Changes coming to Move-N-Learn for Fall 2014

We have had our preschool since 1986 and every few years, we update the program to offer the best preschool and pre-k academic program in our area. It is one of those years again! And so, we will be updating some of the standards as well as looking at the curriculum.

What will not change is that with us, your child will have the opportunity for dance, tumbling, art, computers and more. Our standards will not be lowered, but raised higher. Higher means that your child is more than prepared for their Kindergarten year.

One of the changes is that your child will not have to leave us when they are ready for Kindergarten. They will be able to stay in an environment that they love and feel secure in. Their academics will be through Oklahoma Connections Academy, but their learning coaches will be our staff.

Be are  excited about this change and are looking towards the future for our students.

Time Goes Fast!

Wow! It was just the other day that we were wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and now we are only days away from Christmas! How did that happen?

It happens when you have children about you. Whether at home or at work, time goes faster when there are children around. Why? Probably because they have only one speed, fast. Running, climbing, talking....it is all at super speed because they have so much to accomplish in a short time. A short time, because childhood does not last long.

I know, those days that seem to just drag because you do nothing but pick up after them. Feed them. Potty train them. Read to them. Play with them. It can seem like a 24/7 job, because it is.

But in a blink of an eye, you will wonder where it all went. Time travels fast. Time never seems to slow down.

But take time this holiday season to slow yourself down enough to actually enjoy the holidays with your child. Find time to hold them  and tell them that even when they are being "bad" that you still love them and that nothing can change that. Laugh with them. Play with them.

And enjoy the holidays. Because the holidays soon become memories too.

Why should you select Move-N-Learn Academy for Pre-K?

THERE IS ONE GOOD REASON!

1. Classes are small so your child gets the help in learning that they deserve!
1. MNL offers a proven curriculum that uses the body and brain connection for better learning and retention.
1.Your child receives all of the standards that are needed to transition successfully to brick and mortar public schools , and more!
1.Your child receives fine arts training in dance, gymnastics, art, music.
1. Foreign languages such as French and Spanish are introduced through a phonics based learning style.
1, American sign language is taught and counts as a second, or even third language.
1. Art classes are not just coloring and pasting (although that is important too). Students learn the science of mixing colors, learn about textures and use different media to explore their art talents.
1. Dance is syllabus based and age appropriate, and is not just moving and shaking for exercise.
1. Gymnastics is syllabus based and age appropriate for SAFETY and fun. It is a progressive program where one skill develops from another.
1. Music taught is more than singing a song or shaking an instrument. Student learn to recognize musical symbols and start learning to actually read music.
1. Pre-K and Jr Kindergarten have piano lessons on Wednesdays
1. Parents get a daily report of their child's progress.
1. Parents can look at the progress of their child passing skills from their on line parent portal.
1. Daily computer time that teaches them how to use a computer and mouse.
1. Introduction to tablets
1. No matter what the weather, we have the largest indoor play yard in our gym for great physical fun!
1. Physical activity every day
1. Holiday parties and fun
1. Performance opportunities
1. Project based learning that allows a child to experience the learning in a fun environment and apply their knowledge.
1. Great teachers that can connect with the students.
1. A program that is based on current trends, thus teaching your child with their future in mind and not for the world in the past.
1. A program built to life students up and never break them down.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN MOVE-N-LEARN ACADEMY!

Fall Registration Set For August 5th-7th

We will be accepting fall registration on site, August 5-7th at our Woodward location. Ages 2-3 yrs and 4-51/2 yrs may register in person Monday through Wednesday from 4-8 pm at 609 Main Street in Woodward.

Please be advised that our arts based preschool and pre-k/ jr kindergarten is a private, half time education program. It does meet the state common core standards.

We DO NOT OFFER DAY CARE SERVICES nor do we offer scholarships at this time.

Join us for a great year! Visit our Facebook page to see more information regarding our program.

