Patch Blog: What do Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents?

CNN has an interesting column online by Ron Clark, Disney’s American Teacher of the Year and Oprah Winfrey's pick as her "Phenomenal Man." Clark writes in his column, What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents, that new teachers remain in the profession an average of just 4.5 years, and many of them list "issues with parents" as one of their reasons for throwing in the towel. He says it’s becoming harder to recruit the best and the brightest out of colleges as word spreads.

I’m in the earliest stages of childhood education as I begin touring preschools, but I truly believe my daughter's teachers and their passion for the profession will be the biggest factor in whether she thrives in the classroom setting. It’s an interesting article worthy of a good read.

This past weekend, my family and I headed to the LA County Fair in Pomona. The fair runs until October 2, children ages five and under are free, and you can check here for discounts for the rest of the family, including free admission on Thursdays when you bring one new or gently used book. The drive was about 30 minutes from Montrose, and it was well worth the trip to see our daughter gawk at the animals – including cows, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep and baby chicks. There’s a simple haystack maze for the little ones and a big, clean petting area that's a real treat for toddlers. Lots of other activities for older kids, too, including "The Science of Everyday Life" exhibit with demonstrations on what makes cookies and bread rise, how police use fingerprints and trace fibers to solve crimes and other fun science experiments.

Have you checked out in the Montrose Shopping Park? Next door to the new on Honolulu Avenue, it’s a great place for gifts for mothers and mothers-to-be. It's worth a stop for the diaper bags alone - trendy styles that are hard to find. I popped in this weekend looking for an item and the sales associate was friendly and accommodating to the point of telling me where I could go to find a product she didn’t currently have in stock. The store offers a free pre-natal breastfeeding support session and has a great page on their website with links to community resources, mom-friendly websites and recommended reading. Read more here.