Welcome to the second annual chambanamoms.com Champaign-Urbana Area Preschool Guide. The preschool “shopping” season is in full swing. There are so many options — we’ve been there! — so we decided to help you out by putting as much information as possible in one place. This guide features early education options for children, generally ages 2-5, that are in session a few hours per day and operate on school-year calendars. There are some grey areas; some schools may offer optional extended care options and some offer extended calendar years. Centers that *ONLY* offer full-time care are not on this list. To add your preschool or if you are interested in information about how to get a featured listing, please contact editor (at) chambanamoms.com.

Featured Listings

Name: Campus Cooperative Preschool
Location: 1203 W. Green Street, Urbana (lower level of the Wesley Foundation)
Curriculum: The foundation of our child-centered, play-based curriculum is guided by the implementation of THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM FOR PRESCHOOL ®, along with an engaging creative arts program, and a multifaceted social and emotional curriculum where diversity is embraced and every child feels valued and cherished.

Campus Cooperative Preschool in Urbana has been in operation since 1951.

Schedule Options: Pre-K class (4-5 year olds) meets Monday through Friday mornings. There are two Pre-school classes: M/W/F class (age 3 by Sept. 1) and Tu/Th class (age 3 by Sep. 1 with limited spots available for students who turn age 3 by Dec. 31). The program hours are 8:30am-11:15 am with the option of an early drop off at 8:00 or extending the school day to 12:15 for an extra fee.
What Makes CCP Unique: Since 1951, our cooperative-styled preschool has actively utilized parents to enhance the curriculum, provide administrative support, and maintain the physical facilities. Our staff’s implementation of the curriculum embraces the emotional world of children through kind, nurturing interactions helping each child develop a positive sense of self as an active learner. 
What the Director Says: “Our program focuses on the developmental needs of each child, the cultivation of imagination, and the love of learning. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where creative play is facilitated by the teachers to ensure that critical skills are learned through a joyful discovery process.” – Lisa Treul
Open House: Feb. 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
For More Information: http://campuscooperativepreschool.com/ or 344-1623

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Name: Carle Auditory Oral School
Location: 810 W. University Avenue, Urbana
Curriculum:  Carle Auditory Oral School provides a nurturing, family-centered environment that supports children with hearing loss and normal hearing in reaching their communication and learning potential.

Carle Auditory Oral School

Schedule Options: 11-month calendar, beginning in early August and continuing until late June. Children participate in 200 school days, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before and aftercare is available at an additional cost. A childcare program is available on teacher institute days and July break.
What Makes CAOS unique: The small class size and active learning opportunities help us connect with individual children, forming a positive, nurturing relationship that allows each child to reach new heights.
What the Director Says: “CAOS strives to provide children with a solid foundation of self-confidence, concern for others, academic readiness and enthusiasm for the learning process. We believe these factors set the stage for success in elementary school and beyond. It is such a gift to inspire a lifetime love of learning in the children we serve.” -Danielle Darcy
Open House: Feb. 20, 3:30-6 p.m.
For More Information: http://www.carleschool.org or 326-2824

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Name: Cooperative Nursery School
Location: 602 W. Green Street, Urbana
Curriculum: a nonprofit, nonsectarian preschool that is owned, maintained, and administered by the parents of the children enrolled in the school. Its uniqueness lies in the coordination of efforts between the trained, professional teachers and the parents who assist in the classroom.
Schedule Options: Two-year-olds meet twice a week; 3-year-olds (by September 1) meet 3-4 mornings a week, depending on enrollment.  Four-year-olds meet 4-5 mornings a week, depending on enrollment.
What Makes Coop Unique: Parent Involvement. Our parents serve on our Board of Directors, assist teachers in the classroom (if they are available to, this is optional), fund-raise, and take care of the school.”
What the Director says: “Coop provides a safe, secure, and engaging environment for our children.  Our program is enriched by the involvement of our parents, who bring to the classroom a wide range of
cultural, educational, and artistic backgrounds. The high level of parent involvement also facilitates a smoother transition from family life to the world of school.” – Anna Cech
For More Information:  http://www.coopnursery.org/index.htm or 384-1128
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Name: Mother’s Morning Out – in the Spotlight!
Location: Temple Baptist Church, 1100 Broadmoor Drive, Champaign
Curriculum: We use The Creative Curriculum for preschool, which tracks each child’s progress on 38 specific objectives covering social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, math, science and technology, social studies, the arts, and English language acquisition.

