You Can Now Find Us On Instagram!

You know we are on Facebook, but did you know we are now on Instagram? Check us out! www.instagram.com/movenlearnacademyoffinearts

What Comes After Move-N-Learn Academy?

Families since 1986 have enjoyed having their children in Move-N-Learn Academy.We are actually now very proud to say that we have a second generation with us in Move-N-Learn Academy! But the big question for years has been, "what do we do after Move-N-Learn Academy?". The majority have taken their children to public schools, others have went to a private Christian school and even some have opted to home school. Knowing that our students would outgrow our little school, we have always worked hard to provide them with the best possible education that they would succeed with, no matter where they chose to transition to. But there have been times that we have heard that our students have had a hard time transitioning to other learning environments. They loved Move-N-Learn Academy and nothing compares to it when you bring in the arts, as we do. Hearing this for years sent us on a search towards possibly starting our own private elementary school. But that again, leads once again to transitioning to a middle school later. Then along came virtual schools for K-12. So we started our research in that direction and found new opportunities growing for our current students and future students. And then came virtual public schools. Once again, we started looking at the different virtual public school available to families in Oklahoma. This then led us to trying to make the right contacts to see if there was a way of bringing the virtual public school into our facilities for our families. Months and months of trying turned to success in March 2013 when we were able to get an appointment with the principal of Oklahoma Connections Academy, Tammy Shepherd. In meeting with Tammy, I was able to point out that many families might want to attend Oklahoma Connections Academy Virtual Public School, but because their system assumes that all families have the ability of a parent staying in the home and being the "Learning Coach", it limits what families are in position to make the move. After some discussion, a conclusion was made that it was possible for families to choose to enroll with OKCA and outsource the learning coach position to us. Parents are still involved in their child's education because it is the parent that will take care of the enrollment procedures with OKCA. Parents are also still involved with the Parent Teacher conferences and other situations, such as field trips and clubs, that are available for their children. Our position as "Learning Coach" for your child means that we are the ones that will work with your child to complete their assignments.Learning coaches are limited to only five students, unlike your brick and mortar teachers that have 20-30 students. Our learning coaches will also sit in on the Parent Teacher conferences as well, thus meaning there are three people working together for your child's success, parent, virtual teacher and learning coach. But the best part of this situation is that children that are enrolled with OKCA and with Academy of Fine Arts (Move-N-Learn Academy), can complete their educational studies in a shorter day than attending a brick and mortar school, and then move into our performing and fine arts programs to fine tune and progress faster in their craft. We even have a plan for those students that have a desire for sports as well. Registration and transfer into OKCA is this spring. The process is simple and again, Oklahoma Connections Academy Virtual Public School is FREE. The only fees you pay are to Academy of Fine Arts for the learning coach position and your performing and fine arts or sports. As always, we fully qualify our teachers for their positions and they undergo a national background check and drug tests. We also hire for personality to be able to communicate well with children. Oklahoma Connections Academy is for grades K-12 which transitions well with our from our part time private Preschool and Pre-K programs. It is also an easy transition back to a brick and mortar school is you find that this setting is not right for your child or family. We will be offering a meeting, either onsite or at another location for parents that want to know more, meet a representative of OKCA and give consideration to this new learning environment. Please watch our BLOG as well as our Facebook page and website for more information. This is an exciting journey for us as we transition into a private education (with a public virtual school) situation for our students. We hope that you will be willing to investigate it further by going to the OKCA website at www.connectionsacademy.com/OKCA as well as our website at www.academyoffineartsok.com Please watch for more posts to this blog.

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.

We Hope You Had A Great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is more than just families gathering to eat a super large meal! It is about setting family standards, history and creating stories for the future generations. We all loved hearing stories about grandma or grandpa when we were growing up, right? That is why it is important to be sure that during the holidays, things such as making memories with your children and grandchildren do not get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season.

Make time for simple special moments. Nothing has to be extravagant or time consuming. Set aside the gift shopping and find something to do that they will remember for a long time.

This Thanksgiving, after a too large of a meal, everyone was sleepily sitting around. Well, with the exception of two grandsons that is. So I seized the moment, pulled out the wagon and took them on a walk. A very long walk (actually they rode)! I do have to admit that halfway through the walk, I wondered why I had even thought of doing this. Two preschool boys in a wagon was not always an easy pull, especially when going up hill.

But when I paused to catch my breath, the oldest said, "Grandma this is the best day ever! I like it when we go on walks." The he smiled and nodded his head up and down waiting for me to agree. Yes, it was the "best day ever" because I took a moment (well several minutes) and spent time with them in the fresh air. My enthusiasm lifted for the second half of the walk as I watched the smiling faces in my wagon. My step became lighter, my breath easier and my memories set for the rest of my life.

And I am certain that we had a better time and was in a healthier position than those we left napping and sitting in front of the television at home. Be sure to make some special memories this holiday season with your children. Happy Holidays!

Pre-Registration for Second Semester is Now Available

Second semester begins January 6, 2014 and we are currently receiving pre-registration on line at www.academyoffineartsok.com or in person at our Woodward location and Enid Location.

Move-N-Learn Academy offers an educational program that is enhanced by the arts. We do not offer daycare services and are only a part time program. Please see our website at www.academyoffineartsok.com for more information.

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day. Be sure to honor the veterans you know in your family and community today for their service to our country

The Value of Small Classes?

Many parents find themselves clamoring after what everyone else wants for their children, not even thinking about the fact that their child may be lost in the crowd of the most popular activity, event or class. Although large classes or groups may seem like a great idea, since so many others already believe it to be as well, a large group or class can actually make your child uncomfortable and cause them to hold back and not help to move them forward.

In large classes or events, the perceived  "natural athlete" or "dancer"  are almost always placed in a forward position to "assist the teacher or coach". The teacher or coach more than likely are believing that they are actually helping everyone by having others assist with the activity or class. but some go forward, others are pushed back.

When young students see other students that have been brought forward to "help the teacher", many start setting themselves up for failure but believing they must not be very good already, because they were not called forward to help. They start moving towards the back row or take a back seat to the training.

In a smaller class, there are no back rows or back seats to take. So everyone is given a chance to learn and grow. It does not mean that another student will not be used as a demonstrator. It does mean that the teacher or coach will not frantically scan the room for the perceived "natural" and has more time to look over every single student and find something that each, as an individual, does very well. So in a smaller class, you will actually see and experience more students "helping the teacher". No one gets pushed to the back.

Even if your child is very shy or introverted, a smaller class allows for a teacher to work slower in bringing every child to a full blossom of abilities and knowledge. Every child is given a chance and there is less comparing the students against each other. There is less of a need to rush each child to reach a certain standard, because there are so many students!

In an early childhood learning situation, smaller classes actually allows a child to learn more in an inviting environment where the teacher has time for them. A smaller class offers a more leveled field of opportunity for everyone. Students are happier, teachers are happier.

The value of smaller classes? It depends on how much you believe your child's happiness and enthusiasm is. If your child is hanging back in participating in the activity, school or class you have them in? Do they move to the background? Don't raise their hand enthusiastically? Smile going in and smile coming out? Do they complain that they have no friends? That no one likes them or someone always hurts them?

Smaller classes does not mean smaller value! After all, some of the nations top private school highly limit how many students are allowed to enroll each year. They know that success is there for every student that they let in through their doors. They are selective in hiring teachers. They are selective in admittance.

So is a smaller class, school or activity the right fit for your child? Only their enthusiasm and smiles will give the answer away.