***On line registration is available at www.academyoffineartsok.com

Academy of Fine Arts Now Offering Free Education Option

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-----  May 2013

Academy of Fine Arts , in collaboration with Oklahoma Connections Academy, will now be able to offer an academic program for ages K-12. Students of Academy of Fine Arts in Woodward and Enid  now have a choice in education delivery styles that can include their performing and fine arts training.

Oklahoma Connections Academy is a public virtual school that offers Oklahoma State Certified Teachers for your child's success. Any student that has resided in the state of Oklahoma and attended public school this past year can transfer into Oklahoma Connections Academy, according to OKCA Principal Tammy Shepherd.

OKCA requires that the student enrolled has a trained Learning Coach during their time for studies. This can be the parent, or can be outsourced to another person or situation, such as Academy of Fine Arts. This means that your child can study and work on their schooling throughout the day, and also continue to train in their performing and fine arts classes while at AOFA. Leaving the evening hours open to other things such as more family time.

This type of learning environment/situation has actually been around for generations. Children on Broadway, on movie sets in Hollywood, or in Olympic training have always had on site tutors available to them for their school studies, and yet be able to work on their sport or craft. Oklahoma Connections Academy's public virtual school offers the same freedom and convenience, the delivery system has just changed to the internet.

AOFA students interested in sports will also enjoy the classes tailored for athletes that will enhance their athleticism that AOFA offers. AOFA is also in the process of changing and broadening their sports offerings to their students.

So no matter if your child has a passion to be the next great prima ballerina, a great violinist, compete in rodeo, baseball , soccer, basketball, swimming or softball, there is a place with them at Academy of Fine Arts and Oklahoma Connections Academy.

Please visit our website at www.academyoffineartsok.com for more information as to how you can blend your child's education with us and Oklahoma Connections Academy. We also highly recommend that you visit the Oklahoma Connections Academy website at www.connectionsacademy/OKCA for more details of the academic offering from this public virtual school that does not cost you any tuition.

*Academy of Fine Arts does charge a fee for their services as Learning Coach and their classes offered to your child.

What To Look For In A Preschool

Here are 4 things every parent should consider 
before choosing an academic preschool program.

1. What are the ages and class size?Children 2, 3, 4 and 5 are very different in their abilities socially, academically and even physically. Parents should first look for a program that recognizes the learning styles of each age and has teachers that know the differences. Parents may want to look for a preschool that does not place all of the ages together, but rather has a seperate class or program for their child's age group. The class size should be small, allowing each child to receive individual attention throughout their day. Some classes that are offered may have up to 18 students in a class with a teacher and a helper, but this situation only means that if one student is struggling and a teacher is helping that student, then the other teacher is is left with 17 other students.

At Move-N-Learn, classes are age appropriate and we realize their learning needs are different. Classes at Move-N-Learn are small in size because we know that your child deserves to have as much attention to their needs as possible. Our maximum number is 8 for 2-3 yr olds and 10 in a class for 4-5 yr olds. Classes this size are very manageable and allows the teachers time to keep a fun learning atmosphere where every student excels.

2. What Is The School Focus?Some school spend all of their time on the ABC''s, while other preschools use the free-learning approach and the child wonders around all day choosing what they want to do. While neither approach is bad, some parents may wonder if the first is too regimented for young learning and the second is not able to be tracked as far as accomplishing educational skills. Knowing what is best for your child can be very confusing. You want them to learn and have fun, but you want to know that they are learning the necessary skills needed for further education.

A 1991 study showed that students in schools with an arts focused curriculum reported significantly more positive perceptions about their academic abilities. A University in California (Irvine) reported that preschoolers showed a 46% boost in their spatial reasoning IQ after only eight months of piano instruction. Several other studies have shown similar outcomes with the introduction of arts based classes in dance, art and music for young children.

Move-N-Learn Academy offers an arts based focus to enhance and increase academic learning and social skills. Through music, movement and art, students learn fun activities that helps with personal focus, listening, sorting, counting, body awareness (for a great personal image of oneself), balance, coordination, vocalizing and more! This program is not your typical program that teaches a young child to "shhh", but instead to question and explore on their own and as a group.