MM

Schedule Options: Mother’s Morning Out Preschool classes meet daily Monday through Friday from 8:30-12:00.  There are a number of options available including Tuesday/Thursday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Monday – Friday.
What Makes MMO Unique: The availability of drop-in care; The Creative Curriculum.
What the Director Says: “Our goal is for children to feel safe and secure at MMO, and for them to see it as a place to explore and discover.”– Director Amy Kilgus Chamley
For More Information: http://mothersmorningoutcu.org/ or 356-7377

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Name: Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana
Location: 1403 Regency Drive East, Savoy
Curriculum: Montessori is a brain-based developmental approach tolearning that utilizes carefully crafted, hands-on, sensory based learningmaterials. Children are encouraged to explore and experiment as theydevelop independent thinking skills and follow their areas of interest.
Schedule Options: MSCU offers both three-hour and six-hour preschool programs. Wrap-around childcare is available 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. You may choose a 9-or 12-month calendar.
What Makes MSCU Unique: Montessori provides a multi-age classroom environment. The full academic curriculum is available to all ages so that each individual’s style and pace of learning may be accommodated. Children who are developing ahead of their peers are readily challenged.
What the Director Says: “Our committed and caring staff have years of experience educating young children. As a non-profit, parent-owned school, we remain focused on providing the best Montessori education possible. With over 25,000 Montessori schools in 110 countries, our educational approach holds worldwide appeal.” – Deborah Balsbaugh
For More Information: http://www.montessorischoolofcu.org or 356-1818

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Our listings continue, alphabetically:

Name: Busy Bees Preschool
Location: Springer Cultural Center, 301 N. Randolph Street, Champaign
Ages Served: The Busy Bees Preschool program is a kindergarten readiness program for 3, 4, or 5-year olds.
Schedule Options: The program meets from September to May. Classes assemble weekdays Monday/Wednesday from 8:30-11:15am, Tuesday/Thursday and Friday: 8:30-11:15 a.m. or 12:30-3:15 p.m., Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m.
For More Information:http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/programs/preschool.htm or 398-2376

Name: Champaign Unit 4 Early Childhood Center
Location: 809 North Neil Street, Champaign
Special information: Children attending the Unit 4 Pre-K classes are selected through a screening process that identifies children who qualify for the program.
Schedule Options: 8:40am to 11:10am and 12:40pm to 3:10pm
For More Information: http://www.champaignschools.org/schools/home/?id=08or 351-3881

Name: Champaign County Headstart
Locations: Champaign, Rantoul, Savoy
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: Families enrolling in Head Start and/or Early Head Start must meet Federal poverty guidelines and be eligible to receive a child care subsidy.  In part-day Head Start, families have the option of their child attending a morning or afternoon session. In school-day Head Start, priority is given to families who are working and/or attending school.
For More Information: http://www.ccrpc.org/headstart/index.php or  384-1200

Name: First Baptist Church Preschool
Location: 1602 S. Prospect Avenue, Savoy
Ages Served: for children 2 to 5 years of age
Schedule Options: 2 day (T/Th), 3 day (M/W/F) or 5 day (M-F) options. Morning classes from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. and afternoon classes from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m.
For More Information:  http://www.fbc-cs.org/preschool/index.html or 356-9167

Name: Faithful Friends Preschool
Location: Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S. Prospect, Champaign
Ages Served: For children ages 2 to 4
Schedule Options:  2 day (T/Th), 3 day (M/W/F) or 5 day (M-F) options.  All classes meet from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For More Information: http://www.champaignfaith.org/index_files/Page361.htmor 359-3631

Name: First United Methodist Child Center
Location: 210 W. Church Street, Champaign
Ages Served: Preschool is open to children 3-5 years of age.
Schedule Options: All classes are from 9:00-12:00. Children may attend Tuesday/Thursday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Monday through Friday.
For More Information: Website or  356-1247

Name: Judah Christian Preschool
Location: 908 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign
Schedule Options: Early preschool program (8:30-11:30), half- day program (7:30-12:30) and all-day program (7:30-5:30), 10 months a year
For More Information: Website or 359-9210

Name: Little Lamb Preschool
Location: St. John Lutheran School, 509 S. Mattis Avenue, Champaign
Ages Served: 3 and 4
Schedule Options: The Little Lamb Preschool meets mornings from 8:15 – 11:00 a.m. or afternoons from 12:15 – 3:00 p.m. M-F/T-Th/MWF schedules vary by age.
For More Information:  Website or 356-4888

Name: Little Disciples of Peace Preschool
Location: Peace Lutheran Church, 200 West Arnold, Thomasboro
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. Calendar based on Thomasboro school calendar
For More Information: Website or 643-3265

Name: Middletown Early Childhood Center
Location: 101 North Division Street, Mahomet
Ages Served:  For children 3-5 who have a variety of abilities and needs.
Schedule Options: Both a morning and afternoon preschool is available for district residents. Meets daily.
For More Information: Website or 586-5834

Name: Montessori Habitat
Location: 805 W. Kirby Avenue, Champaign
Ages Served: mixed age classrooms of 3 to 5 year olds.
Schedule Options: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For More Information: Email Julie@MontessoriHabitat.com or 366-3260

