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Join the German International's, Head of School Ben Hebebrand, and his team for an overview of the preschool, and Kindergarten through 8th grade programs. Learn about the school's dual language approach, its International Baccalaureate program, and the benefits of bilingualism. Followed by a Q&A session. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join us for an introduction, virtual tour, and Q&A with Pilgrim's, Mr. Comella, Principal. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Greenfields Academy's founder, Rob Huge, will be leading a discussion about how Greenfields has reinvented education. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Attend a live presentation, Why Enrichment is All the Buzz In Person and Online with Rhoda Rosen, Associate Director, Center for Talent Development. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join Tami Doig, Daystar's Head of School and early childhood expert, for a conversation about what to look for in a good preschool or kindergarten according to the framework established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This time not work for you? No worries! Sign up on their website to join one of their regularly scheduled calls or conversations. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join Rogers Park's principal, Ben Blair, as he provides an overview of the Montessori philosophy, followed by Q&A. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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This will be a presentation and Q&A with Kimberly Shlaes, Director of PlayWorks Therapeutic Preschool Programing. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Nicholson's director Maria Macnab and lead teacher Lindsey Malacara will give a presentation and answer questions. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join us for the Latin School of Chicago's information session and tour. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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The Intercultural Montessori Language School will share a brief presentation. You'll hear from our students and we'll open things up for questions. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join Gold Coast Prep for a presentation followed by Q&A. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join us to learn more about Parker! Each year, families from all around the Chicagoland area, the country and the world apply to Parker’s diverse and inclusive community. Stacey Huynh, Assistant Director of Admission for Outreach and Recruitment, will share insight and information on Parker’s accessible and holistic admission application process, expansive financial assistance program and resources we have to guide you in your family’s decision-making process. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join Lisa Zimmer, Head of Early Childhood, at Catherine Cook School for a presentation, followed by Q & A. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
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Join us for a BISC Lincoln Park Virtual Open House. Enjoy presentations from our Principal, admissions team, teachers and current parents, ask questions, and explore all that we have to offer your child. Register here for NPN's Preschool & Elementary School Fair to receive the link for this virtual coffee session. -
As we begin to talk about the “s” word again ("school"), you may be weighing some options for your kids coming into the fall. If you have a toddler at home, you may also be entertaining the idea of preschool to help get your little one reintroduced to the world, interacting with peers — as well as adults other than your immediate family — and just beginning to develop social skills again as we emerge from our homes. [Related: What to look for in a therapeutic preschool] While preschool is not a requirement or necessary for later success in school, experts agree it provides an environment for children to explore, play with peers, build self-confidence, and strengthen their social and emotional development, all while having fun and learning routines. If you’re ready to send them off for more of these social experiences, you’ve likely fallen into a lot of options in Chicago for early learning. One factor to also consider in your search is whether your child would be appropriate for a “standard” preschool or a “therapeutic” preschool. It's a good idea to explore some differences in choosing a preschool or a therapeutic preschool for your youngster, as there are several distinctions that separate these two early learning options. Ratios In Illinois, preschools and daycares are mandated to follow predetermined adult-to-child ratio guidelines. Most stick to these minimum recommendations, which is a great question to inquire about when doing your research! These ratios are as follows: • For 2-year-olds a 1:8 ratio, with a maximum group size of 16 • For 3- to 5-year-olds, 1:10 ratio, with a maximum group size of 20 • For children 5 and above, 1:20, with a maximum group size of 30 In a therapeutic preschool setting, most classrooms are much smaller than the recommended maximums. Ratios are also much lower. A typical therapeutic preschool has a class size of 6-8 children, with ratios of adult support anywhere from 1:1 to 1:3. [Related: Preschool vs pre-k: What's the difference?] Therapy If your child receives speech, feeding, occupational, physical and/or behavioral therapy, a therapeutic preschool might be the way to go. This environment has these specialized therapists guiding interventions, providing individual therapy sessions, and helping to generalize different skills among peers. For example, a speech therapist may work individually with a child on answering questions