
parenting and lifestyle writer. She also
writes content, blog posts, and more for
businesses in a variety of industries and
other to stop. is an expert in on-page SEO. Find her at
kimberlyblaker.com
20 JANUARY 2021 Elementary & Secondary PittsburghParent.com
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Education SPONSORED CONTENT
A School of Necessity
PA Cyber Celebrating 20 Years of Online Learning
By David J. Atkins
ack in 1986 there was no longer a high school effective alternative for families struggling with
for students to attend in Midland, PA. For remote education needs. The pandemic has, of
a time, those Midland students were sent course, limited in-person events drastically at
to other local districts, but eventually they PA Cyber’s nine regional offices. Yes, even PA
ended up with just one choice to get a public Cyber has made the effort to go virtual with
education. They were left to cross the state what were traditionally face-to-face events
border to attend high school in East Liverpool, – from enrollment meetings and graduation
Ohio. After the Pennsylvania state legislature ceremonies to school dances and field trips.
authorized the formation of charter schools Even the typically robust summer camps went
in 1997, a few forward-thinking residents of virtual.
Midland decided that there had to be a better For example, PA Cyber held a free two-
solution. With their vision, and out of genuine week summer engineering camp for enrolled
necessity, was born an idea. And by June 9th-12th grade students thinking about careers
of 2000, their innovative idea became The in engineering. This online engineering camp
Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School or PA Cyber for short. hosted professors from 11 Pennsylvania colleges who provided
PA Cyber first opened its virtual doors out of necessity – to interactive presentations about the wide variety of engineering
provide for the educational needs of families in the small town disciplines. That’s just one example of PA Cyber’s ability to
of Midland, adapt and overcome. Even though PA Cyber has had to go fully
PA. Upon virtual because of the pandemic, neither the socialization, nor
opening, only the learning has ever stopped.
50 students Coming together, the entire PA Cyber team has risen to the
were Covid-19 pandemic
expected challenges and
to enroll. cleared all the hurtles.
Instead, The result? PA Cyber
the bright students didn’t miss a
promise of beat! Twenty years of
a flexible experience has made
cyber charter the PA Cyber team
school wise and resourceful.
education Twenty years of
immediately exceeded expectations. In that first year, the development. Twenty
prospect of alternative online education attracted 500 students years of commitment.
from 105 Pennsylvania school districts. Fast forward to today, Twenty years of
amid a global pandemic, PA Cyber proudly celebrates its 20th quality education.
anniversary as an experienced and instrumental purveyor of Over these past two
online learning. PA Cyber currently educates more than 11,500 decades, PA Cyber
students from every county across the state – enrolled from has grown and
kindergarten through 12th grade. evolved – right along with its students – becoming one of the
Twenty years ago, PA Cyber started as a school of necessity. largest, most experienced, and most innovative online public
But with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic at the end of schools in the nation. Visit PAcyber.org to begin your PA Cyber
the last school year, it was clear that with those two decades journey today!
of experience, time had come for PA Cyber to shine as an
Meet America Smith and her son Noah. Twenty years ago, America enrolled in PA Cyber
the very first year the school opened. Both of her siblings also attended – with her brother
graduating as a member of the first PA Cyber graduating class.
While America had nothing short of a great cyber school experience, when it came time
to send her first child, Noah, to Kindergarten, she originally decided to send him to public
school. Smith realized early on that her son was not getting the education she expected.
Noah deserved a more personalized education, like the one where she personally thrived.
She immediately enrolled Noah in PA Cyber and couldn’t be happier at the progress he has
made.
America says that in her experience both as a student and as a parent of a student, the
value of PA Cyber’s education is “top-notch,” – offering a better experience with curriculum,
instruction, setup and layout of classes, parents’ resources, and even extracurricular
activities. She says, “Ultimately, what you are receiving at PA Cyber is closer and more
comparable to a private school education than a public school one.” The Smith family is
happy that PA Cyber was an option 20 years ago and is still an option today! This excellent
educational experience is something their family now shares among generations.
PittsburghParent.com Elementary & Secondary JANUARY 2021 21
How to select the right school:
Virtual, public or private
By Cheryl Maguire
hen will we be able to go to school
in-person full-time?”
My 12-year-old daughter attends a
public school that offers a hybrid op-
tion. She goes to school in-person two days and
three days she learns virtually from home. She
misses going to school full-time in-person and
often asks me when that will be an option.
