Schools

It’s Preschool Time! (Part 2)

Here is a brief starter list of preschools in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. Major Disclaimer, this is by no means a full list of preschools. Consider this a starting point in your research of preschools in the Chicago suburbs.

Deerfield

Deerfield Montessori Schools

Founded in 1966, Deerfield Montessori school offers three locations, one in Riverwoods and two in Deerfield. They offer programming from infant/toddlers, all the way up to elementary. http://www.montessori-schools.com/

Deerfield community nursey school

For 50 years, DCNS has been providing rich and stimulating preschool programs for children 18 months up to 5 years of age. Children are encouraged to investigate their environment at their own pace through creative play. http://www.deerfieldcommunitynurseryschool.com/

Deerfield Park District Preschool

Offering programming for children from ages 2-5. http://www.deerfieldparks.org/programs/preschool/

Buffalo Grove

Jacob Duman JCC

JCC offers a comprehensive program infused with Jewish learning. They have programming for infant/toddler up to kindergarten. Not Jewish, don’t be deterred! This program has great diversity of learners and is open to everyone. http://www.gojcc.org/early-childhood/programs/

Montessori World of Discovery

They offer seven different programs for children ages 6 weeks to 10 years old and are open year round with full time, part time, preschool, before and after school schedules available. http://montessoriworldofdiscovery.com/

Kingswood Preschool

Kingswood Preschool is a non-denominational school and is open to children of all backgrounds and religions. They offer a program that is designed to encourage and promote the ability of each child in learning. Their mission is to provide Preschool education for 3 and 4 year old children in a safe, child-centered environment where they will achieve success while growing academically, socially and emotionally. http://www.kingswoodpreschool.com/default.asp#

JCYS- Jewish Council for Youth Services

Their developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum encourages children’s creativity, fosters their self-esteem and socialization, and establishes a love of learning. They offer childcare services from infant to kindergarten enrichment. http://jcys.org/child-care/early-childhood-education

Arlington Heights

Village Preschool

Village Preschool is a developmental preschool geared to encourage the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of three- through six-year-old children. http://www.villagepreschoolinc.com/

Arlington Heights Park District Preschool

The philosophy of the Preschool program is to allow children to learn through play, as they grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. http://www.ahpd.org/programs/preschool/

White Oak School

Operating since 1960, family owned and operated. Open daily year round Ages 2-8; Nursery School. They also offer before and after school care. http://www.whiteoakschool.biz/index.html

Vernon Hills

The Goddard School

From infant to toddler to preschool, Goddard teachers in every classroom to lead each child to reach developmental milestones – preparing each one for social and academic success beyond their time with us. http://www.goddardschool.com/chicago/vernon-hills-townline-road-il

Christ Lutheran Preschool

Christ Lutheran Preschool will provide a Christian based curriculum for preschool children as part of their first experience with formal education. http://christlutheranvh.org/clc-preschool/

Vernon Hills Kinder Care

Their preschool programs ensure kindergarten readiness. Before and After school programs are available throughout the school year, while our Summer Camp program for ages preschool and up provides a perfect solution for families who need care during school break. http://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/vernon-hills/il/300983/

Libertyville

Libertyville’s Cooperative Community Preschool

core pre-school classes based on age-appropriate, guided play learning; enrichment programs for 4- & 5-year olds that emphasize the arts, sciences and applied learning; and lunchtime fun. http://www.libertyvilleco-op.com/index.html

The Children’s House of Libertyville

It is the goal of the school to meet the developmental needs of each child – social, emotional, physical, and intellectual within the context of the “prepared environment” essential to a Montessori education. http://childrenshouseoflibertyville.com/

It’s Preschool Time! (Part 1)

Itis officially springtime and now is the time parents start enrolling their little ones for preschool for the next academic school year.

This can be a daunting task as it is really hard to tell which preschool will fit with your child. I know this first hand as my daughter went through three preschools her first year. So alas, I come to you with a brief education on different types of preschools followed by a quick round up of some preschools in the northern suburbs of Chicago in this 2 part series.

Often times when parents go to check out preschools, we don’t really know what to look for or what to ask. For starters, I am going to clarify the some of the main preschool learning models because not all preschools approach teaching and learning the same way. I will also include a list of questions to ask when touring preschools.

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1) Montessori

The Montessori philosophy is based on the idea that children are independent learners and thinkers, and the teachers role is as facilitator of this independent learning. In addition to reading, language, and mathematics, children are taught practical skills (dressing themselves, preparing their own snacks and drinks, and cleaning up after themselves). A lot f parents consider this method more academically rigorous compared to most of the other models.

2) Waldorf

The philosophy of Waldorf preschool teaching is that people are made up of three components—soul, spirit, and body. The goal is to surround these little learners in an environment that is nurturing in an effort to stimulate and develop these three aspects. Children are discouraged from watching TV or playing video games; instead, the school creates a homelike environment in which they are encouraged to engage in creative free play. Daily activities at a Waldorf school may include drawing, painting, singing, reciting poems, modeling with clay, baking bread, constructing play houses out of boxes, or simply playing make-believe.