Name: Orchard Downs Preschool
Location: Family and Graduate Housing Community Center, 510 W. George Huff Drive, Urbana
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: Orchard Downs PreSchool is a part of Family & Graduate Housing and follows the University of Illinois calendar.  Half-day program is 9 a.m. to noon, and a full-day program is 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Classes operate when the University is in session.
For More Information: Website or 333-3497

Name: Parkland Child Development Center
Location: 2400 W. Bradley Avenue, Champaign
Ages Served: 15 months to 5 years
Schedule Options: Enrollments are based on the Parkland semester calendar.  Priority is given to Parkland College students. Monday-Friday/Monday, Wednesday, Friday/ Tuesday, Thursday schedules available. Half Day (up to 5 hours) and Full Day (over 5 hours) available. Closed on Fridays during Parkland’s 8-week full summer semester.
For More Information: http://www2.parkland.edu/childdev/ or 373-3777

Name: Prince of Peace Community Early Learning Center Preschool
Location: 802 East Douglas St., St. Joseph
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: 2 or 3 days per week
For More Information: Website or 217-469-9200

Name: St. Malachy Catholic School Preschool
Location: 304 E. Belle Avenue, Rantoul
Ages served: contact school
Schedule Options: Half days (8 a.m to 11 a.m.) Tuesday / Thursday, Monday / Wednesday / Friday, or Monday through Friday. Extended care available.
For More Information: Website or 684-2309

Name: St. Thomas Catholic Preschool
Location: 311 E. Madison, Philo
Ages Served: 3-4
Schedule Options: Half days (8 a.m to 11 a.m.) Tuesday / Thursday, Monday / Wednesday / Friday, or Monday through Friday. Extended care available.
For More Information: Website or 684-2309

Name: Small Wonders Preschool
Location: Mahomet Christian Church, 908 N Lake of the Woods Road
Ages Served: 3-4
Schedule Options: Classes available for 3-year-olds, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 am – 11:30 am; Classes available for Pre-K, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 am – 11:30 am
For More Information: http://www.mahometchristian.org/preschool.html or 402-5433

Name: University of Illinois Child Development Laboratory
Location: 1105 W. Nevada Street, Urbana
Ages Served: for 3- to 4-year-olds (starting in 2012-2013, there will be no 2-year-old class)
Schedule Options: 8:30-11:30 a.m., Tues-Fri; closed all University breaks, operates Sept. – May.
For More Information: http://cdl.illinois.edu/classrooms/half-day.htm or 333-0971

Name: University Primary School
Location: Children’s Resource Center, 51 Getty Drive, Champaign
Ages Served: For 3- and 4-year-olds
Admissions/ages: The UPS admission period is from January 10-March 16. All admission materials must be submitted to the school by March 16 and the last day to schedule a site visit is March 19.
Schedule Options: 8:30 a.m. to noon, M-F; operates on a school-year calendar
For More Information: http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/ups/index.shtml or 333-3996

Name: Washington School Early Childhood Program
Location: 1102 N. Broadway, Urbana
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: Children enrolled in Early Childhood Education at Washington School have been identified through a screening and assessment process as needing either Special Education Services or Preschool Readiness Experience.  Children attend school 2½ hours daily. Morning and afternoon sessions are available and school busses transport children to and from school.
For More Information: http://www.usd116.org/washington/ or 384-3513

Name: Wee Disciples Preschool
Location:  Trinity Lutheran Church, 701 E. Florida Avenue, Urbana
Ages Served: 3-5
Schedule Options: Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday /Thursday mornings
For More Information: http://www.trinity-urbana.org/Teaching/Preschool.htmlor 367-8923

Related posts:

1. 2012 Champaign-Urbana Valentine’s Day Guide
2. Champaign Unit 4 Schools Enters Kindergarten Lottery Season 2012
3. 2011 Champaign-Urbana Halloween and Fall Events Guide

“MMO has exceeded my expectations regarding curriculum for my child. I basically chose it because it was affordable – I’m a stay-at-home mom looking for stimulation and activity for my 2-year old. The teachers always seem engaged with the kids and my child is happy to go to school.” — an MMO Parent

Mother’s Morning Out (MMO) will hold its open house on Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

For more than 40 years, Mother’s Morning Out (MMO) has provided high quality childcare for generations of children in the Champaign-Urbana community.  Over the past four decades, we have grown and adapted. In June of 2010, we moved from First Presbyterian Church in Champaign, to the Temple Baptist Church Education Facility.  Though we rent our space from the church, we are not affiliated with any religious organization.  Our new location includes our own playground, basketball courts, blacktop for riding bikes, and multiple acres of open green space for games and discovery.  As a non-profit organization, all of the funds, which we receive from tuition go directly back into the school.