Depending on where you live, you may have
different options for school instruction. Your
school may have started the year remotely or
hybrid and now is switching to all in-person.
Deciding about the best educational plan for your
kids may be challenging.
Types of schools
Public
Public schools offer a free education to
students living within the district. The funding for
public schools is from local, state and federal tax
dollars. These schools are supervised by local government Depending on what your school is offering you may be able
authorities. There are different types and options of public to attend school virtually (remote) at home, hybrid (combina-
schools such as school choice, vouchers, tax-credit scholar- tion of remote and in-person) or all in-person.
ships, magnet and charter schools.
Private
A student must pay a tuition and submit an application to
attend a private school. A private school is funded by student
tuition payments, endowments, grants and donations. Some
private schools are affiliated with a religion.
Home school
A homeschool is when a student is educated at their home
by either a parent, tutor or an online program. States regulate
and have requirements for homeschools.
Factors to consider when making a decision
Cost
If you are unable to afford the private school tuition, which
the national average is $10,000 per year, then you would be
limited to the free public-school options. Depending on the
state you live in you could use vouchers or the tax-credit schol-
arships to help fund the tuition. Another consideration is the
cost of transportation to the public school.
School size
Open to student of all faiths, races, and national origins. The class size may be an important factor if your child is
easily distracted or requires assistance to learn. Even though
TOURS AVAILABLE public schools can make accommodations for students with
Schedule a Private Tour By Appointment.
special needs, sometimes a smaller class is more helpful to the
Go to SaintJosephHS.com
child. A private school usually offers small class sizes. You may
for a new Virtual Tour!
also want smaller class size so to decrease your child’s risk of
exposure to virus.
Enrolling Freshmen & Transfer Students
Considering different options
If you are attending public or private school you may have
different options of in-person, hybrid or full remote virtual
learning. This is a difficult choice to make and will require fac-
toring in many different considerations.
Continued on page 24…
22 JANUARY 2021 Elementary & Secondary PittsburghParent.comPARENT to
Michelle (mom) and HOW WILL AGORA
Sarah Georgiana BE GREAT FOR OTHER
PARENTS?
WHY IS AGORA A GREAT A main difference
DON’T CHANGE THE EXPERIENCE FOR US? between cyber charter
and other virtual options
WAY THEY LEARN. As a working dancer,
Agora has provided an
is that Agora students
are communicating with
classmates and teachers
CHANGE THE WAY
“on the go” learning
environment for my 8th in chats, video streams
and through emails,
THEY’RE TAUGHT. grade daughter. Agora can
truly be a mobile classroom giving personal attention
to individual needs. The
and being able to log in to
Agora’s online school uses an individualized teaching approach live classes from anywhere Family Coach, assigned
in the country while Sarah by Agora, is in constant
to guide and inspire students in kindergarten through 12th grade
was on set or auditioning contact with school
to reach their highest potential. A rigorous curriculum is delivered updates, including social
for a new role was the key
by Pennsylvania-certified, highly qualified teachers using for us to joining the Agora activities that students can
innovative technology. family. choose to attend and meet
in person when safe. It’s
Personally, without always nice to put faces
This is the personalized education you have been
Agora’s flexibility, I am not with names and for parents
searching for. sure how Sarah would have to make new friendships,
completed her school and too. Agora’s MTSS system
dreams. Agora’s curriculum of support meets kids at
TO ENROLL NOW, GO TO AGORA.ORG. their level, teaches them
and their staff worked with
us to make it possible. accordingly, and the
I cannot say enough individualized nature of
about their willingness to learning at Agora opens
listen to a student with a endless possibilities.
dream and find a way to
make it happen. For me, For more information
that is what education is go to agora.org and
about: maximizing human register for a virtual open
potential. Agora made that house..
happen when other phone
calls I made said, “Sorry,
we don’t have any options
enrollment@agora.org | Phone: 844-462-4672 | Agora.org for you.”
Public School Tuition Paid By PA Taxpayers
PittsburghParent.com
Sponsored Content
JANUARY 2021 23HOW WE DELIVER
Our reopening plan ensures every
child can safely participate in
classes every day. Whether students
are learning in the classroom
or remotely from home via Zoom
and the Meeting Owl Pro camera,
we hold ourselves to the same
high educational standards.
