Stella Weitzman, 21/2, of Bloomfield Hills works with the color blocks
Looking for an excellent
Dance Studio where your
child will learn in a
nurturing environment?
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Confused about where to enroll? Dance training should be a happy
experience and have a positive effect on your child. We offer profes-
sional training in a sensitive learning atmosphere and strive to instill
confidence, self- esteem, and the love of dance in our students. We
have earned a far reaching reputation as being two of the finest
schools in Michigan and are celebrating over 30 years of success. Our
roster of success stories is endless, from the smallest pre-ballet and
jazz students to budding ballerinas and Broadway stars, our students
are coached to develop the very best technique to attain their maxi-
mum potential. Teachers are degreed adult professionals and many
are invited to teach at national seminars to train students and teach-
ers interested in advancing their technique and teaching skills. Our
friendly staff is always available to answer questions and discuss stu-
dent's progress. We have a complete program for children and adults
for both the serious or recreational student. Dancers may take a
drop-in class or register for a complete program. There are no contrac-
tual obligations or hidden fees. Multiple class discounts make tuition
affordable and master card and visa are accepted. The schools have
two performing companies. Participation is elective and not manda-
tory. The school's focus is on good training and all students benefit
equally. For additional information regarding registration and faculty,
please visit our website at www.rochesterschoolofdance.com .
Cornelia's School of Dance
3080 Orchard Lake Road Keego Harbor (248)681-5376
Rochester School of Dance
1800 S. Livernois Rochester Hills (248)652-3117
36 August 18 2011
and pattern sheets of the Bee Ready learning kit with Jill Berlin
of West Bloomfield.
Be Ready!
Educational kit helps parents
prepare their kids for kindergarten.
Dolly Moiseeff
Special to the Jewish News
T
here was a time when all a kid
had to do to get into kinder-
garten was show up.
That's not the case today. Schools
have a long list of requirements for
youngsters that rate motor skills, read-
ing readiness, knowledge of numbers
and social skills.
Kindergarteners need to be able
to recite the alphabet, write num-
bers from 1-20, name the days of the
week, listen to a story quietly, retell a
familiar story and complete puzzles
containing 10-15 pieces — and that's
just to start.
There's a lot for a little kid to know
by the time that school bell rings.
It might take some effort on a
parent's part, Jill Berlin of West
Bloomfield will tell you, but she and
her business partner, Ellen Pitcole of
Fenton, have gathered the tools needed
to get the job done.
They have pooled their combined
45 years of teaching experience and
created the Bee Ready Kindergarten
Readiness Kit, filled with activities
parents can do with their children to
develop kindergarten skills.
"Kids are coming to kindergarten
less prepared:' Berlin says. And it has
everything to do with lifestyle. Up
until a generation ago, kids spent more
time outdoors, playing hopscotch, run-
ning around, playing games and using
their imaginations.
Today children watch television,
videos and use cell phones, which may
engage their minds but fail to develop
motor skills.
When kids are evaluated for kin-
dergarten, they are asked to do basic
things, like hop on both feet, hop on
one foot and then the other. It's sur-
prising, Berlin says, how often a child
can't do all three.
Generally, a child who is not ready
could begin in a developmental class-
room.
"We've got to get back to basics',' she
adds."It's all about engaging kids in fun
activities. If a person is involved and
engaged, learning becomes a natural
process:'
Be Ready! on page 38