MMO offers two unique programs within one school; a Drop-In program for children aged 6 weeks through Pre-Kindergarten and a Preschool program for children aged 2.5 through Pre-Kindergarten.  The Drop-In program allows parents the flexibility to bring their child as much or as little as they need and only pay for the hours used.  Similarly, the preschool program allows parents flexibility to chose two-, three- or five-day programs.

MMO’s regular Preschool and Drop-In hours are from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.  Parents may extend their child’s day by using our Before & After Care programs, which are available 30 minutes before school starts, and 30 minutes after school ends.  MMO follows the Unit 4 school calendar with an additional summer camp during the month of June.

MMO implements the Creative Curriculum® in both its Drop-In and Preschool program.  Through this play-based curriculum, we help children become independent, self-confident, curious learners who can work well with others.  Our activities are designed to foster enthusiasm and creativity.

“Our goal is for children to feel safe and secure at MMO, and for them to see it as a place to explore and discover,” says Director Amy Kilgus Chamley.  “We want to provide a place where kids (and parents) feel comfortable having new experiences and developing relationships with friends and teachers.  With our older students we also begin placing more emphasis on introducing academics through play.  We are teaching children how to embrace learning all through their lives. ”

MMO Parent Elizabeth Perrachione is enthusiastic about her daughter’s experience, “I really feel as though the teachers know my daughter, care about her, care about us as a family, and want to do what they can to support us in every way possible. This caring environment is what sold me on MMO – especially because it is paired with a keen intelligence and grounded curriculum. Kudos!”

This year, MMO is excited to have added a Music Class and a Creative Movement Class.  Children in all age groups attend these weekly classes, which expand on the music and movement activities they do regularly in their classrooms.

“Preschoolers and toddlers just exude music.  They love to sing and express themselves and music is the appropriate avenue!” says Sarah Scully, music therapist, MMO teacher, and MMO Parent.  We have hired teachers with backgrounds in these areas to teach these classes.

MMO is a DCFS certified childcare facility, which is important, not only for safety purposes, but for the fact that DCFS child care facilities have requirements for their teachers that non-certified facilities do not. Teachers are required to have an educational background in Early Childhood Development as well as annual continued education courses, which keep our staff up to date with trends and developments within the Early Childhood field.  Our teachers are very experienced and are always excited to implement new and improved teaching strategies within their classrooms.  MMO has one of the most highly qualified and experienced staff within the community.

Come check us out at the Mother’s Morning Out Community Open House on February 6, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Temple Baptist Education Building at 1100 Broadmoor Drive, Champaign.

Editor’s Note: Mother’s Morning Out is a sponsor of chambanamoms.com.

Related posts:

1. Mom to Mom: Reflections of a Working Mother
2. Weekly Spotlight: Aug. 10 to Aug. 16
3. Weekly Spotlight: Aug. 17-23

Editor’s Note: St. Matthew Catholic School is a chambanamoms.com sponsor. 

February means many families are evaluating options for their child’s education.

The St. Matthew School Open House is part of the week-long Catholic Schools Week celebration. Photo provided

The St. Matthew Catholic School Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 9-11 a.m., presents a great opportunity to tour the facility; learn about its use of technology in the classroom (including Promethean boards and iPads); find out about its art, drama, and music programs; and view the tradition in athletic and extracurricular excellence in its trophy cases.

We asked St. Matthew School principal Petrece Klein a few questions about her school. You can ask her your questions at the St. Matthew Catholic School Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Related posts:

1. Public School vs. Private School, Round 3: A Safe Environment
2. Public School vs. Private School, Round 4: A Winner is Named (Sort of)
3. Househunting Mom: An Open Letter to Champaign

Thinking about where your child will be going to school in Champaign next year? We’ve written aplenty about the Champaign Unit 4 Schools kindergarten lottery process, formally known as ”Schools of Controlled Choice.” Not much has changed in the process from last year. Tours, forums, and the registration process will begin in January.  We received this information from this downloadable .pdf document released by Unit 4.

The kindergarten lottery process starts in early January for incoming Unit 4 students.

COMMUNITY FORUM MEETINGS
Parents/guardians of incoming students are encouraged to attend one of these meetings to hear more about the registration process. The forums will include a “Showcase of Schools” where parents and guardians will have the opportunity to meet with individual school staff members and learn more about their programs. 

When: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Where: Temple Baptist Church – 1100 Broadmoor Drive – Champaign
(West on Broadmoor off Prospect Avenue. Parking lot on north side of Church)

When: Thursday, January 26, 2012 6:00 p.m. 
Where: Booker T. Washington STEM Academy, 606 East Grove Street, Champaign (Parking is available behind the school building).

When: Tuesday, February 16, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Where: Barkstall Elementary School, 2201 Hallbeck Drive, Champaign

Elementary School Tour Dates:
Daytime tours: Monday, January 9, 2012 and Monday, February 6, 2012. Elementary schools will offer tours at 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. on these two days.

Evening Open House and School Tours: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 from 6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m., at any of the 11 elementary schools.

