Kyiv
How to help your child adapt to the school and develop “soft” skills? Interview with the mother
26.10.20
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How to help your child adapt to the school and develop “soft” skills? Interview with the mother

Many parents of the five-year-olds are perplexed with the following questions:

Beside the full-day school, CISC Network also has the Weekend School format of studies, which helps a child to reveal own talents, learn to communicate and develop the creative, logical and critical thinking skills, at hte same time preparing and adapting to the school environment.

We asked Ms.Anna, the mother of Nastia (5 years and 7 months old), a student of the Weekend School, how did they choose the additional form of assisting the child’s development,  what they like in CISC_Weekend School and what the parents should pay attention to when searching for extra-curricular classes for their children.

As a mother, which skills and competences do you think important to develop in a child?

It is important for me that Nastia would feel free and true to herself,  could freely show all her skills and knowledge, and could do as she thinks fit. I want her to be eager to learn and discover something new, and to be able to find the information if necessary and to know where to find such information. Apart from that, it is very important for me that Nastia would be socially active, communicate with diffrent people: of different age, character and even nation. I would like my daughter to understand that everyone is different and has the right to own opinion.  

Which were your criteria for selection of the pre-school studies for your child?

In fact, our choice was defined by the school we have selected for further full-day education. First of all, we observed the full-day schools in our district and chose one. We learned about the  structure of studies and other opportunities that each school has to offer.  CISC is the leading school in our choices. We have not reached the decision yet,  but we still have to prepare for school. So, not to waste the time, we decided to take Nastia to the CISC_Weekend School to help her adapt to the future school environment, to see the format of studies and its difference from the kindergarten. Why the CISC? Because it’s the school of new format, and it has the amazing and bright  material and technical base in which, I am sure, the kids will be interested to learn and develop, and the school has a great curriculum, too. At the meeting with the school staff we were told about how the educational process is build, and I think that this is the best for of studies for modern kids. Taking into account the whole variety of toys, books, cartoons, information, the mode of integrated and interactive classes where all the modern approaches and techniques ate applied,  will be the most interesting for our children and will bring the best results.

 

Why the CISC? Because it’s the school of new format, and it has the amazing and bright  material and technical base in which, I am sure, the kids will be interested to learn and develop, and the school has a great curriculum, too.

Why did you choose the Weekend School?

Taking into account Nastia’s character, we decided that attending the Weekend School will be useful for her further adaptation to the school. It sometimes happens that the children may feel a bit discomfortable, scared or shy in a new school.  Their adaptation can last for several weeks or even months, and all this affects the education. We wanted to avoid it and to make the attending of school more comfortable for our child, to help her  live up to her expectations from a school. There are many schools that offe pre-school studies on weekday evenings. And the children are not very capable of studies at that time of the day, and it’s not alwayscomfortable for the parents, too.  In addition, it takes only a few hours a day and the mode of studies is “school-like” – the children are sitting in a classroom and learning.  We liked the Weekend School format because it’s a full day and the children get the understanding how their day will be structured in the future, and which number of lessons they will have.   

How did Nastia’s adaptation in the Weekend School go?

To start with, I would like to mark the work of the administrative staff. Before the first class, the Weekend School employees sent us a very detailed questionnaire – asking about the child’s health and medical condition, traits of character etc. One of the quesitions was about  the child’s adaptation in new circumstances. Knowing my Nastia, I thought that on her first day she would stand aside, just looking around. And this is, mostly, what happened. In the daily photo report sent by the tutors  to a closed Telegram chat, I could see Nastia standing in the back of the classroom near the tutor, watching the other kids.  At the end of the day I asked the tutor about Nastia and learned that at the first lesson Nastia really was only watching everything, and only after that she started participating. It’s her fifth time in CISC_Weekend, and I can see that Nastia takes the first row in the classroom, she is active. In general, the adaptation was fast, easy, natural for our child’s character.  

It’s her fifth time in CISC_Weekend, and I can see that Nastia takes the first row in the classroom, she is active. In general, the adaptation was fast, easy, natural for our child’s character.  

What do you and your child like the most in this format of studies?

I like that it’s a full-day form. My child can get more sleep after the working week, and attend the studies in the comfortable hours, from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. The child knows for sure that her whole day will be busy. I like that Saturday school format  is like a rehearsal of what the children will face in the first grade. Nasti  is getting used to the difference between the kindergarten and the school. Nastia’s first impression after the first day in CISC_Weekend was “Fun, but many lessons”🙂 I also like the integrational aspect, and the way the information is given. I think that such form of teaching is the best for younger children and brings best results. My daughter likes the robotics and arts, and there are very few schools now that offer such classes. It’s very cool, because modern children think differently,  and such subjects as robotics help the children reveal themselves in different aspects. Nastia  also likes the ball pits very much, but she says they are closed due to the quarantine. My daughter also notices that the school is nice and new, she likes chemistry classes and experiments conducted by the teachers.  In general, Nastia sees that the school is interesting and just as she expected it to be.

What would you advise to other moms searching for extra-curricular studies for their children? What should they pay attention to?

I can tell from my own experience that you must pay attention to your child’s specifics and likings. Maybe, the child will like private classes, or a Weekend School, or other group studies. And you should point out what you expect from a pre-school.  If you want your child to know the alphabet from the first grade, or read and write – it’s one thing, and if you want your child to adapt to school environment and learn everything in game form – it’s another thing. There are many schools now that offre their own approaches. And I think that you should select exactly what you like,  visit the getting-acquianted lesson together with your child, so that the the child can participate in the selection of the place of his/her studies.  

_______________________

 

Weekend School is the line of studies in the private Creative International School for Children for the children of 5-12 years old. The classes are held in the form of integrated courses (transformations) in various disciplines. The studies are held every week, on Saturdays, for the whole day.   

Each month has a thematic focus and ends with projects selected and presented by each of the groups (teams)

The result:

 

Saturday studies by private school CISC in Kyiv are waiting for you in the following locations:

📍Holosiivska str., 13G

📍Dnipro embankment 14L (RiverStone Residential Complex)

You can also purchase a gift certificate for attending the Weekend School.  


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