Barbara Allisen

With thirty years in the classroom and counting, I have been fortunate enough to share the school beginnings of more than a thousand children and families.

Did you know that between one-third and one-half of children start school unprepared for the learning challenges? The early years between 0 and 6 are critical for brain development. What can parents and caregivers do? Is this something else to add to the already too long, too full, too busy tooo-dooo list?

Learning can be easily added to what you are already doing and that's a natural space and time. Make categories when sorting laundry, count stairs on your way out, check colors of groceries, count the spoons and more.

I've compiled some tips and suggestions into a book and give interactive presentations to parents and little ones. In addition to a Play-Of-The-Day on my blog 123kindergarten, I have a Play-Of-The-Week on my radio show Learn and Play With Mrs. A on the RockStar Radio Network.

My specialty is Kindergarten Readiness, that is helping parents and caregivers support children to become Powerful Learners.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Bachelor of Education, E.C.E.
Early Childhood Services Diploma
Diploma In Educational Studies, Modern Languages
Clinical Certified HypnoTherapist
S.U.R.V.I.V.E. parent of 2 children, 1 with special needs
Experience

Teacher/Consultant
1 2 3 Kindergarten (div of Imagination Connections Consulting)

By being a Teacher On Call, I have been able to combine being at school and being connected to parents and kids through my Internet resources at 123kindergarten. It's like having the best of both.
My classroom experience includes inner city & private schools, big new public schools & very small old ones. I grew up in a tiny village close to the family farm, later moving to a small town and then city. Crisscrossing the country, I graduated with a B.A., B.Ed., D.P. E. and a special diploma in Early Childhood Services. Two kids of my own, one with special needs, were another education (and the degree S.U.R.V.I.V.E.D).

I’m often asked why I teach kindergarten (other than most students after grade 2 are taller than I am). At what other grade level could I play with puzzles and blocks and make crafts and build Lego and shape playdough and read Big Books? And get drawings for my fridge and hugs now that my kids are grown?

And why do I now have a kindergarten readiness website?
Because: Children are 20% of the population and 100% of the future.

Because: Children who are ready for school do better in all the other grades and have more chance of finishing school. Unfortunately, many children who enter school behind their classmates stay behind.

But mostly because: Being ready for school starts before children ever get there. Plus, it turns out that one of the critical factors that affects children’s success at school is PARENT INVOLVEMENT. So, supporting parents and caregivers is one of the best ways to support kids.. I may only be in kindergarten but even I can do this math:
Helping parents and caregivers = helping kids.

Now, I am able to offer evening and day-time presentations to families with little ones on helping children to become powerful learners and work on a 2nd edition of my book: 1 2 3 Kindergarten, Everything Your Child Needs To Learn Before Kindergarten.

January 2009 – Present (4 years 9 months)1 2 3 Kindergarten
Do you have a child born in 2013? Your child will graduate from high school in 2026, and college later, perhaps 2030. And retire in 2076. How can you prepare your child for the future so far ahead? Goodness, even the start of school in 2018 or 2019 seems so far away.
Learning begins from even before a child is born and will continue life-long. The best way to support a child is by helping that child develop powerful learning strategies. Nature gives families prime-time learning time before a child ever goes to school.
I've compiled a book, like a tool-box, to help families build children's brain connections and learning tools.

Cards and letters and pictures from students and families over the years gave me the courage -- and the mission-- to expand out to you. (children’s names changed, of course)

“Dear Mrs. Allisen, Thank you for a wonderful year. Keera really enjoyed herself….She was so sad to realize that kindergarten was ending that she cried.”

This one is from Jacob, “Thank you for being my first teacher.” (sunshine, heart and rainbow pictures included.)

After more than 30 years in the classroom, I carry the memories of more than a thousand children’s school beginnings in my heart. I only wish I’d known for all of them what I now know and what I am still learning. I invite you to share the journey of getting children ready for school with me.
Early Childhood Educator, Consultant, Speaker and Author
1 2 3 Kindergarten (division of Imagination Connections Consulting)
April 2003 – Present (10 years 6 months)
Did you know that one of the most powerful learning tools to support children's success at school is PARENT INVOLVEMENT? That's my mission: Help Children By Helping Families Support Early Learning

Long title, but it means sharing ideas with you to help kids learn! 2003 is the date I started the company but I remember playing teacher even before I started school!

I've presented nationally and internationally. In 2004 I spoke in South Africa at the International Board on Books for Youth in Cape Town. Now, if I just knew more languages...I'm currently studying Spanish.
Host of Learn and Play with Mrs. A
RockStar Radio Network

Books (1)