How will you deliver
an unmatched education
for your child?
BECAUSE “HOW” MATTERS
PK-12 • Four Campuses
SCHEDULE ADMISSIONS TESTING ADMISSIONS@SHADYSIDEACADEMY.ORG
Continued from page 22…
with your child what
Immune system they like and don’t like
about remote learning
If your child or someone in your fam-
and in-person learning
ily has a compromised immune system,
and then figure out
then you many not want to risk sending
what would be the
your child to school at all. This would
best learning environ-
mean all virtual learning either through
ment for them.
the public or private school. There are
some online programs that are consid- Time requirement
ered public homeschooling that may be for parents
a good choice since these schools were If both parents are
set up for virtual learning before the working full time and
pandemic. the child needs as-
School safety sistance with remote
learning, then this everyone will have different needs and
Before considering all in-person
may be a difficult option for the family. factors to consider. It is best if the deci-
or hybrid you will want to know what
It may make more sense for the child to sion is discussed as a family creating a
safeguards your school has put in place
attend in-person full-time or hybrid. list of pros and cons. After you make the
to make sure that your child is not ex-
Age of child decision most schools will allow you to
posed to COVID. Some safety protocols
change the option if you find it is not
you can ask about are wearing masks, Younger children are going to have working for you. n
distance between desks and the num- more difficulty paying attention to
ber of children per class. You may also virtual learning whereas older children Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of
want to ask how the school will handle tend to have a longer attention span. Counseling Psychology degree. She is
an outbreak and what is their plan to Older children also tend to be more in- married and is the mother of twins and
notify families. dependent and able to understand the a daughter. Her writing has been pub-
Learning style technology related to remote learning. lished in The New York Times, Parents
So an older child may be better suited Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen
Some kids have difficulty paying at-
for remote learning. Magazine, and many other publications.
tention especially on a computer screen
You can find her at Twitter @CherylMa-
and may require specialized instruction. Making the decision guire05
Other kids may be independent leaners
who thrive with remote learning. Discuss This decision is a difficult one and
24 JANUARY 2021 Elementary & Secondary PittsburghParent.comTeacher trouble:
How to resolve child-teacher conflict
By Christa Melnyk Hines
hate school. My style to a new teacher’s child psychologist and a nationally certi-
teacher is mean!” At approach. Other influenc- fied school psychologist, who frequently
one time or another, es on a child’s attitude to- helps students and parents manage and
nearly every parent ward her teacher include resolve school conflicts. “You may get
of a school-age young- class size, peer competi- an idea that something else is happen-
ster has heard their child tion, increased home- ing that’s triggering the ‘meanness’
express their displeasure work, more demanding, and then at that point, you have more
with the entire education- independent school information to call or email the teacher.”
al establishment during a work, as well as, differ-
frustrating homework ses- ences between home Review class work
sion or after a rough day. and school environments. Notice patterns like red marks and
While you may initially notes from the teacher on classwork. If
brush off their dramatic Do some digging your student struggles and seems afraid
declarations, what do you Allow your child time to ask questions, discuss appropri-
do if your child seems to to adjust to his teacher’s ate times for her to talk to her teacher
be growing increasingly expectations and rules. about the work and what types of ques-
distressed with school and If his complaints persist, tions she should ask.
her teacher? ask objective questions,
like: “How is the work for Make real-world connections
Why the grumbling? you? How are you getting along with A child may grow disenchanted with
An elementary school child’s disdain the other kids?” school and her teacher if she doesn’t
for her teacher may grow out of a “By doing that you can get a flavor understand how the subject matter
variety of factors, like adjusting from a of the environment rather than the situ-
beloved former teacher’s management ation,” says Dr. Stephanie Mihalas, a Continued on page 26…
At Oakland Catholic
You’ll Make Friends For Life
The Oakland Catholic environment is defined by acceptance and
inclusion. All are welcome in every club, every sport, and at every table.
We are a diverse population of talented, enthusiastic, and supportive
young women who root for our classmates to succeed. You won’t find Only Here.
a best friend here—you’ll find many. OC friends are friends for life. OaklandCatholic.org
PittsburghParent.com Elementary & Secondary JANUARY 2021 25Questions
to ask
your child:
How hard is the work
for you?
