2015 Education

JANUARY

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Special Section to:

The Darien Times

New Canaan Advertiser

The Ridgeeld Press

The Wilton Bulletin

The Redding Pilot

The Weston Forum

The Lewisboro Ledger

The Junior Company (middle school age students) performing Hairspray in summer 2014 for the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. The Summer Theatre of New Canaan is part of The Performing Arts
Conservatory of New Canaan. Below, the Fairy Tale Theatre class means that a new story is told, imagined, costumed and performed for each class.

Take to the stage

Acting classes can boost kids confidence
by Julie Butler
Curtain up, light the lights, you got nothing to hit but the heights!
This lyric from the musical Gypsy
describes the feeling that might happen for
parents as well as their offspring when a
child chooses to step into the footlights.
Learning the craft of acting can not only
boost a childs self-confidence and possibly
lead him or her to a future career, but it can
also help with performance in the classroom.
Theater addresses the skills which benefit childrens education and development in
five general areas, said Gai Jones, a theater
educator with more than 40 years of experience: Physical development/kinesthetic skills,
artistic development/drama and theater skills,
mental development/thinking skills, personal
development/intra-personal skills, and social
development/interpersonal skills.
According to Education.com, while many

parents fear participation in drama will damage their childs academic progress, a UCLA
study concluded that students involved in
the arts tend to have higher academic performance and better standardized test scores
nearly 100 points better on the SAT, according to a separate study by College Board.
Academic gains arent the only benefits.
There are the obvious ones improved
self-confidence, better public speaking skills
but Jones says students show other gains
as well, such as the ability to work with an
ensemble in cooperative ventures and the
ability to work through consensus and differences or obstacles to achieve a goal.
She points out that a play requires students
to follow a time line, to use self-discipline,
and to accept feedback. Studying theater can
See Stage on Page 5

The afternoon juggle. Both working and

stay-at-home parents (those with multiple
kids to schlep) experience the pressures of
getting the kid from school point A
to afterschool activity point B.
The potential solutions are many, and there
are right ways and wrong ways to approach
it.
A wrong way: Turning an afterschool
program director or sports coach into your
babysitter.
That builds resentment in a person
youve entrusted to educate your child, not
to chauffeur him or her around, said Julie
Davis Canter, a Redding mom of two who
just ended a 20-year period of getting her
kids around after school. Her husband Len
coached soccer for 15 years, with some basketball and baseball coaching thrown in over
the years for good measure.
There would always be one parent on
any given team who constantly called with
what amounted to an ultimatum Pick up
my child at school or he wont be able to get
to practice. Thats not fair to the child, the
coach, or the other teammates, said Davis
Canter, a former magazine editor and executive who is now author of the Waddley Sees
the World childrens e-book series about a
penguin in Antarctica who hitches a ride on
a boat to see the world.
Another no-no is something a single dad
Davis Canter once knew would do: make
afterschool child care plans on the fly.
He had a wide support group, but
things were way too fluid, made on a daily
basis, never in advance, Davis Canter said.
Consequently, people would often bail on
him, leaving him scrambling for a backup
to get his son to football practice and his
daughter to ice skating.
One way parents make afterschool activity
transportation work is to turn to programs
offered at the school or at community centers where transportation from school is
included. In fact, nearly one in four families
currently has a child enrolled in such a program, according to the 2014 report America
After 3PM from the organization Afterschool

Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Alliance. In 2004, 6.5 million children participated, and by 2014 that grew to 10.2 million children.
Almost three in four parents surveyed (and
nine in 10 afterschool program participants)
believe afterschool programs can help reduce
the likelihood that youth will engage in risky
behaviors after school.
But even among these programs, not
all offer the transportation part. When
Connecticut parents specifically were asked

January 22, 2015

about challenges in enrolling their child in

an afterschool program, one of the major
ones was lack of a safe way for child to get
to and come home. The 17% of Connecticut
children who participate in these programs is
below the national average.
For those seeking the majority of activity
choices and there are of course many
planning ahead on transportation is a
must. And the solution may well take a
whole village of others who need to get to

the same place. After all, Davis Canter said,

Its so much easier to juggle responsibilities
and to share the driving with other parents
when theres a set schedule that everyone has
agreed to.
Today there are carpool organization apps.
But she still advises what she used to do,
when afterschool activities of her two kids
included dance, soccer, basketball, baseball,
and music lessons, sometimes simultaneously: Invite everyone over for coffee or dessert
to map out a strategy.
The hour you put in saves time and stress
in the months to come, she said.
Here are seven other strategies Connecticut
parents use:
1) Ask (beg!) grandparents, other family
members, or close friends for help.
2) Request your employers permission to
temporarily alter your work schedule for the
duration of a short-term activity.
3) Hire a transportation service that specializes in safely getting kids where they need
to go. Bristol-based Kids Wheels (which
serves all of Connecticut) and Ridgefieldbased KiddyKars are two.
4) Ask the activity provider if transportation might be available or arranged.
Master Hwangs Martial Arts, for example,
which has locations in Stratford, Hamden,
West Hartford and Bloomfield, picks up kids
at their schools, with part of the afterschool
program involving participation in regularly
scheduled classes at the studio.
5) Find out if the provider will allow partial program participation, only on the days
when transportation can be managed.
6) Petition school administrators for more
on-site afterschool programs of interest.
7) Pay a local high school student to stay
at the house with other children in the family while the parent gets another child to an
activity.
After you find something that works for
your familys schedule, pat yourself on the
back and breathe. That sports season or
activity session will eventually reach its end.
(Never mind that soon it will be time for the
next one.)

HILL-SOUTH
LE
G

RT
PO

EA

th
Anniversary
T H S
IRTY YEAR

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

Many of todays classrooms are filled with all types of

emerging technologies, which educators use to enhance their
students educational experiences. However, the humble newspaper has long been a staple in the classroom and at home and
remains one of the best tools for learning.
Newspapers can be used to further childrens academic abilities in a variety of ways.
Improve reading fluency
Fluency, comprehension and inference of text are lessons
that begin as soon as a child begins learning how to read.
Children need access to a variety of reading materials so they
can expand their knowledge and vocabulary base, and its
never too early to introduce youngsters to the newspaper as
not only a source of local and national information, but also as
a reading tool.
Parents can go through the newspaper with their children
and select articles that may be of interest. A section devoted
to local events or a particular theme, such as sports or fitness,
may be good starting points.
Children can have fun matching headlines with photos and
following the sequence of the stories that continue on another

page. They're also bound to be exposed to a number of new

words and phrases as they read newspaper articles, which
helps improve their vocabulary.
Strengthen writing skills
Newspaper articles are written differently than books.
Exposing children to a journalistic style of writing can help
them with their own writing assignments.
Teachers often stress that narratives and other writing assignments should follow a certain format so students learn to
express themselves clearly. Students are urged to validate statements with proof and to have a logical flow to their work.
By reading articles in newspapers, students can gain an
understanding of how to introduce a subject, expand on facts
and summarize a point. Students who tend to be more pragmatic writers may connect with the journalistic style of writing
more so than students who excel at creative prose.
Children can practice reporting on different events in and
around their communities, emulating the style of writing
presented in newspapers. They also can learn the differences
between editorial and opinion pieces.

Make current events accessible

Newspapers are an inexpensive connection to culture and
information from around the world.
Through newspaper articles, students can better understand
political, financial and entertainment issues spanning the
globe. Staying abreast of the latest news from around the world
can help students become more well-rounded and learned.
Students who may have read about events in a history book
can compare those accounts to current information on what is
happening in the world today.
Develop an eye for photography
Stunning, award-winning photographs are published in
newspapers nearly every day. A picture is worth a thousand
words and newspaper photography helps readers interpret stories and bring the words to life through imagery.
Access to newspaper photography can open up an entirely
new world for children. It also may inspire their own creative
works.
Students may be inundated with technological resources
both at school and home. But perhaps no classroom resource
can match the array of benefits provided by newspapers.

On-going classes and

workshops in all media
for all ages and abilities.
203-966-6668 x.2

www.silvermineart.org

1 037 S il ver min e R oad New Cana an, CT

06840

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

Many adults decide to return to school years after they

established themselves in the professional arena. But as much
as such decisions can reignite a forgotten passion or lead men
and women down an exciting new path, returning to school
must also make financial sense.
The decision to return to college involves more than a
persons career goals, especially if that person has a family or
other significant financial obligations. The cost of a college
education is considerable, but men and women can take steps
prior to enrolling to determine if returning to school makes
financial sense for them.
Determine your eligibility for aid.
Adults thinking of going back to school may be eligible for
financial aid. Older students returning to school wont have
to worry about their parents income disqualifying them from
financial aid and they may even be more eligible for needbased aid when returning to school than they were when
they initially enrolled as young students. Older independent
students may also be allowed to borrow more than younger
students who are considered dependent.
For rules and information regarding eligibility for financial
aid visit fafsa.ed.gov.
Discuss financial aid with the university you plan to
attend.
Unlike high school students who apply to multiple colleges, adults going back to school typically value proximity when
looking for a college or university in which to enroll. So its
easy for adults to visit their local college or universitys financial aid office in person to discuss opportunities for grants or
scholarships.
Financial aid officers can point you in the right direction
if you decide to fill out loan applications or help you find
any scholarships that might be available to adult students.
Financial aid departments can be invaluable resources to students of all ages, and gaining a greater understanding of the
grants and scholarships available to you can help you determine if returning to school makes financial sense for you and
your family.
result, older students must determine when they can realisti Determine how quickly you can repay student loans.
cally
expect to pay off their loans before they borrow any
Few students can afford to attend college without borrowmoney.
ing money. While younger students have a lifetime to repay
If loans can be repaid long before retirement, then a return
student loans, older students dont have that luxury. As a
to school might make financial sense. But men and women

Belden Hill
Montessori

As he masters each
new skill, his self
confidence increases
Montessori

who crunch the numbers and realize they will be forced to

make loan payments during their retirement years might want
to reconsider. A good rule of thumb for adults considering a
return to school is to borrow less the closer you are to retirement.

Help me to
help myself
Montessori

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

Stage continued from page 1

be a great starting point for careers such
as teaching, law and politics, not to mention broadcasting and performing. And the
ability to speak confidently in front of a
group is a boon for any career.
Acting classes provide an opportunity
for students to explore their imagination
and creativity, Melody Libonati, director
of the Performing Arts Conservatory in
New Canaan, said. They discover things
about themselves and others by working
with their voice and body.
Confidence, creative thinking, collaboration and lots of fun are all outcomes
of an acting class, Libonati said. The
sense of play is always important. There is
no wrong way and the answer is always
yes!
The Performing Arts Conservatory
offers acting classes for fourth through six
graders, seventh and eighth graders, high
school students and adults. There is acting
technique in its music theater classes and
private acting lessons and audition preparation are also available.
Because of Fairfield Countys proximity
to the Great White Way there are a good
number of programs and performing arts
studios that have similar classes available
in your town or nearby. Check your hometown newspaper for ads and ask friends or
the drama department at your local high
school for recommendations.
If your child is interested in getting
involved in theater, here are a few things
to keep in mind, according to Education.
com:
Theater is not just for the outgoing.
There are many ways for children to
participate even if theyre afraid of the
spotlight. Your child can play an ensemble
role a face in the crowd or a voice in
chorus which gives him stage time
without the pressure. If she never, ever

wants to be on stage, find out about backstage crew positions building the sets,
controlling the lights, managing the costumes. At many schools, there are tons of
would-be actors, but never enough crew
members, and without the crew, the actors
would be lost.
Sometimes, disappointment can lead
to growth.
Not everyone can get a plum part in
the school play. If your child comes home
sad that he didnt get the role he wanted,
encourage him to politely ask the director
why. Most teachers will give specific, constructive suggestions. Learning to absorb
and accept critique is a key life skill,
whether on the stage or off it.
Once your child is aware of where he
needs improvement, help him make a plan
to work on his weaknesses. Did your son
talk too fast because he was nervous? Help
him find opportunities to practice his public speaking. Did your daughter not know
the song she was supposed to sing? Next
time, get a copy of the script and score
from the library or download the music
online, and practice well before the audition. If your child knows the material well,
shell give a better audition. And teaching
her to come prepared is a valuable life
skill.
Keep your perspective and help your
child keep hers.
On opening night, youll have all eyes
on your little star, even if shes playing the
second daisy from the left. But in reality,
its not all about your child. One of dramas greatest gifts is that it forces children
to work together as a team, even if they
dont know or like each other. Your child
needs to see herself as part of something
bigger than herself, which means showing
up for rehearsals even when shed rather
do something else, and being gracious to
her teammates especially if shes the
star of the show.
All the worlds a stage, after all.

LAW OFFICE OF
PETER D. HOFFMAN, P.C.
200 Katonah Avenue Katonah, NY 10536

(914) 232-2242

Peter D. Hoffman, Esq.1; Hope Harris, Esq.2; Catherine Laney, Esq.3; Nikki Woods, Esq.4

www.pdhoffmanlaw.com
www.peterhoffmanlaw.com

Special Education Law

Our law firm represents special needs children and their parents. All children with special needs have the right to a free and
appropriate public education (FAPE). Unfortunately, receiving it may be a struggle.
At The LAW OFFICE OF PETER D. HOFFMAN, P.C. located in Katonah, N.Y., we work with the laws concerning students,
schools, and parents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. We can help you navigate through the
perplexity of special education law.
Our firm has a concentration in assisting families place their children in special education school district programs and therapeutic
private school programs that can serve the needs of special education students, and provide an appropriate education at the expense of
the school district. Furthermore, we can help you try to obtain attorneys fees when we have been successful in litigation.
We have worked with families and children with a wide range of educational and emotional disorders. Now is the time to prepare
for PPT and CSE meetings and develop the proper IEP. We also work on student disciplinary matters and juvenile justice matters.

Please contact us to learn about your and your childs rights.

FREE IN-OFFICE INITIAL CONSULTATION

This is not intended as legal advice. This does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship, or an offer to establish such a
relationship. No attorney-client relationship can be established without a fully executed professional services agreement and retainer signed by
both the attorney and the client.
1 Mr. Hoffman is licensed in NY, NJ and DC. pdh2@pdhoffmanlaw.com
2 Ms. Harris is licensed in CT. hh@pdhoffmanlaw.com

3 Ms. Laney is licensed in NY. cl@pdhoffmanlaw.com

4 Ms. Woods is licensed in NY and CT nw@pdhoffmanlaw.com

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Ask any high school senior, waiting for

admission to college is stressful. After many
months of preparation, you are left to wonder if your years of good grades and extracurricular activities will be enough to make
the cut. As a former college admissions officer and a long-time college consultant, I am
often asked, Who gets in?
While college admissions is considered
a druidie process steeped in mystery, most
admissions officers base their decisions on a
foundation of common elements.
According to an annual survey by the
National Association of College Admission
Counseling (NACAC), foremost among
these are academics and admission test
scores, with additional factors such as writing samples, recommendations and extracurricular activities rounding out the picture
of an ideal candidate.
With 750,000 to 1 million high school
students applying to U.S. universities
each year, it helps to know your advantages. Following are the top factors in the
admissions process according to the 2011
NACAC survey of colleges, along with some tips and statistics
that can help you recognize and emphasize your assets.
1. Grades and curriculum
Grades in college preparatory courses are by far the most
important consideration in college admissions. More than 84%
of survey respondents ranked this of considerable importance.
Strength of curriculum is a close second. Admissions officers
want to see that you have challenged yourself. Taking nonrequired courses or the full range of courses in a particular subject is a plus.
On the flip side, abandoning a core subject (such as math,
science or foreign language) early is a problem, as are grades
that decline, rather than improve, over time.
2. Admission test scores (SAT, ACT)
The majority of colleges place great emphasis on SAT and
ACT scores, with 60% calling them a top priority and 30% con-

sidering them of moderate importance.

Many institutions will combine their applicants highest verbal, math and writing scores. Yet it doesnt pay to take the SAT
or ACT more than twice. According to psychometrics (the study
of test-taking), the bulk of the population will not improve on a
test during subsequent attempts.
3. Essay or writing sample
While 63% of admissions staff rank the student essay as
moderately or considerably important, They do not have to
be extraordinary works of art, according to Brown University
Dean of Admissions James Miller.
Avoid gimmicks (such as writing backwards or in concentric
circles), and do not rely on spell-check. We see a number of
candy strippers and marital arts experts each year, says Dean
Miller.
Be original. Too many students write about their public ser-

January 22, 2015

vice trips or their heartbreaking

relationships. Also avoid topics
that are too broad to be adequately
addressed in a college essay.
4. Counselor and teacher recommendations
With 40% of colleges rating
counselor or teacher recommendations as moderately important, it is
wise to request these early and follow up with a thank-you note.
More is not necessarily better. If
you want to send in an additional
letter, be sure it puts you in a new
light.
5. Students demonstrated interest and extracurricular activities
Admissions officers look for
well-rounded students who
show enthusiasm for something.
Extracurricular talents can also be
important, especially if there is a
need on campus. For instance,
offers Dean Miller, does the pep
band need a tuba player? (Yes, that
does happen.)
But dont think joining a bunch of activities in your junior
or senior year of high school is fooling anyone. Colleges desire
students with depth rather than breadth.
Finally, watch your behavior on school trips as well as on
social media sites. Anyone witnessing inappropriate behavior
can report you to your college. It is not unheard of for an
acceptance to be rescinded following a bout of bad judgment.
Most prospective college students do not know that 70% of
colleges admit 70% of their applicants.
While the college application process can be a long road,
you will get into college.
Stephanie Klein Wassink, a Wilton-based college consultant for more
than 15 years, is the founder and principal of admissionscheckup.com.
More info: 888-667-6219 or email info@admissionscheckup.com.

Lauren Blanchette

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

A blizzard of white flakes has been falling through the

night and the schools email blasts about a possible delay
or cancellation have begun.
By morning, as expected, children will have a day off
from school, leaving parents scrambling for ways to keep
children occupied and supervised.
Snow days may be coveted by kids (and teachers),
but they may not be as beloved by parents who are unaccustomed to having kids home during the week. Working
parents whose businesses are open do not have the same
luxury as their children to roll over in bed and avoid
trekking through the white stuff.
But just because snow days are unexpected, that does
not mean parents cant plan for them.
Establish a snow day plan.
Parents who cannot take days off from work will need
a contingency plan for snow days. Organize a snow day
club, wherein school parents rotate taking children for
the day. Working parents can reciprocate by taking the
school kids on a weekend and letting the other parents
have a date night.
Create a snow day entertainment bin.
Rather than having kids spend the day watching television or playing on their tablets, parents can establish
a snow day entertainment bin to encourage their kids to
make the most of the day off. The bin can include board
games, books, building block sets, paints, and other
crafts.
Plan for an indoor picnic.
Kids will probably want to spend a portion of the day
playing out in the snow. After all of that physical activity,
theyre bound to be famished. Spread a blanket out on
the living room floor and enjoy a picnic of sandwiches,
snacks and hot chocolate. Kids will enjoy the novelty of
eating this way.
Get cooking.
Another way to fill the day is to have children participate in making meals. A snowy day is a great time to
prepare meals for the rest of the week, as well as tinker
with hearty, belly-filling recipes. Older children can help
See Snow on Page 12

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 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

Ridgefield Academy gets innovative

Building paper bridges, soldering circuit boards, and
coding a computer that fits in your palm these are all
things Ridgefield Academy students do in the schools new
Innovation Lab.
Incorporated into the upper school science curriculum,
the course meets once a week and allows students to think
creatively about science and technology concepts. The emphasis is on doing, not memorizing. Students learn coding with
the Raspberry Pi, a credit card-sized computer that runs on a
Linux operating system.
Last year the eighth grade class elected to work on the
Raspberry Pi using remote sensors with a camera. The students attached the computers to a helium balloon and programmed a remote sensor to take aerial photographs of the
campus. Teachers entered the photographs in an international
photography contest and Ridgefield Academy took second
place.
Innovation Lab is like a bonus feature, eighth grader
Annika Morgan said.
She and her peers say they love the class. Its interesting
to learn how a computer thinks, said eighth grader Robert
Thompson.
Kids learn by making things and doing things, said teacher Deb Lasala. We provide them the STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] tools and let them be creative.
Innovation Lab offers students a class to work on problems and also have free play to tinker, sixth grade teacher Joy
Munro said. Students work in a design process as opposed to
the scientific method process many of their parents learned
in school. The first step of learning is to play, Munro said.
There should be no end to that.

habits of mind a Pear Tree Point School education provides.

The Cornerstone Early Learning Program is a full-day
Are you seeking a tutor for your child? learning experience. Students are introduced to the routines
of school, literacy, numeracy, social studies, science, and forLauren Tufano Blanchette is a certified teacher in New York eign languages through a balance of direct instruction and
and Connecticut and offers private tutoring in grades K-5 in
inquiry-based learning. The curriculum is enhanced by speall academic subject areas.
cialists in art, music, drama, physical education, Spanish, and
She has an undergraduate degree in speech pathology and Mandarin.
a double masters in childhood education (pre-k through sixth
Skills learned during circle time are reinforced with table
grade) and literacy.
work and games throughout the school day. Creativity and
Blanchette has six years experience teaching in public
critical thinking skills are fostered through a center-based
schools, including the Rye, N.Y., and Ridgefield schools dislearning program designed to encourage exploration and
tricts. She has taught first through fifth grade.
independence.
More info: 516-769-6067 or lauren.tufano@gmail.com
PTPS knows that children learn best when the content
is meaningful to them, according to a release. The Core
Knowledge curriculum provides an integrated curriculum in
Open house at Pear Tree Point School which related units of study are pursued in all subject areas.
When newly-acquired skills and vocabulary are utilized in
two domains, such as art as well as literacy, or Spanish as well
Pear Tree Point School in Darien specializes in teaching
as math, students understand more deeply and retain more
elementary school-aged children. Through individualized
effectively. The school day is designed to maximize learning in
goal-setting and small student-teacher ratios, the school nura fun and engaging way.
tures the learning and growth of every student. Each student
There will be an open house and tour on March 5. For
Cornerstone teachers are early childhood specialists who
is known and developed as a learner.
more
information and to RSVP for the open house, call Janice
The Cornerstone Early Learning Program, the schools pre- have a wealth of knowledge about young learners. With
Hawes, director of admissions, at 203-665-0030 or complete
expertise,
caring
and
an
eye
for
fun,
teachers
create
an
envikindergarten, provides a developmentally appropriate introan inquiry form at ptpschool.org.
duction to the solid foundation of knowledge and productive ronment conducive to growth and discovery.

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

Peek inside a school classroom today and

you might see kids asked to go bananas
while doing math facts, or a brain break
activity getting students out of their seats for a
few minutes before a writing assignment.
Morning meetings may incorporate some
stretches or simple yoga. Games of Simon
Says get kids transitioned back from lunch or
recess, and jumping jacks, chair push-ups or
desk push-ups can revive flagging interest at
various times.
In the morning, and in between our activities throughout the day, we do a lot of big
muscle moving, said Stratford kindergarten
teacher Christina Adzima, an 18-year teaching
veteran who has also taught special education.
I need to stretch and so do they.
Its not just the younger set doing their
movement reps.
Sensory input and movement breaks are
beneficial for everyone and can truly help to
recharge your batteries, said Kerri Cybulski,
a licensed occupational therapist (OT) who
has worked in her field for 17 years, in the
public schools, in medical outplacement settings, and currently in the Connecticut Birth
to Three program.
As an OT student, one of her professors
used to yell, Ready, set, go! when the class
appeared to be fading during a lecture.
During the 30-second break, we had to
get up and run around the class and back
to our chairs before the timer went off. This
was her way of helping to alert and organize
our nervous systems to a just right or optimal state for learning, explained Cybulski,
who now works with children under three
for Trumbull-based Cooperative Educational
Services and Hamden-based Reachout Inc.
Organized movement breaks help with
regulation of arousal levels, which often assist
with improving ones attention and focus,
added Cybulski.
In Adzimas classroom, thats certainly the
case. Children expand energy, and they are
better able to attend, she said.
The movement also helps her students to
make assignment choices they may be given,

such as whether to color, paint, or work on a

gluing project. If theyre able to choose how
theyre going to learn when theyre in that
level of engagement after moving and exercising, theyre going to better be able to learn the
skill at hand and that will take them to a
higher level of thinking and a better level of
engagement overall, she said.
While movement break tip sharing can be
heard in many a teachers lounge, the results
of movement breaks are more than anecdotal. In a 2010 Centers for Disease Control
overview of nine studies on classroom physical activities, nearly all the research showed
that when teachers got kids moving, there
was a positive association between cognitive
skills and attitudes, academic behaviors, and
academic achievement, said Kristin Downer,
schools supervisor for Norwalk-based
Constellation School Based Therapy.
In other words,students are more focused,
theyre more engaged socially with their peers,
and academically in the classroom, Downer
said. Students themselves are reporting
that its fun and they like to have their brain
breaks.
A big reason movement breaks are catching on in elementary and even middle school
classrooms is todays intense curriculum.
Phys ed class is just once or twice a week and
recess may be at the end of the day or inside
the classroom.
They dont have the physical activity they
used to, said Downer, a licensed occupational
therapist. Kids arent moving and they need
to be moving to allow their brains to catch up
on the demands being placed on them.
In her experience, having worked with
students of all ages and in school districts
throughout Fairfield County, the majority of
kids need more movement than the school
schedule allows.
That can mean the need for both wholeclass and individual breaks.
The solution Constellation devised for
schools in one local district is the water fountain break. When a teacher sees a student
needing a break, hes cued to go to the water

fountain, where five or six sensory motor

activities await, Downer said. Another local
district is starting to implement the program.
She has known a lot of teachers to have
kids run errands when they need to move.
Theyll give kids who need breaks a fake
note to take to the office, she said, adding
that many of these children arent identified
as having any disability and are academically
right on target.
Cybulski will advise teachers to consider
trying discreet in-classroom strategies, as well.
These may include sensory squeeze balls,
fidget toys, Velcro under the desktop, disc
seat cushions, chewy snacks, or water being
sipped through a straw. These items may be
available from the schools occupational therapist to loan out to teachers.
A student receiving special education services whos included in the mainstream classroom may have sensory strategies designed by
an OT to meet individual needs activities
to bring the arousal level up or down as needed that the OT or a paraprofessional oversees,
Downer said.
As for classroom movement activities
overall, both veteran and newer teachers
she encounters are incorporating them, she
added. I would say nine out of 10 are doing
it, and 10 out of 10 are open to it.

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 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

10

Often called the language of love, French is the native tongue

of Marie Curie, Claude Monet and Coco Chanel.
It is not the worlds most spoken language or its fastest growing, but it is taught in schools across the U.S. and is spoken in
more than 30 countries.
Given its ties to innovative thinkers and other cultures,
French is a popular language to study. And the best way to learn
it is to start young.
We are teaching kids age six months and above, said JeanLouis Troch, executive director for language program Linguakids
in Darien and Larchmont, N.Y.
Troch suggests children start learning French before they enter
the public or private school system.
Complete immersion is the best way to become fluent in a
second language, but for some families that is is impossible.
Parents may not speak another language. They also may not
have the needed tools to teach one.
Troch said the reason programs such as Linguakids exist is
because children get additional training outside of school and
are one step closer to complete immersion.
With trained instructors, specialized language programs also
know how to teach a different language in a entertaining way.
Linguakids, for instance, uses French music, books and videos

January 22, 2015

to subject kids to the romance language.

Another important aspect of learning French is to understand
why its important to speak a second language.
Linguakids often points to a Carnegie Mellon University study
that shows bilingual speakers are able to switch tasks at a faster
rate than monolingual speakers.
The ability to switch mental gears is not the only pro to learning French. Because it is similar to Spanish and Italian, French
can be used to study other Romance Languages. And unlike
Chinese or Arabic, it is easy for English speakers to pick up.
In addition to Latin and German, French helped shape
the English language when William of Normandy conquered
England in 1066. During the Norman occupation, several
French words were added to the English language. In fact
English speakers who have never been exposed to French
already know more than 14,000 French words.
Facts aside, there are other reasons to learn the language of
love.
French is just a beautiful language, Troch said when asked
why people should choose French over other popular languages
such as Spanish.
And the more words of love one can learn to utter in this
world, the better!

K-12 Open House

Saturday
February 28
at 2:00 p.m.

Snow date: March 1

 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

January 22, 2015

11

by Eric Gendron
The pressure on Fairfield County high school
students to apply to and be accepted at selective
colleges is as intense as ever. Applications are up,
acceptances are down and mood swings can vacillate from hope to panic, and back again.
Many candidates wrongly think having a well
rounded profile is their best path to receiving an
acceptance letter. The truth is that diving deeper
into a narrow range of activities will help an
applicant to better stand out.
Students today are reacting to the competitive environment by applying to more schools.
According to National Association for College
Admission Counseling data, the percentage of
students who submit three or more applications a
year has been steadily increasing, and hit 79% in
2011, up from 67% the prior year.
Students applying to seven or more colleges
has also been rising, and is up to 29% from 25%
the year before. In our practice, we now often see
students applying to 15 different colleges each
year.
This has put substantial pressure on the gatekeepers who review the applications. In 2011, the
average college admissions officer was responsible
for reviewing 622 applications, a 73% increase
from 359 in 2005. What is an applicant to do to
stand out in this maddening crowd?
We are surprised each year to come across so
many parents who think the best way to help
build their childs application profile is by encouraging them to get involved in a diverse array of
interests and activities. They are surprised when
we tell them selective schools are oftentimes less
interested in an applicant who has a broad range
of activities. This student can come off as being
unfocused, or a dabbler someone who has
been involved, but unable to make a real impact
anywhere.
Admissions officers at super- and highly-selective schools are instead more interested in students who become
specialists, be it in math, engineering, technology, sports, the
performing arts, theater, fashion, community service, or any
other area. They develop a passion, and then dig deeply into it.
They also find new paths outside of school to more fully develop
their area of interest. They become leaders and make an impact.
Indeed, admission officers at selective schools are looking to
build a diverse class. Its this idea of diversity that oftentimes
trips people up to think these colleges are looking for students
with a diverse array of interests. But the truth is these schools
want to create this diversity with a cohort of students who have
built expertise in different areas. This way students learn not
only from the faculty, but other students as well. They go on and
make an impact in their communities after graduating. Schools

also have many different activities, organizations and fields of

study to fill each year.
So its important for admissions officers to know exactly where
an applicant might fit into life on campus.
Its harder than ever to get into selective colleges. Developing
and digging deeply into a passion area can help a student build
a successful profile not only for the application process, but also
for life in general.
Kristin White and Michael White are co-directors of Darien Academic
Advisors (DAA), an educational consulting company founded in 2005.
DAA provides advisory services to students and families for college,
boarding, independent day and MBA school admissions. It also provides
a career launch service for pre- and early-stage professionals. More
info: darienacademicadvisors.com.

A new rigorous and comprehensive set of

standards outlining developmentally appropriate guidelines for children from birth through
preschool is being rolled out for the first time in
Connecticut after years of study.
With input from nearly 100 teachers, administrators and other education officials statewide and with research of similar programs
in a dozen states, the states Early Childhood
Education Cabinet and six regional education service centers have teamed up to start
the implementation of the Connecticut Early
Learning and Development Standards.
Pre-kindergarten administrators and teachers
have been attending workshops, including a
two-part workshop recently held for Darien and
New Canaan teachers and administrators at the
Darien Board of Education Building, to learn the
ins and outs of a significantly revamped system.
A 71-page booklet that summarizes the new
standards was compiled over the course of nearly two years and is now in the hands of teachers
around the state.
Michelle Levy, an education consultant in the
states Office of Early Childhood, played the
lead staff role in supporting the creation of the
document, saying that teachers and administrators have been excited and receptive to the
standards and how the booklet organizes those
standards.
The goal was really to include everyone in
one document so we were looking at how children grow and develop over time, Levy said.
We wanted this document to be able to be
used by everyone and to create some common
language.
The booklet outlines standards in much
more specified areas compared to the older and
broader guidelines in the previous Preschool
Assessment Framework.
The new CTELDS sets expectations for
children from birth to six months, six to 12
months, 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, 2436 months, three to four years and four to five
years. In addition, the standards are broken into
more specific subjects such as math, science,
social studies, language and literacy, as well as
physical development and health, social and
emotional development and cognition.
While that may seem like a lot for young
children, Levy says that children are smarter
than adults tend to give them credit for. She
See Kindergarten on Page 12

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 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers

12

Kindergarten continued from page 11

cited recent research that children are able to
understand more specific concepts like math
much earlier than originally thought.
Its not a big, scary content area, she said.
It is appropriate for them to be learning science and math at their age.
One of the most striking parts in the new
standards booklet is eight pages of expectations for parents and guardians and what
they can do to help their child develop in
each of the aforementioned categories.
For example, the booklet suggests that
parents questions or encourage their child to
make choices to improve their cognition; to
use new words when describing something
to improve language and literacy; or to talk
about shapes out loud or count everyday
objects to improve their math skills.
Families are the first and most important
people in childrens lives, Levy said. So
helping them be aware of the things they can
do to support their childrens growth and
development is very important. Thats one of
the reasons we want these standards to not
just be used in a center-based or preschool
program.
Former interim state Education
Commissioner and current consultant for
Cooperative Education Services George

Coleman admitted that they cant mandate

parent involvement, but he feels the standards present an opportunity to give parents
clear guidelines of what to expect as their
child reaches preschool age.
We believe that parents desperately want
their children to succeed, he said. We need
to take the approach of not just enrolling
a child in an early childhood program, but
enrolling a family in an early childhood program.
Julie Coakley, an Early Childhood
Coordinator at CES who has led many of the
teacher/administrator workshops in Fairfield
County, said she is especially excited about
this section of the booklet.
The state is really committed to making families a partner with them in their
childrens education, she said. The state
has been really proactive about sending the
action guide out not only to every licensed
program in the state, but also to family daycare providers, libraries and pediatricians in
both English and Spanish.
While the previous standards were due
for a makeover, Common Core standards at
the kindergarten level were one of the major
reasons the state created the new CTELDS.
The state is hoping that with the implementation of the new standards, children will be
more prepared for Common Core curriculum
when they reach kindergarten.
Under CTELDS, by the time they enter

kindergarten children will be expected to

know, for example, that print is read from left
to right; words are formed by letters grouped
together; they should be familiar with letter
sounds; begin to sound out words to write;
know simple addition and subtraction; and
know two and three-dimensional shapes.
The previous sets of standards had been
around for a long time and it was time for
them to be revised, Levy said. We havent
changed or said that children need to know
more now than they did yesterday. Its that
we have research to show what they may be
able to do.
While educators and officials are thrilled
about the completion and the implementation of the standards, the raised academic
expectations at the early childhood level
have sparked some concerns about childrens
access to high quality preschool education.
Gov. Dannel Malloy announced in June the
allocation of pre-kindergarten opportunities
to 1,020 children from low-income families
in 2015 and 4,020 children by 2019. But
Levy, Coakley and Coleman all agreed that
the long-term goal under the new standards
is to achieve universal public preschool statewide.
We dont have universal access yet, but
I think were heading in that direction,
Coakley said.
There is an awareness in every one of our
districts about the importance of education
for young children and about the need to
partner with the private programs and work
together, said Coakley. There is a bigger
picture.
In our professional development, we often
talk about these standards as being guides

and not gates, Levy said. They should not

serve as barriers to children accessing programs or support.
While the state is likely still years away
from all children having access to pre-kindergarten environments that implement these
new standards, Levy said she is confident
that the action guides available to parents
will be helpful tools in preparing their children for kindergarten.
A lot of high quality early care and education settings, as well as parents, are already
doing the things that promote all of these
skills, she said. This is really a tool to help
them think more deeply about what theyre
doing. The action guides that go with these
standards are a really good place to start for
someone who may not have a degree in early
childhood education or for families who are
learning the ways to support their children.
Coleman was confident that public preschool is all but an inevitability at this point
in Connecticut.
I think we all now understand that there
is a growing number of preschool children
who come to school behind and never seem
to catch up, Coleman said. The quality of
the experience in the preschool is so much
more important than ever.
In the meantime, Levy said there have been
many glowing reviews about the CTELDS
booklet and an excitement to start using
these guidelines in classrooms.
I think that overall people feel that its a
useful tool in supporting children and giving
teachers ways to communicate with families
or other care providers, Levy said.
Theres been a very positive response. The
booklets are flying off our shelves.

Snow continued from page 7

Fill squeeze or squirt bottles with some

water and food coloring. Allow kids to go out
in the yard and create some pictures with the
snow as their canvas.
Catch up on cleaning.
Cleaning may not be the most exciting
snow day activity, but it might be the most
productive. Children can spend time sorting
through toys and belongings in their rooms.
Take a nature walk.
Grab those boots and insulated pants and
head outdoors. A walk in the brisk, cold air
can boost spirits and introduce kids to the
beauty of winter landscapes. Take the camera
along and encourage kids to snap pictures of
their favorite vistas.

with cutting vegetables and meats, while

younger kids can add seasonings to pots and
mix ingredients.
Involve the kids in choosing which meals
to cook. Baking bread is another fun activity
and enables kids to sculpt dough and then
eat the fruits of their labors.
Go the movies.
If roads are passable, consider a trip to the
movie theater, where you can enjoy a matinee. Bring a few friends along and make it a
fun-filled outing.
Create snow art.

January 22, 2015

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