Moving? How to Choose a New Town/School

About a decade ago, my husband and I moved from warm and sunny Southern California to the cold and snowy Northeast. We had several friends in the area we were moving to, and that was the dominant factor in choosing the community in which we would ultimately settle. As we didn't have children yet and were planning on renting for the first year, we didn't think much about schools, etc. As luck would have it, we landed in a town with good schools, very involved parents, and lots of activities for kids. There was also terrific support for new moms, which was of great help when my daughter was born.

By the time my sons were born and my daughter was in preschool, we came to the realization, that we would not be moving back west anytime soon, and we should probably think about buying a house - especially before my daughter started kindergarten. We enjoyed the town we were living in, and had made many good friends, but we weren't long into the house hunting process when we realized we would not be able to afford much more than a condo. So we began to look at other towns.

Like most parents, we were most concerned with the schools. Parents will often chatter about which towns have "good" schools, but when pressed for further details, few parents can provide any. In fact, most people judge the quality of a school by the socioeconomic level of the town and the school's test scores. While test scores can give some indication of a school's quality, it is by no means the only factor to consider.

When moving to a town or neighborhood, here are a few additional considerations:

1. Parental Involvement. Does the school have an active PTO/PTA? Does the school actively encourage parental participation? Are school events well attended? Students whose parents are involved in their school suffer from fewer behavioral problems and perform better academically.

2. The School Board. Take a long look at the local school board. Most local newspapers have an online archive which allows you to view past news articles. This is a good way to research the main issues facing the school district, and discover whether there is any animosity amongst the board members or between the school board and teachers. A contentious relationship between the school board and staff can have an enormous impact on the functioning of the school and the retention of quality teachers.

3. The Superintendent and Principal. While the superintendent reports to the school board, s/he really sets the tone for the entire district. A great superintendent requires a combination of skills from educator to administrator. Additionally, the superintendent needs to navigate the politics of the town and school board. Again, a little online research can give you a good indication if there are any problems. Similarly, when choosing among schools within a district (if that's an option), it is a good idea to meet with the principals of each school. All schools have a unique personality, even within the same district.

4. The Tax Base. This may be the most overlooked factor when people are comparing towns and schools. Of course, most people consider property taxes when choosing a house. However, the impact of the town's tax base has an enormous impact on the school's budget - an impact that is only increasing as state aid to schools declines across the country. The town we originally lived in was very cute and charming with a Main Street filled with local shops. The town we ended up moving to has some charming sections, but is also home to a large mall as well as numerous office parks. The result is lower property taxes and increased services. While other districts are facing budget deficits, our schools will have to deal with a smaller budget increase than previous years. We also do not pay additional activity fees or bus fees like most other surrounding towns. A district whose budget is primarily supported by property taxes can find itself in dire straits as economically strapped homeowners balk at increases.

5. Special Programs/Services. When comparing similar towns, it's important to take a look at what additional programs or services the schools may provide. For families with two working parents, an afterschool programs would be extremely important. Similarly, some districts offer full day kindergarten for free, some offer it for a fee and some don't offer it at all. Compare such programs when choosing between schools.

6. Class Size & Facilities. While it may seem obvious, some people may overlook these important qualities, especially in a town that is "supposed to have good schools." All parents want their children in small classes, and there can be sizable differences even within the same district. Additionally, it is helpful to take a tour of the schools you are considering so you can evaluate the condition of the building as well as its ability to serve the school's population (i.e, not overcrowded).

I'd like to say I took all of these things into consideration before we chose our current town - but I didn't. Like most people, we talked to other parents and considered test scores. We ended up getting lucky. We're in a well managed and well funded district. However, should we ever move again, I now know exactly what criteria I should consider - beyond the usual test scores.

Math Anxiety

I just read a story about a new study that shows that female teachers may pass on their math anxieties to their female students. The study found that first- and second-graders whose teachers were anxious about math were more likely to believe that boys are hard-wired for math and that girls are better at reading. As the mother of a second grade girl I find this troubling, but not surprising. Any time I hear a woman say, "I'm not good at math," I just cringe. It seems like the worst of the self-fulfilling prophecies. If you think you're bad at something, you will most likely fail. I have a good friend, very successful, who also has a second grade girl, and she has often remarked at how "bad she is at math". It drives me crazy. It's almost as if she's giving her daughter an "out". Well, if my mom is bad at math, then maybe I am too . . . or at least it's not such a big deal if I am.

I recently read the book, "The Myth of Ability" by John Mighton in which he describes his own early failures with math and his new theories on how it should be taught and how every student can flourish. One of the obvious concepts is that students must grasp certain basics before moving on to more challenging topics. I'm sure millions of students struggle with multiplication simply because they never memorized their math facts (you know...5+3 = 8, 5 + 4 = 9, etc.). If the foundation isn't there, it makes it really difficult to build upon.