How are you getting
along with the
other kids?
Continued from page 25…
relates to real life. Due to increased On the weekends, integrate class-
pressure to focus on testing and assess-
ments, teachers devote less classroom
work into your daily errands. For
example, if your child is learning about
Questions to ask
time for experiential learning opportu- the soil and the climate in science, take
nities or class projects. That’s where a him to the Saturday morning farmer’s the teacher:
parent can help. market. Practice multiplication skills to
“Engaging in the learning piece is tally up the tip at a restaurant. Have you noticed my child strug-
key,” says Ashley Norris, Ph.D., assistant
dean, University of Phoenix College of
“Parents (then) become a partner gling with a particular subject?
with the teacher. Once that engage-
Education.
ment starts to happen, the perception Does she participate in
classroom discussions?
How does she seem to get along
with her peers?
How can we work together to
help my child better adjust?
of the student-teacher relationship
changes,” Norris says.
Signs of a child-teacher
conflict
“The single biggest factor is a
change in grades. If grades are starting
to slip, that’s a huge indicator,” Norris
says.
Behavior changes, including disen-
Call (724)643-1180 gagement at school, forgetting home-
work and lack of effort, can also indicate
or visit our website a problem.
to learn more about
personalizing your child’s Resolving a personality
conflict
learning experience.
Rather than getting angry or defen-
sive, take a calm, diplomatic approach
when conferencing with the teacher.
“The last thing you want to do is
instigate more conflict between the
teacher and your child and if you start
The Learning Never Stops
to pick sides, that’s what ends up hap-
pening,” Norris says.
26 JANUARY 2021 Elementary & Secondary PittsburghParent.comTest OUR READINESS
We're on campus and in-person
SEM students love to come to school. With our culture of trust
centered by our Academic & Social Honor Code, we've maintained a
safe campus that has allowed girls to continue to learn and enjoy the
traditions, sports, and clubs unique to us.
Among the oldest girls' schools in the U.S., SEM has designed a program of
achievement, scholarship, service, and leadership for girls since 1851. Our
alumnae network spans the globe and our students hail from 5 continents.
Discover learning & living & on our cozy, historic campus in our safe,
beautiful city.
BuffaloSeminary.org
Independent day and boarding school for college-bound girls
205 Bidwell Parkway Buffalo, NY 14222 | 716-885-6780
Also, ask if you can sit learning how to manage person-
in during class one day. ality differences.
“In my humble opinion, I
“Your presence might
don’t think it’s a good idea to
change the nature of how
show children that because
your child acts, but it will
there’s a problem then they need
give you a flavor of how
to move from that classroom,”
the teacher teaches,”
Mihalas says.
Mihalas says.
Instead teach flexibility by
When to contact creating a link between friend-
administration ships and getting along with
others. For a younger child, you
Go over a teacher’s
might say: “Everyone is different.
head only as a last resort.
Just as mommy and daddy do
“One of the only times to
things differently, this is how your
bring in administration is
teacher is. It’s really good to learn
if your child is covered by
how to work with all different
special education law and
kinds of people.”
the teacher isn’t following
special ed law,” Mihalas
says.
Seek professional help
Other times you might If interventions at school are
seek help from administra- unsuccessful, seek help from a
tion: child psychologist to rule out
Request a different learning disabilities and anxiety. n
• T he teacher agreed on a set of
interventions, but isn’t following teacher
those strategies. Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk
Sometimes a child’s personality and Hines is the mom of two school-age
• Your child comes home crying a teacher’s personality simply clashes. boys. Her latest book is Happy, Healthy
every day. Unless the teacher is abusive, help your & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful
• You talk with the teacher, but child understand that she’s not always Communicator in a Digital World.
you’re unable to resolve the issue. going to like everyone, stressing the
importance of remaining respectful and
PittsburghParent.com Elementary & Secondary JANUARY 2021 27Enrichment
Finding the right after-school activity By Denise Morrison Yearian
6 Count the cost.
Think about uniforms,
trips and other ex-
penses not covered in
the initial fee.
7 Get recommenda-
tions. Talk with your
child’s school adminis-
tration. If you are look-
ing for a physical activ-
ity, the PE teacher may
have some ideas. If it’s
a music, the school’s
music teacher might
give you a lead. The
guidance counselor
may be of assistance
too. Also get feedback
from friends and family
members regarding
programs their children
have been in. Are they happy with it?
