October 10, 1979 According to the Parents of this week, John and Barbara Titus, Mrs. Liz Baley, kindergarten teacher at Seiler Elementary in Mount Joy, ‘has a genuine interest in every single child. She takes time with each one. She remembers her pupils after they are no longer her pupils. She is sensitive to their needs.” Mrs. Baley says of herself that, having no children of her own, she is very “wrapped up in the children here at school. They become a lot like my own.”’ Mrs. Baley tries. to ‘maintain a good relationship with her pupils, and also with their parents. She learned very early in her teaching that getting the parents involved in their childrens’ schooling was “the key to the whole thing."’ Each week Mrs. Baley sends a letter home with the children addressed to the parents and informing them what she will be expecting of the children. Once a month she sends out a newsletter explaining what will be covered in science and social studies. Many of the mothers come into the school and help with cooking, baking cookies, making puppets, or Heather Honicher, Mrs. Liz Baley, Chris Kaley Teacher of Week Mrs. Liz Baley printing. At Christmas there is a party for the children and their families. The theme this year will be “Christmas Around the World.” The mothers will bake cookies from different countries. Since Mrs. Baley only has the children for two and a half hours each day, she believes that parental in- volvement is essential if the children are going to learn. Children at kindergarten age are still more or less completely ‘involved with their families. School and family must blend. She realizes that as their teacher she is herself a parent-figure. Sometimes the children accidentally call her ‘““Mommy.’”’ The they giggle and correct them- selves. Mrs. Baley finds it challenging to teach child- ren at this young age. They are more impressionable, and the effect of the teacher on them is profound. *They :are eager to learn,” says Mrs. Baley. They are uninhibited and say what they think. Older children have learned to say what they think you want them to say.” As the Tituses said, Mrs. Baley treats each child as an individual. She keeps a ~ Write a resume at two workshops A resume workshop will be held on Oct. 22nd and 25th, from 7 to 9pm, at the Lancaster County Library, 125 N. Duke St. + Job ebjectives and use of (O20 if A418) teed Ato resumes will be covered as well as resume writing. Ms. Tana Reiff will lead the workshop. The program is free. Call 394-2651 to: pre-register. cept teg Srv diagnostic record on each child, carefully noting strengths and weaknesses. Each child has a ‘‘private spot’’ where he or she goes to work alone. While the other children are playing she will spend time with an individual child, working on some specific problem. Sometimes she will get another child to help; sometimes a child can teach another child better than she can. Kindergarten is no longer just socializing and playing as it used to be. Because there are more nursery schools and day care centers, there are many more children entering kindergarten with previous experience in school. Their skills are more advanced, and Mrs. Baley believes that in kindergarten they can get a good start in learning that will stand them in good stead in the later grades. Her greatest satisfaction is at the end of the year when she can note meas- ured pragress for each child. A grateful note from a parent, says Mrs. Baley, “*makes it all worthwhile.”’ The “‘key’’ to her success, however, is getting the parents involved. Mrs. Baley welcomes all contact with parents and encour- ages them to call her at her home. Her husband, Michael G. Baley, is very helpful to her. “l couldn’t do the job without the help of my husband. He makes art objects and helps decorate the classroom. He painted the Winnie the Pooh on the door and the flowers around the clock.” Busy as she is with her teaching, Mrs. Baley, a gifted musician, has 33 piano students at home and directs the childrens’ choirs at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. SUSQUEHANNA TIMES—Page 7 ‘Reading Is Fun’ Day at Donegal schools “Reading is fun’’ day has been declared by the national Reading is Fun- damental (RIF) organization for this Thursday. The governor of Pennsylvania has also set aside the day for the state. Students in the Donegal Area Elementary Schools are observing this day by drawing posters and writing compositions illustrating the importance of reading. The International Year of the Child theme will be incorporated into the ‘‘Fun day’’ posters and composi- tions. Books will be distributed to students three times during the school year. To encourage the students in their desire to read, various themes have been suggest- ed for the book give-aways. rE BEE» FPP PYRENEES The books are provided by parent groups and RIF. The theme of the first distribution, to be held in January, will be an interna- tional pet show. There will be posters of pets, stuffed animals, small pets and books dealing with pets. The suggestion for the second distribution is inter- national friendship. It will be held in March. Artifacts and taste treats from various countries will be provided for the children, along with the books. International carnival will be the *heme of the final book distribution. The child- ren will choose their books from a carnival setting. Next week The Times will print several of the posters and compostions from the ‘Reading is fun’ day.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers