The plan-ahead experts at Exceed Preschool Curriculum
offer tips on impressing parents
Today’s parents are information gatherers. For them, the decision-making process is an emotional and detail-oriented quest involving research, evaluation and comparison, particularly when it comes to choices for their children. Selecting a preschool is one they take very seriously. How do you present your preschool so that it makes an excellent impression on parents? Here with some advice on planning ahead are Jean B. McNeil and Jean P. Copeland, lifelong educational professionals and co-authors of Exceed Preschool Curriculum.
See your preschool through a parent’s eyes
Expect parents of potential preschool students to request a visit of your facility … or not. They may stop in unannounced. Be ready in either case by taking the time now to walk through your building and see each area like a parent would see it. You should note – like a parent would – how it smells, how it sounds, how it looks. Get a read on the atmosphere in general, the cleanliness of the rooms and the mood of your staff and students. Take a moment to experience what a parent does when he/she walks in the door. Ask yourself the following questions and prepare a “to do” list to share with staff.
1. Will the parent be greeted warmly? Will staff members greet the child at eye level?
2. Is a tour of the building rushed? Or are highlights of the facility pointed out and explained? Is the tour organized or is it a haphazard walk? Are the bathrooms and kitchen clean?
3. Are teachers actively participating with children? Are the children actively engaged in play? Are staff members speaking appropriately to the children and to each other? What is the child/teacher ratio?
4. Is children’s artwork on display? Are there books and reading areas that look inviting and comfortable? Are toys age-appropriate?
5. Are different learning centers set up?
6. When children move from one activity to another, do they know what to do? Is a daily schedule of activities posted in the classroom?
Have ready answers for frequently-asked questions
Today’s smart parents may come to see you with a list of questions; be prepared to give them detailed answers. To supplement your meeting, develop a brochure of frequently-asked questions that parents can take home. Here are some of the things they’ll want to know.
1. What curriculum is used? Is it teacher-directed with opportunities for children to choose their own activities?
2. What skills and concepts are presented in a classroom of 3-year-olds? In a classroom of 4-year-olds?
3. Do you work with the public and private school systems to be informed of current kindergarten expectations? Does your language/literacy program support kindergarten programs?
4. How are parents included in classroom activities?
5. Where and how do you have teacher conferences?
6. Do you have field trips? How are they implemented?
7. What would you do if my child had a serious accident?
8. Where do children take naps? For how long?
9. How much time do children spend playing outside?
10. For religious preferences, do you present holidays?
11. How are the classrooms grouped – by age? Are there mixed age groups?
12. When do children move to the next classroom?
Jean B. McNeil and Jean P. Copeland created Exceed Preschool Curriculum, a year-round preschool program, to meet the needs of administrators, directors, teachers, parents and children. The user-friendly program provides everything you and your staff need to operate a superior preschool, from detailed lesson plans, staff memos and parent letters, to schedules of activities complete with supply lists. At the beginning of each month, an assessment, themes for each week and suggested field trips are provided to further expand the learning environment.
A prewritten weekly staff memo is the teacher’s first look at the skills and activities planned for the week. It can be read in less than five minutes, and provides basic information, as well as hints enriching a child’s experience in the classroom. Prewritten daily lesson plans include morning and afternoon supply lists, along with activities for circle time, literacy, math, center time, science, cultural, music and art.
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