Families unable to attend a scheduled Open House should visit the Family Information Center for assistance with the Schools of Choice process; call (217) 351-3701.

Middle School Tour Dates: 
Jefferson: Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Edison – Thursday, April 12, 2012
Franklin – Wednesday, April 11, 2011.
All middle school open houses are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION DATES:

Registration For Kindergarten to 5th grade at Washington, Garden Hills, and Stratton Schools:
January 23 – February 17

Kindergarten Registration – kindergarten 0nly at all other elementary schools:
March 1 – 30

Sixth Grade Registration for Stratton & Washington Fifth Grade Students (*5th graders attending their
cluster school do not need to register at FIC.):
April 9 – 13

Elementary & Middle School Transfer Request, First – Eighth Grade
May 7 – 31

Related posts:

1. At the Editor’s Desk: Predictions for the Champaign Unit 4 Kindergarten Lottery
2. Champaign-Urbana Area Preschool Guide 2012
3. 2012 Champaign-Urbana Valentine’s Day Guide

When I told my friend Kathy that I needed her input on an article about best/worst gifts to give a teacher, her knee-jerk response was to assume the persona of a high school cheerleader and belt out the following chant:

“GIFT CARD!!!*clapclapclap* GIFT CARD!!!*clapclapclap*”

So, there you have it.

But, on the other hand, there you don’t have it. There was, no doubt, a grain of truth in Kathy’s improvised cheer, but in reality she has been happy to receive a variety of teacher gifts throughout the years. And, not everyone is a happy gift card giver; many of you reading this may very well be the personal-touch kind of shopper. I can certainly appreciate that.

As a former classroom teacher myself, I can add that teachers are also relatively easy to please. Generally speaking, generic gifts work great. That mug from the drugstore filled with a packet of “gourmet” cocoa? Perfect. From the teacher’s perspective, it truly is the thought that counts. Truly.

Having said that, there are a few pitfalls to avoid when it comes to giving a teacher a gift. Number one: clearly phoning it in. This happened one year when Kathy was given a wallet. With receipts in it. From purchases the wallet’s previous owner had made.

Another is to give a gift that is undoubtedly going to be a repeat of something the teacher already has many, MANY of. “Try to get something off the beaten path, but still in the forest,” Kathy advises.

Think of those trinkets that read “#1 Teacher” and the like. Every teacher loves getting them–up to a point. As a new teacher, Kathy really enjoyed teacher-specific knick-knacks to either sit on her desk or hang on her Christmas tree. Ten years into the profession, “My desk is full, and my tree has very few free branches,” Kathy reports.

Some teachers love receiving ornaments from students. But others may have a full tree, so a consumable gift might be a better option. Credit: Randy Son of Robert on flickr

Keep in mind, though, that my teacher friend Marla LOVES getting ornaments as gifts. “Every year when I take them out I am reminded of the students who gave them to me,” she said. When it comes to ornaments, Marla especially appreciates the cute and quirky–all the easier to remember which student was the giver.

Again, the driving force behind this is the idea that it’s the thought that counts. “Gifts that come from the heart are always truly loved and appreciated,” Kathy adds.

One way to show a teacher some love is to think outside the classroom. Kids tend to forget (or just plain not realize) that teachers do in fact live in homes, eat in restaurants, shop at the mall, and so on. One of Kathy’s favorite gifts in recent years was a gift certificate to go to the movies, which she felt showed an appreciation for the fact that teachers need some R&R.

But above all, when shopping for the teacher, keep the end game in mind. It’s all about what happens when your little one beamingly presents her gift.

Kathy offers this perspective: “Receiving gifts is really not about me at all. It is truly about the giver and making her feel as if she’s given the best gift ever. And, I am happy to say that all of my students are the best gift givers…ever.”

Readers: What is your go-to holiday gift for teachers?

Related posts:

1. Top 5: Fair Trade Teacher Gifts
2. Raising a Little Mozart: Musings of a Passionate Piano Teacher
3. Mom to Mom: Letting Go of ‘Gifted’

We’ve come to Round 4 — the final round — in our examination of the respective benefits of public and private school.

To recap: Round 1, which focused on uniforms, went to private school (although, as a reader pointed out, this is more of an individual school thing than a public vs. private issue). Round 2 was all about freedom of scheduling, and I called it for public school. Round 3, which examined safe learning environments, was a draw.

Now we’re on the wrap-up round. Here are just a few of the issues that haven’t been tackled yet — and the ones I’ll touch on briefly in this article: extra-curricular activities, special education services, class size and cost.

Public school? Private school? It all comes down to what's best for your family. Credit: Flick, Pink Sherbet Photography

Extra-curricular activities. This one has definitely got to go to public schooling, which provides a broader selection of art, athletic, and social activities than private schools do. Having said that, I don’t think I’ll consider my kids deprived of extra-curricular opportunities any time soon. The options their private school does offer, and the excellent park district programs that are available to them, enable them to be just as enriched as they want or need.