or forming multiple word responses, and then bring the child back to the classroom to practice this new skill with their friends. Naps Here’s where therapeutic preschools may fall short. Therapeutic preschools are very therapy driven and most do not allow for a 2-hour mid-day nap, as a preschool or daycare set up would offer. If your little one is a power napper, a full day program at a therapeutic preschool may not be the best option for them. Diapers Some Early Learning programs require enrolled children to be fully toilet trained. This can be a real limitation for some families who feel their children are ready for the social and emotional benefits of preschool, but are not quite ready to spend the day in undies. At a therapeutic preschool, there are potty training programs implemented with each child, as this is a skill most are able to work on because of the low teacher to student ratios they maintain. Communication Both a preschool and a therapeutic preschool likely offer a lot of great communication options between the teachers and families. Notes going home, apps to receive updates, and face to face interactions help parents feel in touch and in the know about the day to day events with their children. However, if your child’s communication seems to be behind their age-matched peers, this can be a high frustration level for many toddlers who have a good understanding of what’s being discussed, but aren’t quite able to get their thoughts and feelings out effectively yet. A preschool classroom can be a frustrating experience when there are challenges expressing your wants and needs, or advocating for yourself. Important questions to consider: Is my child easy to understand? Can they ask for help when they need it? Are they able to speak up to advocate for themselves? Am I the only one who can understand my child? Reflecting on some of these questions may help lead you to the proper enrollment for your child. Enrollment Every child can be assessed and receive an IEP (individualized educational plan) at age three in order to have recommendations for placement at a CPS preschool. But did you know that your IEP is good for three years, and you are not required to join a CPS preschool at that time? Students in Illinois are not even required by law to attend kindergarten; however, they must be enrolled in either a home schooling program or a school district by age 6. Therefore, many families opt to pause enrollment from CPS to join a therapeutic preschool and reap the benefits of intensive therapeutic intervention, low student to teacher ratios, and engaging social and peer interactions. But don’t worry: Whether they graduate from preschool or therapeutic preschool, they can still join their peers in either a kindergarten or first grade classroom when they are ready! Making a Switch There are a handful of preschools in Chicago that enroll in the fall for the entirety of the year. Some have more strict guidelines on classroom placement based on birth date and ability level. However, many allow for enrollment throughout the school year, depending on birth date, availability and current ratios in their classrooms. Most therapeutic preschools enroll throughout the entire school year, and base these enrollments on the needs of the children and their families. So, if you are on the fence about what is most appropriate for your child, ask about enrollment commitments or cancellation fees, should you opt to enroll in a more therapeutic setting later in the year. Having this option may make enrollment in either program an easier commitment. Regardless of what you choose for your child, you want this early learning experience to be positive for everyone involved. Ask lots of questions, explore every option, and don’t limit yourself to only your neighborhood school. There may be a better fit for your child and their developmental needs that can get them well prepared to be independent little learners! -
Preparing for preschool can seem like an overwhelming process. Although there are many different preschools in Chicago, there are some common elements to preschool that every parent needs to consider. In this intimate recorded live discussion, preschool experts will discuss the logistics of preschool and answer your questions. You will walk away from this discussion knowing: 1. What to expect the first week of preschool 2. What to bring the first day, when to expect a phone call from the teacher, and more 3. How to plan for the entire year such as celebrating birthdays at school, field trips, and more A parent Q&A followed this discussion from our esteemed preschool school panel, which consisted of: The Ancona School Black Bear Academy Florence G. Heller JCC Near North Montessori School Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor The Ancona School -
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Preparing for preschool can seem like an overwhelming process. Although there are many different preschools in Chicago, there are some common elements to preschool that every parent needs to consider. In this intimate live discussion, preschool experts will discuss the logistics of preschool and answer your questions. You will walk away from this discussion knowing: 1. What to expect the first week of preschool 2. What to bring the first day, when to expect a phone call from the teacher, and more 3. How to plan for the entire year such as celebrating birthdays at school, field trips, and more There will be time for Q&A at the end! Our esteemed preschool school panel consists of: The Ancona School Black Bear Academy Florence G. Heller JCC Near North Montessori School Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor The Ancona School Please email Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org with any questions.