3
Is there anything they don’t like about
ids’ interests and activities are as
diverse as the children themselves.
Explore through exposure. Expose it? How often are practices, lessons
him to various activities and events. or meetings? Is there any one-on-one
Just as the right activity can build instruction?
Within this, provide him with a balance
self-esteem and provide hours
8 Find a good match.
of both group and individual activities.
of enjoyment, the wrong one can lead
Ask for his feedback and follow his lead.
to feelings of failure, frustration and Look for a pro-
4
fatigue. So how do you find the right gram that aligns with your goals and ob-
extracurricular activity for your child? Get a physical. Before starting any jectives. Consider class size; instructors’
1 Watch him play. Consider his
athletic program, take your child for experience; frequency and duration of
a physical exam to detect vision or lessons, practices or meetings; and cur-
hearing problems or other medical riculum and philosophy.
interests, temperament and personality.
9 Stop in.
conditions that may make it difficult to
Does he like constant physical activity or
participate in the activity.
quieter experiences? If the program has ongoing
5 Consider time commitments.
instruction, ask if you can stop by for a
2 Look at strengths and weaknesses.
Would she like to fine-tune those
much family time is committed now?
How visit. Sit in on a session and observe it
in progress. Does the instructor interact
with the students? Does he use posi-
How much will this activity entail? Will
strengths or are there areas of weakness tive reinforcement? Are the students
personal practice time be expected?
that could be improved with instruction? listening and attentive? Do they seem
28 JANUARY 2021 Enrichment PittsburghParent.comhappy? Is the program geared for the
skill and developmental level of the
children?
10 Ask about introductory classes.
Many ongoing programs offer introduc-
tory classes with no commitment. This
allows your child to become familiar
with the program and serves as a
screening process to see if the instructor
is running the program at the children’s
level.
11 Review commitments. Talk with
your child about the commitment she
MUSIC
PREPARATORY
SCHOOL
is making to the activity before enroll-
ment. Is she willing to go to games,
practices, classes or meetings? Will she • Ages 4 through 18
commit to investing personal practice
time, if called for? Will she participate in • Private lessons in piano, strings, guitar and percussion
fundraisers? • Classes in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Music Theory,
12 Persevering points to ponder.
If your child wants to quit an activity,
Improvisation, and more
• Young Artists Orchestra, Group String Classes, and
consider your personal view on making Beginning Piano Program
him persevere. Is this a repeated pat-
tern that needs to be addressed? Will it
affect the rest of the team or group if he FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
leaves? Is it detrimental to your child’s 412-268-3667 | music-preparatory@andrew.cmu.edu
health and well-being to continue? music.cmu.edu
13 Keep schedules open. Children
need free playtime and downtime as
much as they need scheduled activities.
Avoid over scheduling your child with
too many activities and watch for signs
that she may be too taxed. If this hap-
pens, reevaluate current commitments
and look for ways to cut back.
14 Rehash unsuccessful endeavors.
PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM
If at first you don’t succeed, talk it over. “This program was absolutely
Ask your child what he didn’t like about
THE CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
life-changing for me. I came
the activity, so you don’t repeat the MUSIC PRE-COLLEGE offers high school students the out a better musician but
mistake when choosing a new activity. opportunity to be part of an innovative fine arts an even better person.
Is it the instructor? Other kids in the community immersed in a top research university. The training and the
program? The activity itself? immersive college life were
Our unique 2021 online program provides high like nothing else, even
15 Try something new. If your child
has taken up an athletic activity, such as
school musicians the opportunity to continue
learning and furthering their skills while staying
coming from a boarding
school background. Brava.”
safe and healthy. Students get to discover their —former Pre-College Voice Student
soccer, but didn’t like it try a different
sport. If he played the saxophone and potential for a career in music, study with CMU AREAS OF STUDY
it wasn’t a good fit, try a new instru- instructors, learn how to navigate the college Instrumental Performance
Vocal Performance
ment. Or choose something completely audition process, and connect with other young Music Composition
different. The point is, give your child musicians over a three- or six-week program. Music Technology
a variety of experiences and maybe he
will find something he truly enjoys. n
Denise Morrison Yearian is a former
educator and editor of two parenting
magazines, as well as the mother of
three children and six grandchildren.