Special education services. Again, public school has this category sewn up. As a special education teacher I learned about the federal law which guarantees all students a free, appropriate, public education. This means that, whatever your student’s learning needs are, your public school district has to meet them. Private schools have no such requirement.

I will say two things: First, school districts don’t have to agree with you about what is an appropriate education. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will give you a hard time about giving your child services, but it does mean that the sky isn’t exactly the limit when it comes to what a public school can provide. From my experience, though, public schools do an excellent job putting in place whatever services are necessary.

This leads to the other point: Special education services are no match for a parent who is a fierce advocate for her child. I’ve seen parents stay in tune with their children’s learning needs and reinforce skills at home, and I’ve known parents to let the school do pretty much all the work in remediating a learning problem. In my experience, the children in the first group are much more likely to live up to their academic potential. I believe this is true whether a child attends public or private school.

Class size. Private school wins this one. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011 public schools reported having a 15.5 to 1 student to teacher ratio, whereas private schools reported a 12.9 to 1 ratio. The need for public schools to provide special education services may skew these results, however, because special education classrooms have a much lower student to teacher ratio than do general education classrooms.

Cost. As my car seemed to be slowly dying this week (for the time being, I’ll assume it’s back from the brink), it became apparent that an extra several hundred bucks a month in our bank account would be nice. Of course, the free choice — public school — is the more economical. This one is easy: public school wins the cost category, hands down.

Conspicuously not mentioned in this series is the benefits of a faith-based education.  I think that one’s a little too personal to touch. I am comfortable recommending uniforms for your family but not Christian doctrine. Even if I personally believe that your child would benefit from it, I realize that decision is — and should be — entirely in your hands.

So, here’s the final score: Public education was declared the winner of four issues, and private school was granted two wins. One issue is considered a draw.

Public beats private handily, 4 to 2.

Jack and Kate, however, will be staying in private school.

Of course, this isn’t a matter of simple math. Some issues weigh more heavily than others. For us, small classes are a huge plus. In fact, our choosing private school over public probably came down to that factor alone.

So, once again, the real winner is whichever choice serves your family best. Well, that and respecting others’ choices, even — especially — when they choose something different.

Rachael McMillan just took part-time job number 5,482: teaching sixth- and seventh-grade history at Campus Middle School for girls. She also tutors at The Reading Group and serves as the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in downtown Champaign. She is totally in love with her Chambana life, which she shares with husband Scott, kindergartner Kate, and first-grader Jack.

Related posts:

1. Public School vs. Private School, Round 3: A Safe Environment
2. Public School vs. Private School, Round 2: Schedules
3. Public School vs. Private School, Round 1: Uniforms

If you’re super-sensitive to movie spoilers, you may want to skip the following two paragraphs.

In the film Rushmore, high-aiming 10th-grader, Max Fischer, is forced to leave the titular private academy to attend a public high school. On his first day at the new school, he asks his teacher if he can stand in front of the class to make a speech introducing himself and his expectations of the school year.

The audience cringes, thinking that they are witnessing the beginning of Max’s merciless bullying at the hands of the public high school students. But that isn’t what happens. Max brings the same passion for academia he had at Rushmore to his new school, and he succeeds brilliantly. He “makes a go of it.”

It doesn't matter if the desks are in a public or private school. The real difference is the kids who choose to learn and the parents who support them in doing so. Credit: Flickr, alamosbasement

This, in a nutshell, is how I feel about the difference between public and private school: Any student can get a good education in any school setting. It takes involved parents and — eventually — desire on the part of the student, but somewhere in every school there’s an excellent education waiting to be had.

Having said that, private schooling has gotten the reputation of being a safer, more nurturing environment than public school is, and I don’t think it’s undeserved. I’ve taught in public schools, and I currently teach at a private middle school; the difference between the two can be nothing short of astounding.

To illustrate, where I teach now, I can expect to deal with chattiness, the occasional eye-roll, or perhaps, from time to time, an irritable reply. What I can’t expect is a fight in my classroom (I had two the first year I taught public school) or to be told “F*** off, b**ch” (happened in year four).

If you’re asking me, the difference comes down one main thing: parental involvement.

Public school parents, I realize that you can be/are every bit as involved as private school parents. In private school, though, being an involved parent isn’t optional. This is because — as my public school-teaching friend pointed out — private schools can kick your kid out; public schools can’t.

Do some parents choose private school as a means of ensuring that their children won’t be in classes with kids who have profound behavioral problems? Probably. Are there children who would otherwise have found a cozy niche at a public school, but instead wind up the target of snobbery and bullying at their pricey private school? I’m sure there are. Not all public schools spend the bulk of their time and resources dealing with discipline problems, and not all private schools are warm, welcoming environments.