3)Through this teaching philosophy, teachers determine the interests of the children through observation, listening and inquiry. Children with similar interests are then placed in small groups where they are given the opportunity to plan their own projects and learn. Compared to Montessori, the Reggio Emilia approach is much less pragmatic, with an emphasis on creativity and exploration. The curriculum is focused on artistic development, sensory exploration, and aesthetics.

4) Play Based Learning

In a play-based program, children choose activities based on their current interests. The play-based classroom is broken up into sections, such as an art area, water table, reading nook, block room, or other areas. Teachers encourage the kids to play, facilitating social skills along the way. To the outsider, it seems like just playing but through this play, children are learning valuable social and pre academic skills. According to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Play -based learning is “a context for learning through which children organize and make sense of their social worlds, as they actively engage with people, objects and representations (EYLF, 2009, p46).

Questions to consider when doing a preschool tour:

1) What is the school’s educational philosophy?

2) What are the teacher’s qualifications? What is the turnover rate?

3) How do they handle discipline?

4) What type of community involvement does the preschool have? Is there a strong parent community?

5) If the school serves food, who caters their food? Is it organic?

6) How is security handled at the preschool? What is their procedure for an emergency?

7) Ask for references!

Bring a folder and a pad of paper, write notes and collect their written material. You might be visiting a few schools so have your information nice and organized. Finally, if you find a preschool that you love, you might want to put a deposit down to hold a space as the good ones tend to fill up fast!

Part 2 will give you a starter list of several preschools in the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Are you looking to buy or sell your house? Give me a call! 847-401-7904

Lincolnshire’s (not so little) Gem- Adlai E Stevenson High School

If you have been in the market to buy a house in the Northwestern Suburbs of Chicago, then chances are you are also doing some school research. You probably consulted with Newsweek’s rankings, maybe checked out a little greatschools.org. Their rankings give you an idea about the students average testing scores, student teacher ratio, and how much money is spent per pupil. All good to know. But, as a person who has spent many years teaching in the public schools, I like to uncover why schools has particular rankings. And why not begin with one of the big guns, Lincolnshire’s Stevenson High School.

: Stevenson High School’s Main Entrance

: Stevenson High school

: AESHS

Historically, Stevenson High School has always had a reputation as being on e of the top schools in the area. Located in Lincolnshire, the school houses over 3800 students and an overwhelming majority of these students are college bound. In state tests, Stevenson students have scored top 1% of all high schools in Illinois in all academic areas. All Stevenson students are required to take the ACT where the average composite score is the top 1% in the nation!

Now for the most impressive Stevenson High School factoid. Stevenson students write more AP (advanced placement) exams than any other comprehensive high school in the world! Not state, not nation, but the world!

For you sports fanatics out there, Lincolnshire’s Stevenson high school has things to offer you as well. Stevenson has a huge comprehensive sports program with several practice fields, a state of the art baseball field, a fully lite stadium and two olympic size pools. In fact, the Stevenson high school boys bastketball team is competing for state title this year. Go Patriots!

How do they do it? First of all, Stevenson teachers have a reputation for working incredibly hard at their job. Stevenson High School has also been committed to creating successful professional learning communities (PLC). These communities of educators are committed to collaborating with each other on a regular basis to figure out how they can best serve their students. Stevenson High School has also been on the forefront of integrating technology in their classroom. Stevenson’s SMART program has set a goal to outfit their entire student body and all 300 teachers with an Ipad by 2015. Their extensive AP program makes them one of the best in the States. The list can go on and on.

Are you looking to relocate and want all of the stats on the schools in the Northwestern Suburbs of Chicago? Give me a call at 847-401-7904 or email me at anne.kaplan@cbexchange.com.

Stevenson HS in Lincolnshire Makes Newsweek’s top 200

Stevenson High School is Nationally Ranked

Update of this 2010 article originally published July 2010- Stevenson High School has continued its national rank every year and in 2013 was ranked 128.

Stevenson High School which feeds from Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Hawthorne Woods, Kildeer and parts of Vernon Hills has had a great 2010 so far. Newsweek’s America”s Best HS 2010 ranked Stevenson HS in Lincolnshire #167. This is the sixth year that Stevenson has made the top 200 list. Located in Lake County Illinois Stevenson is one of only three Illinois high schools to appear in the top 200 in each of the past fave years.

Stevenson High School’s 45th year is one of its finest. The Class of 2010 received more the $16.5 million in scholarships. Four seniors were National Merit Scholars and 365 were named Illinois State Scholars.

Good Charity work rounds out the spirit of Stevenson with more than $5,000 raised for Haiti.

For more information on district 125 and the areas that feed into the school, contact me, Anne Kaplan at 847-401-7904 or email me at Anne.Kaplan@cbexchange.com.