3. How Will I Know My Young Child Is Learning?
Preschool age children are at a stage in life that they are too busy to remember what all that they learned in their class. Most will only focus on what they enjoyed best for the day. So parents sometimes find it frustrating as to why they cannot get their child to tell them the answer to "What did you learn in school today?"

The Move-N-Learn Academy staff and faculty have many years of experience in teaching young children and we recognize the importance of communication with our parents. It is for that reason that we have many ways of letting parents know what is being taught and how to get the information they are looking for. Just a few are:

♦Front desk always available to assist you
♦Parent/Teacher Conferences 3 times a year and available when needed on a daily basis
♦Informative bulliten board, Facebook page and a great website!
♦Email blasts that are for your child's class situation only
♦Yearly and Monthly Calendars
♦Observation windows for parent to observe the classes
♦The ability for parents to request to "sit in" on a class day
♦Goal forms to be able to track your child's abilities
♦A Parent Portal that you can access to review your account, registration, announcements, skills achieved and much more.
♦ a parent/member page on our website with lots of good information.

4. Does it feel and look like a good fit for your child?
Not one school can be the best fit for every child. Visit the preschools in your area and use your "Mommy Instinct" to be your guide. Be sure to bring your questions to make sure you feel comfortable with the philosophy of the school's academic and free play learning. And of course, look for clean, colorful and bright classrooms with a friendly and caring teaching staff.

We invite you to take a tour of our preschool. We would love the opportunity to show you our unique school and answer any questions that you might have. We also invite you to read the testimonials that our parents have written on our academic program as well. You will find them posted on our website.

Open House and Registration

Open House for tours and registration will be this Thursday and Friday from 2-6 pm at 609 Main street in Woodward. Families can talk to staff members and find out more information about the different age programs of Move-N-Learn Academy. Registration for fall classes is now being accepted on line and in person. Call our office at 256-3262 for more information or assistance in registering on line.

Why A Private Kindergarten Program?

Move-N-Learn offers Junior Kindergarten programs for children ages 4-5 years. This is the perfect solution for those children that have been in preschool and are ready to move forward but not old enough for Kindergarten, or those that do not meet the state cut off date for public Kindergarten.

What sets our kindergarten program apart from others is the amount of fun learning! Unlike the typical public kindergarten classes, there is more doing than sitting at a desk (although we do have desk time too). Students learn through thematic project based curriculum that allow a child to explore and begin to learn to make decisions as well as develop creativity and ideas.

Our Pre-K and Kindergarten programs meet and exceed all of the Oklahoma P.A.S.S. standards and records of each child's advancement are recorded. Our parent portal system actually all parents to go into the portal and check their child's advancement. Each child also takes home a daily report card to show the parent what they worked on during that days time in Move-N-Learn Academy.

We offer the Starfall Kindergarten curriculum and reading program that even some public schools use to supplement the schools curriculum. This curriculum meets core standards and is a great beginning towards success in reading and writing.

So if you are looking for something totally different from the typical Pre-K or Kindergarten programs, we suggest that you visit with us about our educational programs for children ages 2-5 years. Call us at 580-256-3262 (Woodward) or 580-747-4799 in Enid.

NEW Extended Day At Move-N-Learn This Year!

New this year at Move-N-Learn Academy is an extended day! Students will now attend our academic programs for three and a half hours per day. Our 2-3 yr old preschool program will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays and parents have a choice in enrolling for one day or two day a week from 8:00 am-11:30 am.
The 3.5-4 year pre-k/jr kindergarten attends Monday through Wednesday and the 4.5-5 yr old accelerated/kindergarten meets Monday through Thursday at the same times.

The accelerated/kindergarten class meets all and exceeds the Oklahoma P.A.S.S. standards and will include group pre-piano/keyboard.

Registraation for each age group is limited and so early registration is highly reccommended.