MUSIC.CMU.EDU/PRECOLLEGE
PittsburghParent.com Enrichment JANUARY 2021 29Solo sports for
introverted and shy
kids – Here’s where
their abilities
shine through Gymnastics improves
strength, flexibility,
By Kimberly Blaker balance and cognitive
functioning, among
here’s no doubt; team sports offer kids an array of
benefits. Team sports provide opportunities for kids to other benefits.
develop friendships, work as a team, problem-solve, learn
good sportsmanship and much more.
But team sports aren’t for everyone. Many kids, particularly
those who are introverted or shy, struggle with or lack interest
in team sports. When kids aren’t into team sports, parents often
get caught up in an endless battle – with their kids kicking and
screaming to every practice and game.
So the question is, should parents push their unenthused kids
into team sports if their kids are adamant they want no part of it?
Encouraging kids to participate in some form of extracurricular
activity is undoubtedly a good idea. Such activities can provide
kids valuable learning opportunities while also keeping them fit.
But if your child is introverted, social or group experiences can
be particularly stressful and mentally exhausting.
So what can you do to help your child get in some fitness and
develop motor skills while still allowing your child to be true to Tai-Chi, karate, kickboxing,
himself or herself? There are plenty of sports and physical activi- wrestling, Taekwondo, Aikido and Jiu-Jitsu. Through martial
ties that aren’t as mentally taxing, yet they provide kids plenty of arts, in addition to learning self-defense, kids learn self-
benefits. discipline and fine-tune their motor skills.
Gymnastics. The most popular form of gymnastics
Solo sports is artistic, which includes floor exercise, balance beam,
Martial arts. This sport is divided into the categories of vault, uneven bars, still rings and parallel bars. There’s also
wrestling, striking, grappling and weaponry. Many disciplines rhythmic, which combines dance and gymnastics moves to
use a combination of these categories, so it’s a good idea to music. Aerobic gymnastics is yet another form. Gymnastics
look into several disciplines. Then let your child help decide improves strength, flexibility, balance and cognitive func-
which style to try. Some of the most popular forms include judo, tioning, among other benefits.
Ice skating. Speed skating is one form of ice skating
your child can learn. But there’s also figure
skating, which includes single skating, pair
GYMKHANA GYMNASTICS skating, ice dancing and synchronized
WEXFORD POINT BREEZE MONROEVILLE BETHEL PARK skating. This sport provides a cardiovas-
cular workout while improving flexibility,
balance and endurance. It’s also a great
way to develop leg muscles.
Skateboarding. This solo sport has
numerous forms, including, but not lim-
Winter Classes ited to, slalom, freestyle, street, off-road,
vert and park. Skateboarding offers many
Begin February 1st! benefits including overall fitness, endur-
GYMNASTICS DEVELOPMENT ages 4+ ance, precision and as many a skateboard-
RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS ages 6+ er will attest, increased pain tolerance.
GYM & LEARN CAMP ages 5+ Bicycling. This is an excellent form of
Offerings vary by location. All programs meet CDC guidelines.
exercise that improves strength, coordina-
WWW.GYMKHANAFUN.COM
tion and flexibility. There are several forms
30 JANUARY 2021 Enrichment PittsburghParent.comof bicycling that might appeal to
your kids, such as distance endur-
ance cycling, mountain biking and
stunt riding.
Archery. Although archery
might appear to be a passive sport,
it offers several benefits, including
improving balance, coordination,
upper body strength and mental
focus. Also, during competitions, ar-
chers get plenty of exercise as they
often walk up to five miles.
Dance. Many people argue
dance isn’t a sport. Nonetheless, it
offers many of the same benefits as
sports. Dancing builds self-confi-
dence, provides exercise and devel-
ops balance, stamina and strength.
Forms of dance include tap, ballet,
jazz, modern, hip-hop, swing, Latin,
contra, Irish step dance and more.
Swimming and diving. Either
of these might appeal to your
introverted child. Swimming builds
strength and endurance while im-
proving cardiovascular fitness. Div-
ing improves agility, strengthens the
upper body, particularly the arms,
and improves mental focus.
Golf. For those who walk the
course and carry their bag, golf is
an excellent form of exercise. It also
reduces stress and stimulates the
brain. Unlike most sports, it has a
low risk of injury, providing parents
peace of mind.
