Early Parenting Archives - Page 11 of 12

Jun 20 2017

What Was I Thinking When I Registered for a Parent Participation Preschool?

Great! My kids were just accepted into an incredible parent participation preschool program. After I received my welcome letter, I was given the handbook of parent responsibilities and expectations. I felt lost and overwhelmed when reviewing the thirty-page handbook. [Read more…]

Joyce Iwasaki, Early Parenting

Joyce Iwasaki has over thirty years of educational experience working with diverse students in grades from preschool through high school. Joyce’s extensive background includes teaching elementary school, serving on early childhood advisory boards, and advocating for educational initiatives as a legislative aide. During her tenure as a legislative aide, she helped create legislation that allowed incarcerated mothers to keep their newborn babies with them while in prison. Additional legislation was enacted to allow incarcerated pregnant mothers to remain unshackled during labor and delivery. Ms. Iwasaki established and served as the president of an educational scholarship foundation for fifteen years. Her foundation awarded college scholarships to emerging student leaders who provided service to their schools and communities. Joyce is active in performing arts and cultural organizations. She also provides ongoing support to her daughter and family by raising her grandson in her home.

May 30 2017

Effective Parenting! Capable Kids! Strategies that Ensure Success!

How often do you feel overwhelmed when trying to coax your child to cooperate with you? The typical parent makes several hundred decisions each week while responding to each child’s needs and, at the same time, managing potential conflicts. Effective Parenting! Capable Kids! can be purchased on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544039166/ref=rdr_ext_tmb. [Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert

Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Digital Education Expert, is a substitute distance learning teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, California and the author of STUDENT-ENGAGED ASSESSMENT: Strategies to Empower All Learners (Rowman & Littlefield: 2020). Dr. Burke creates digital language arts and substitute teaching K – 12 activities for teachers and parents. She is the Cofounder of the Genparenting.com blog. Burke is the former Director II of Categorical & Special Projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Education that supports 31 school districts serving 272,321 students in Santa Clara County. She is also a previous Director – State & Federal Compliance for Oakland Unified School District, the former Director – Grantwriter for the Compton Unified School District, and was the initial VISTA Director for the Community Partnership Coalition in southern California. Much of her work focuses on creating innovative digital trainings and partnership programs for teachers and families to support students’ learning. These programs were featured as a best practice at a National Title I Conference, California’s Title I Conferences, AERA Conferences, an ASCD Conference, the NASSP Conference, and statewide educator conferences.

May 23 2017

GenParenting.com Celebrates Preschool Families with a Book Bundle Offer!

GenParenting.com celebrates preschool families of twins and different cultures with a Book Bundle Offer sponsored by East West Discovery Press through June 30, 2017. You can purchase the following six book titles at a book bundle discount by contacting East West Discovery Press at 310-545-3730 or by email at info@eastwestdiscovery.com by the end of June:

Yikes! Brandon Has Twin Sisters by Mary Ann Burke
Yikes! Brandon and His Twin Sisters Play at the Park by Mary Ann Burke
Yikes! Brandon and His Twin Sisters Go to School by Mary Ann Burke
I Am Hapa by Crystal Smith in trilingual English, Spanish, and Chinese
Daddy! My Favorite Guy by Icy Smith and Crystal Smith in bilingual English and Spanish
My Ducky Buddy by Michael Smith in bilingual English and Spanish

[Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert

May 16 2017

What Should You Consider When Selecting Your Child’s Preschool?

Each spring, parents struggle when making a decision about selecting the appropriate learning environment for their preschool child. Important considerations should include the following:

What type of learning environment supports your child?
Does the school provide both academic and play centered learning activities?
Is the school day structured to meet your child’s needs?
Does the school provide for outside activities, free play, arts exploration, and creative expression?
Does the school’s curriculum accommodate a variety of learning modes?
Should you register for a school that requires parent participation?
Is the school accessible from your home and work place?
How much can you afford to spend on a preschool program?
Does the school provide flexible extended care hours beyond the regular school day?
Do the students represent the demographics of your community?

[Read more…]

Joyce Iwasaki, Early Parenting

Mar 19 2017

Encouraging Your Child’s Interests

From a very young age, children demonstrate different interests. As parents and grandparents we can encourage their interests in several ways. We can follow our children’s lead choosing our time and the activities we do together. We can set up an environment that encourages free play and exploration. We can introduce our children to a wide array of resources such as libraries, museums, parks or books, the internet or field trips. [Read more…]

Karen Salzer, Special Education

Karen Salzer has over thirty years’ experience as a resource teacher in the Palo Alto public schools. She earned a doctorate in education from Stanford University. Her areas of expertise involve working with culturally diverse students with special needs including autism, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, and health issues. As a special educator, Ms. Salzer served as a liaison between parents of special needs students and school staff. She guided parents and staff in identifying an appropriate education for each student in the public school setting. Additionally, she aided students and parents in navigating the educational requirements for graduation, test-taking and in finding support services within the community. Through her leadership, Ms. Salzer encouraged collaborative problem-solving between parents and school staff – such as accommodations for test taking, extended time and use of technology. She loves to follow-up with her students when they become adults and to highlight their many successes in education and careers. Ms. Salzer uses these success testimonials to reassure parents of other children and to encourage them to help their children pursue their full potential. Ms. Salzer is the mother of four adult children and helps care for her five grandchildren