Introduction/Orientation - Teacher Helen’s Parent Education classes
Welcome! It is a great gift to your child to take these classes!
About Teacher Helen:
I am a MOM! I have four children – two boys and two girls.
I am a former STUDENT of parent education. I attended classes with all my children from the time they were babies until they started kindergarten. I learned a great deal from my teachers and fellow students. My children received the BEST preparation for kindergarten. Both my children and I made GREAT friends. I continue to seek out conferences, books, articles, and the expertise of others to expand my knowledge about parenting. I learn from my students too.
I am a clinical psychologist. I received my Ph.D. from the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology in 1997, and was licensed in California in 2001.
I currently teach 4 days per week for SDCCD – parenting the 2-year-old and the certificate class for Family Home Day Care. In the past, I have taught Parenting the Infant, Parenting the Toddler, Parenting the 3-5 year old, Parenting the School Age Child, and Effective (or Court-ordered) Parenting. I also teach as an adjunct in the psychology dept. at University of San Diego – currently a health psychology course.
With all those teaching hours, and a problem with vocal nodules, I try to protect my voice by using a microphone. Also, I work hard to learn names - about 110 new adult students, + about 60 kids this semester. Help me by wearing nametags.
About our Class:
This is a PARENT PARTICIPATION class. It is different from a playgroup or drop-off preschool program. In our program:
- parents must attend the weekly parent education discussions --- this is the most important class activity because of the education provided, and for the communication and cohesion of our class
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parents participate in every aspect of class --- preparing future projects, supervising children (their own and others), leading activities, cleaning up the room, etc.
- you will choose a job necklace when you sign in each day. If all the job necklaces are taken, please look for a task to help with. (NOTE: please don’t allow the children to wear the job necklaces, as they present a choking hazard)
- you will sign up (with a partner, if you’d like) to plan and lead a table activity
- you will participate in a surprise cleaning day sometime this semester
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parents’ attendance is critical to our program --- we receive state funding for our classes based on your attendance --- PLEASE
- attend class every week for the entire time, except in the case of serious illness
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if you arrive more than 15 minutes late or leave more than 15 minutes early, please sign in and out the time you attended so that we accurately record the number of hours to be reimbursed by the state
- please understand that we lose potential funding when you attend sporadically, arrive late, or leave early
- children benefit tremendously from the active involvement of the many adults – play with them, talk to them, use all the classroom materials to stimulate their development
Bear with the repetition! Our classes are very repetitive in terms of the songs, dances and routine. They are designed this way since toddlers and two-year-olds learn by repetition – and are more comfortable in an environment when they can predict what will happen next. You will get tired of the songs, but I hope you will enjoy watching your children learn to participate with words and hand motions over the course of the year.
If you would like to contribute to the parent donation fund, you are welcome to do that at any time in the semester. I use these funds to buy special craft supplies, books, stickers, job tag supplies, and so on. I keep careful records of the funds I’ve received and how they’ve been spent, which you are always free to review.
Understand that toddlers and two-year-olds can be aggressive. This is normal and doesn’t indicate a “mean” personality or bad parenting. It is the responsibility of ALL adults in the class to carefully supervise in order to limit the pushing, hitting, biting, etc. Use a gentle, firm voice and manner to redirect children, if you see aggressive behavior begin.
Many students have new babies in 2-year-old class. If you feel you can keep both your children safe and stimulated in class, you are welcome to bring younger siblings. Occasionally, when older siblings have school holidays, they are welcome as long as you supervise them and make sure they allow the 2-year-olds to have priority for toys, instruments, etc. If bringing siblings ever seems to create a problem for your children, for you, for your fellow students, or for me, I will discuss concerns with you. Please understand that this is only in an effort to maintain the best classroom environment for your 24-36 month old children.
I communicate primarily by email. Please check before class for reminders or any changes to our schedule.
Snack is generally on your own – except for a couple of class potlucks. Any food allergies/sensitivities?
About our Classroom:
- Safety is the first priority for all of us – the safety of all children and adults – watch and step in
- Please help care for our room and all our materials – NEW, so administration is protective
- Please only eat food and drink in the outside area or at the tables in front of the refrigerator and Please only allow your children to eat food and drink in the outside area or at the tables in front of the refrigerator
- Please help the children to be gentle with the toys and books
- Please wash anything you find that is dirty (cleaning wipes are always available in the cleaning supplies cabinet), fix things that are broken, or bring broken items to the attention of the teacher
- Please enjoy the craft supplies, but please use enough materials – leaving some for the other parents and children
- Please place all wet and dirty diapers into plastic sacks and place them in the outside trash can
- In the classroom, please avoid physical discipline of all children, including your own
- Classroom tour
A WORD ABOUT THE BUDGET
What can you do to help?
Take good care of our room – furniture, toys, carpets
Use enough supplies for craft – but not more than you need
Complete a journal and earn a certificate this semester
If you feel so inclined, write letters to your legislators about the value of parent education (for YOU) and the importance of continued funding
IMPORTANT: I am a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse. That means that I can lose my license if I don’t make a report when I see or hear anything that gives me a reason to suspect that child abuse may be occurring.
Laws and definitions:
child abuse is illegal – child abuse is defined as physical injury inflicted on a child by another person; sexual abuse – when a child is used for sexual gratification of another; emotional abuse – nonphysical maltreatment (like degrading, frightening, tormenting, etc.) of a child leading to disturbed behavior in the child; neglect – failure to meet a child’s basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, supervision
Prevention of Child Abuse: parent education, parent mental health treatment, support services for parents, effective stress and anger management, supervision of children
FINAL NOTE: Please COME TO ME if you have any concerns about class, about me, or about other students and children. Sometimes students share private issues with me in confidence, and this may influence my behavior in class. Please trust that I am always working hard to provide the best experience I can for all my students.