Running. As straightforward as Winter
running may sound, there are sev-
eral forms from which your kid can
Acting Classes
choose. There’s adventure running, Classes begin - January 11th
cross country, road, mountain, track and Ages 4 - 17
field, races and marathon. Whatever
the form, it’s an excellent cardiovascular
workout. It also builds endurance, re- Early Bird Discounts!
leases stress and is a powerful antide-
pressant.
Summer
Skiing. Downhill or cross-country Acting Camps
skiing, as well as water skiing, improve
endurance while strengthening the
412-243-6464 Camps begin - June 14th
Ages 4 - 17
www.geminitheater.org
lower body and improving balance. The mental focus.
Although archery might drawback is its feasibility, depending Inline skating. Although roller-
on your proximity to snow and hills or
appear to be a passive water.
blading first gained popularity with
hockey, it’s been enjoyed equally as a
sport, it offers several Climbing. If you have a tree leisure or solo sport. Inline skating offers
climber on your hands, rock climb- nearly as much cardio and muscle-build-
benefits, including ing might be the perfect sport. It may ing benefits as running but without so
sound dangerous, but certain forms much impact on the joints. n
improving balance, of climbing are less risky than several
other sports such as hiking, sledding
coordination, upper and snowboarding. This is according to Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family
writer. She’s also founder and director of
a study reported in the Journal of Wil-
body strength and derness and Environmental Medicine, KB Creative Digital Services, an internet
volume 19, #2, 2008. Climbing is an marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.
mental focus. excellent cardiovascular workout, tones com
and strengthens muscles and improves
PittsburghParent.com Enrichment JANUARY 2021 31Special Education
Make your child’s IEP meeting a success
Courtesy of the Episcopal Center for Children
ndividualized Education ments. These may include the
Plan (IEP) meetings are IEP, a behavior intervention
very important for children plan or evaluations of your
coping with special needs. child. Review these documents
These meetings outline goals carefully before the meeting.
for the child’s education and Question #3: Does this
treatment, and it guides how plan address my child’s educa-
services will be provided. tion and treatment needs?
IEPs establish how the child Are the goals and objectives
will be educated and outlines clear? Before the meeting,
goals for the child, interven- carefully review draft docu-
tions and any accommoda- ments and write down your
tions and services that will be questions and notes. Review
provided. Review IEP meeting the diagnosis and examine
documents in advance. An IEP the plan carefully to see how
meeting brings together the entire IEP 10 days before the IEP meeting, you it addresses your child’s needs. Ask for
team assisting your child – educators, should receive a letter of invitation. As clarification of education or treatment
treatment providers, parents, the Local soon as you can, RSVP for the meet- jargon if needed. Goals and objectives
Education Agency (LEA) representative ing in writing. Inform the school if you should be clear in the plan.
and others. Parents and guardians are will attend the meeting in person or by Question #4: When will services
an important part of that team. You are phone. If you are not available to attend be offered? Make sure you understand
there to be an advocate for your child. the meeting at the proposed time, sug- start date(s), how long services are
Parents and guardians to ask the gest alternative dates and times, as well offered and the procedures involved.
right questions before, during and after as locations. Determine how frequently services are
an IEP meeting. Question #2: What documents will offered.
Question #1: When is the IEP meet- be discussed at the IEP meeting? At Question #5: Is my child progress-
ing and how will I participate? At least least five business days before the IEP ing toward a goal in the plan? And will
meeting, you should receive draft docu- the plan help my child progress? If your
child is not progressing toward a goal as
you had hoped, ask how this will be ad-
It’s not just what they learn . . . dressed, or if a goal should be revised.
Question #6: When will I be up-
Pace School’s special dated on my child’s progress? The plan
education programming should indicate when you will be updat-
is woven together with ed. If you want more frequent updates
our Positive Learning and on progress during the school year,
Integrated Design (PLAID). you can request additional updates be
Students gain knowledge added to the plan for you.
using creativity, resources Question #7: What else can be
and through individualized www.paceschool.org done to assist my child? If you think
instruction. . . . but how they learn it. something else might help your child,
come prepared to discuss it. Write
We believe every child should be future-ready! down any proposed changes to the IEP
and any information you would like to
add.
32 JANUARY 2021 Special Education PittsburghParent.comYou can also read