And — as I said earlier — any school can provide an excellent education.

The school where I got cussed out and had to break up two fights in my own classroom? If you walk down the halls at any time on any given day, here’s what you’ll observe: quiet classrooms, teachers teaching, and students, if they so choose, learning. Yes, the chaos happens, but it’s a drop in the bucket of a typical school day.

Incidentally, there is a good resource from the National Center for Education Statistics for researching the difference in safety/discipline issues between public and private school. Some of their findings may be exactly what you’d expect, but some will probably surprise you.

Usually, this is the part of the article where I “call it” — either stating that private school is the winner of this particular topic, or that public school is. In this case, though, that’s a little  bit impossible. You know your children, you get a sense of the learning environments they’ll be heading into, and you pick a good match accordingly.

The real winner here is the concept of being a parent who never stops making conscious choices about what is in her child’s best interest.

Have something to add? Leave a comment!

Rachael McMillan just took part-time job number 5,482: teaching sixth- and seventh-grade history at Campus Middle School for girls. She also tutors at The Reading Group and serves as the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in downtown Champaign. She is totally in love with her Chambana life, which she shares with husband Scott, kindergartner Kate, and first-grader Jack.

Related posts:

1. Public School vs. Private School, Round 4: A Winner is Named (Sort of)
2. Public School vs. Private School, Round 2: Schedules
3. Public School vs. Private School, Round 1: Uniforms

If you read my articles about kindergarten redshirting (the first one is here, and the follow-up is here), you may remember that for my son Jack, the “going” part of “going to school” has been a struggle.

During the transition to all-day first grade at Holy Cross, the husband and I have been guilty of lying to the lad. To be fair to us, what we did was more like intentionally not knowing the truth.

Public schools win when it comes to scheduling and shorter days -- at least in Champaign. Credit: Flickr, fred_v

Jack’s issue was the length of the school day. He would wail, “Holy Cross is the worst school ever. It’s too long.” To this we would reply, “But it’s the shortest school in town. That was one of the reasons that we picked it.”

Oops. It really doesn’t have the shortest school day. In fact, it’s in session almost 30 minutes longer than Unit 4 schools are.

Of course, we didn’t fact check that before we told Jack what we told him. We didn’t want to. But, we also didn’t think it was necessary. I mean (we reasoned to ourselves), why wouldn’t a private school exercise its right to not conform to the state-mandated number of hours or days in a year? Why on earth would they choose to go longer?

It was during one especially energy-draining stretch of this struggle with Jack that I actually looked up the Unit 4 schedule in order to set his mind at ease about being in the school with the shortest day.

I found that not only do Unit 4 schools stay in session for a shorter period of time each day, each school’s starting and ending time is different.

And in that one moment, oh, the possibilities I saw.

Not having to wake up to an alarm, in the dark, and rush-rush-rush to get everyone ready and out the door by 7:30 was probably the biggest one. But, with Unit 4 there’s also the option of going to year-round school, a concept I’ve always been intrigued by. I still think it sounds like a good idea.

Fast forward to now, and the morning battles over going to school have stopped. I couldn’t hazard a guess as to whether this is an end to the war or only a temporary cease fire. Suffice it to say that 6 a.m. still comes awfully early every morning, but our routine is bearable.

Still, in regards to picking a school, schedule options would have been nice. Granted, I realize that with Unit 4 choice only goes so far, and I’m certainly thankful to have skipped that fracas. But I’m giving this round to public school anyway because flexibility is something everyone can appreciate.

How do you like your school’s schedule/hours? Leave a comment!

Next up: Choosing private school as a means of avoiding kids with discipline problems?

Rachael McMillan just took part-time job number 5,482: teaching sixth- and seventh-grade history at Campus Middle School for Girls. She also tutors at The Reading Group and serves as the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer in downtown Champaign. She is totally in love with her Chambana life, which she shares with husband Scott, kindergartner Kate, and first-grader Jack.

Related posts:

1. Public School vs. Private School, Round 4: A Winner is Named (Sort of)
2. Public School vs. Private School, Round 3: A Safe Environment
3. Public School vs. Private School, Round 1: Uniforms

By Jeff Dougan

At the Urbana Free Library’s adult reference desk you’ll find a handout that details the library’s game collection. Information includes terms of checkout, fines, and a list of the games currently in the collection.

For readers who aren’t familiar with hobby games but are interested in getting started, I’d like to introduce you to some of the games in the library’s collection, beginning with Carcassonne.

Carcassonne, available at local retailers or the Urbana Free Library, is a great game to start if you're interested in hobby games. Credit: Rio Grande Games

The details:

• In the library’s collection
• Plays 2-5 players as sold, can support more with expansions (sold separately)
• Publisher’s suggested ages: 8+ (see notes below)
• Purchasable at any of the locations previously recommended. Current suggested retail price $29.95.