I don't believe my daughter's 1st and 2nd grade teachers have math anxiety, but who knows -- maybe they do. However, I do know that her primary female role model - me - has always reinforced that math is fun and important. Hopefully, that message is sinking in.

How to Find the Right Preschool

In many areas of the country, parents need to enroll their children in preschool long before September. As more children attend early childhood programs, it has become increasingly difficult to secure a slot for your child if you wait too long. So for those of you beginning the preschool search, here are some tips and things to consider to help you find the right school for you and your child:

1. Get Recommendations. Yes, this seems obvious, but it should definitely be your first step. Ask other parents in your community for their suggestions. There may be some schools of which you're not even aware. Some local mothers groups publish directories of preschools. Check to see if this is available in your town.

2. Review the Programs Offered. Some schools are more like daycare, with programs beginning at 7:30am and ending at 6pm. Other schools may only offer morning sessions. If you only plan on sending your child for a half day, do you want them in a program where many of the children stay the full day? Do all children attend the same days (i.e, M, W, F) or does it vary? Classes are generally divided by age, but this is not the case in all schools. Are any enrichment programs offered after school? Is there a program in which to enroll in the summer?

3. Student/Teacher Ratio. Schools vary a great deal in the size of their classes. Make sure you know the class size limits for each program.

4. Teacher Qualifications. Not all states require the same degree of licensure or certification. Check to see what your state's regulations are, and whether or not the school's teachers exceed the requirements. Also, it's important to learn the length of tenure for the average teacher. High staff turnover may indicate a larger problem, or at the very least, may lead to inconsistent teaching.

5. School Philosophy. Some preschools are highly focused on academics, while others are more play-based. Each parent is looking for something different in a preschool, so make sure the school you choose lines up with your expectations.

6. Schedule a Visit. Observing the teachers as they interact with the children in the classroom is invaluable. It is the only true way of getting to know a teacher's style, and discovering whether or not it will work for your child.

7. Parental Involvement in the Classroom. Some schools require parents to help out, others offer classroom volunteering as an option. Still others, may discourage parental involvement in the classroom.

8. Safety. What are the school's strategies for ensuring that only staff, parents and approved school visitors have access to the school? What is the dismissal procedure? Is the playground fully fenced in? Is all of the playground equipment functional, with no missing or broken parts?

9. Communication. How do the teachers communicate with parents. Are weekly updates sent home? How often are parent/teacher conferences scheduled?

10. Potty Training. Some schools require children to be potty trained before they can attend a preschool program. For those with children still in diapers, this is an important consideration. You do not want to be desperately trying to get your child potty trained two weeks before school begins.

Beginning preschool is an exciting time for children and parents alike. Hopefully these tips will help you feel confident in your school decision.

I'm Just Saying

I understand why the TV networks aired re-runs during the holidays, but I expected to see some new episodes or new shows at the beginning of January. Unfortunately, I was wrong. We've had to wait until this week for most new shows to start (like American Idol). Do the networks think people are still hungover from New Year's and won't be interested in television the first week of January? Do they not realize that many of us (and even more this year) are hunkered down inside, trying to stay warm and pretty much a captive audience? It really seems to me the perfect time to try to gain new viewers. Way back when, Fox debuted the original 90210 in the summer - which was a season the networks had historically ignored. Partially because it was the only new programming on, 90210 was able to attract an audience - an audience that may have been too busy to notice had the show not debuted until fall. I think there are plenty of new shows or returning shows that begin this week that could have benefited from airing without the threat of American Idol.

Take the Plunge

Image via Wikipedia

I finally succumbed to the pressure and joined Facebook. I had resisted it for a long time - afraid I didn't have enough time, didn't know if I wanted to reconnect with people I haven't talked to since elementary school, etc. However, I must say, I'm really happy I took the plunge. Yes, it has already taken up too much time, but I've renewed relationships with people I really like, but had lost touch with due to time and distance. I tend to think if Facebook had existed way back then, we may never have lost touch. So for anyone else who has been reluctant to join - take the plunge. I think you'll be surprised at the results.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger

Image via Wikipedia

I'm not really sure how I feel about the whole Tiger Woods car accident fiasco. On one hand, I feel like it's none of my business. On the other hand, I can't deny that I'm fascinated by the seemingly never-ending titillating revelations. At the very least, for someone who has handled his image so carefully, he has really fumbled the ball on this one. Whether or not the public has a right to know the specifics, Tiger definitely underestimated the media's scrutiny and the 24 hour news cycle that demands to be fed. If the cheating allegations are true, it will be a disappointment, but at the end of the day, that's between him and his family. He's still the world's greatest golfer, and I will still be rooting for him next year at Augusta. Anyone else think that somewhere Phil Mickelson is chuckling?

The Babies Movie

I just discovered the trailer for the upcoming documentary "Babies". Check it out:



I think it looks absolutely fascinating. The film was made by Thomas Balmes and is scheduled to be released by Focus Features in April 2010.