ON VISITING THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE CLASSROOM

How can you make the most of your visit to our classroom? Let's keep in mind that you are there to see how your child is doing socially and academically. In order to gain the purest picture of that, we ask that you do the following:

1. Prepare your child for the visitation day by saying you want to watch them choose activities and work on them; you want to watch them play with their friends; and you want to watch them follow the routines of the classroom. In order to do that, you will be sitting in the big chair by the door to watch all he/she is doing.
You can refer to the difference between watching someone work and touching their work; the rule inour room is when watching, they do not touch a person's work. For the parents, watching means they do not touch their child's work; they watch from the chair.

2. The teacher may find time to explain the workings of the classroom to you; if not, jot down any questions you have and allow her to answer them afterwards or by phone or note. It is important to us that all your questions are answered!

3. Helpful ideas on what to note during your observation: How is discipline handled? How does the teacher interact with the children? With her assistant? Is there a variety of materials being used? In terms of watching your child, specific questions include: What activities does he/she choose? How long is he/she engaged in the activity? To what degree does your child follow the rules of the classroom? What kinds of social interaction do you see your child doing? How much movement does your child perform in the classroom? Does your child seem independent and comfortable?

4. Keep in mind that at the Children's House level, development of the child represents a huge spectrum. Some children are exploring at a more sensorial level than others; some are interested in one area to the exclusion of the others. Allow the teacher to explain where your child is developmentally and avoid judgments about his/her "status" by comparing to the other children.

5. Having you in the classroom is a very special gift for the child. We sometimes see the child revert to a high degree of dependence when the parent arrives. When this happens, we accept this and want you to realize that you will not see a typical work cycle with your child. Please do not sit with your child but allow him/her to stand next to you at the chair. You may suggest to the child to show you their favorite work in an area you point to; if they don't want to, avoid idle threats like you'll leave if they don't work. Equally destructive is the comment to them that you can always see them use play dough so show you something else; the child chooses the material that helps them fulfill an inner purpose we cannot know. Maybe they feel comfortable with it or enjoy the relaxation it brings. You are here to watch them run their life, not to run it for them. If the child "melts down" in front of you, it is best after a bit to let him/her know you enjoyed the chance to come see them and that you will see them after school. Be matter-of-fact and take your leave. The teacher will help redirect the child back to work at this point.

Each child is very unique. When they enter the classroom each day, it is similar to arriving at a party: there are some who are slow to warm up and others who confidently begin their day. Similarly, your presence is greeted differently by each child. Parents can help the child best by preparing him/her for the visit. Teachers can guide the child through this experience through encouragement and physical proximity. But the child ultimately must go through the experience him/herself, and we have to allow the child the chance to grow. We do this through love and support from both teachers and parents.

We look forward to having you observe in our classroom and hope you will call or email us for a time that works for you. Our Line is from 8-8:20 am and is followed by bathrooming and work time. The preschool children leave the room about 9:45 for a brief lesson with Suzanne and then have recess before boarding the bus or being picked up. The Ks continue their work time until 11 am.