Carcassonne is named after a city in southern France that is a real-life tourist attraction for its various Roman and medieval cities and abbeys. Carcassonne is a domino-like game in which the players build up the countryside while trying to control various features such as castles, roads and abbeys. It plays from 2-5 players as is, and can be played by itself or with any combination of expansion sets. Although the publisher suggests that it be played by ages 8 and up, they include a simplified version of the rules that I used to teach it to my son, the Grasshopper, last summer, and I know of several people who have taught their children as young as 6 to play with almost the full scoring rules. Playing with only the original game, it takes between 45 minutes and an hour to play; play time for a single game increases as you add expansion sets to the mix.

There are two reasons that parents have successfully taught young children to play this game, and they contribute to why I chose Carcassonne as the first game from the library collection to get an in-depth look. One reason is that, aside from one person needing to read the rules in order to teach it, there is no reading ability needed to play the game. The other is that, by using expansion sets (or not), you can make the game more or less challenging, and can also make it more directly competitive.

Credit: boardgamegeek user Mecandes

Because a player draws a random tile each turn, even fairly young kids still have a decent chance to win the game as long as a scoring system is used that’s age-appropriate. The Grasshopper likes the pictorial nature of the tiles, which helps determine legal plays (although it’s sometimes easy for him to accidentally try to match an all-grass side against a road). Even more, though, he likes playing with the wooden person-shaped pieces, nicknamed “meeples” in the gamer community.

Carcassonne has roughly a dozen expansion sets, all of which add tiles and new rules, and most of which add some kind of playing piece or another. Adding more tiles makes an individual game last longer, and the new rules can sometimes help add an element of long-term planning to a game that otherwise has a very one-turn-at-a-time nature. Some of the expansion sets include rules that make the game more directly competitive, where in the original game there’s less room for player-to-player aggression.

Carcassonne makes an excellent introduction to hobby games as a relatively inexpensive, kid-friendly game that doesn’t demand lots of in-game thinking. I encourage people to try it out, either at an open board gaming event or by taking the plunge and buying it.

Jeff Dougan is a scientist-turned-teacher-turned-full-time dad to the Grasshopper, 5, and the Munchkin, 15 months. A lifelong gamer, he’s always willing to teach a new game to anybody, and equally willing to learn a new game almost anytime.

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By Matthew Gladden

Having taught piano lessons for the past nine years, I am often asked a variety of questions from parents regarding piano lessons. What is a good age to start? What instrument should they start on? How much should they practice? And so on.

The answers to such questions are usually complex, and I often find myself trying to fit a long detailed, caveat-ridden answer into a short and simple response.

Musical success comes in as many ways as there are instruments to be played. Credit: Flickr, midiman

This article contains the answers I’d like to give to such questions along with other tips on how to make music lessons a positive experience.

What is a good age to start lessons?

In short, it depends on the child. Ages 7 to 9 is the most common age to begin piano lessons, but some students are ready at age 5, and others wait until 10 or 11. The key is to address the individual needs and readiness of the child. Some parents may believe that starting early is better to gain a head start, but often a child can get “burned out” from starting lessons too young.

Here are some things to watch for when assessing the readiness of your child:

• Does your child like to sing?
• Can they clap or dance in rhythm?
• Do they enjoy listening to music?
• Are they asking for lessons or for an instrument?

These are often good indicators of readiness for lessons. If this sounds discouraging and you were hoping to enlist your 4 year old in lessons, consider signing them up for a group music class, such as Kindermusik, which will give them exposure to many musical concepts in a less structured environment.

What instrument should I start my child on?

I always encourage parents to support the desires of their child. If they want to play drums or bass guitar, support that desire, even if this means they won’t follow in your footsteps in the marching band. As your child is deciding which instrument they want to play, consider giving them a year of piano lessons to lay down the foundational concepts of music theory. This knowledge will be beneficial no matter which instrument they later gravitate toward.

Can my child practice on a keyboard?

Starting piano lessons on an electronic instrument is perfectly acceptable for beginning students. However, make sure the instrument is an “electronic piano” rather than just a “keyboard.” This means it will have 88 fully weighted keys, such as a Yamaha Clavinova or Roland digital piano.

How can I make sure my child is successful with music lessons?

It depends on what you mean by successful. In my mind a successful piano student is one who walked away with a positive experience. We must remember that our children are indeed talented, gifted and full of potential, but their gifts lie in different areas and with differing intensities. Be ready to accept the unique path that your child will find with music.

The best thing you can do is to listen and support them. Be their biggest fan and shower them with praise. And then listen and acknowledge them if they are having trouble. This support coupled with quality instruction is the best combo in creating a truly successful music lesson experience.

This post is sponsored by Matthew Gladden, a piano instructor in the Champaign-Urbana area. To schedule a free trial lesson, contact Matthew at 541-390-6779 or visit www.GladdenStudio.com.

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