Supporting the Transition to Kindergarten A Resource Guide for Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
Compiled by Redwood City School District’s Ready Schools Team
INTRODUCTION June 2013
Supporting the Transition to Kindergarten, A Resource Guide for Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers is a project of the Redwood City School District’s Ready Schools Team which is funded by First 5 San Mateo County’s Bridges to Success Initiative and supported by Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s School Readiness Initiative. Redwood City 2020 facilitates the work of the Ready Schools Team. With initiatives in education, youth development, wellness and immigrant integration, RWC 2020 works for success for all Redwood City children and families. Started in 2010, the “Bridges to Success Initiative” has identified four complementary strategies: Ready Children, Ready Families, Ready Schools and Ready Communities. As part of Bridges to Success, the Redwood City Ready Schools Team (RST) joined seven other school districts around San Mateo County, and many community based organizations, in pursuing the goal of developing a district-‐wide Transition to Kindergarten Plan, based on proven best practices in preparing for and supporting transition and preschool through 3rd grade alignment. The Redwood City School District RST continues to work on promoting and supporting a smooth preschool-‐school transition for children and families. On January 23, 2013, the Board of Education of Redwood City School District adopted a school readiness policy to promote consistent, effective transition practices at all schools accepting incoming kindergartners. This policy states: The Board of Education recognizes that in order to move into elementary school successfully, students need to feel secure, ready to learn, supported by their families and welcomed to their new setting. Young children need physical, social, emotional and intellectual skills to enable them to learn. Therefore, in order to ensure successful transitions to kindergarten, the Board encourages strong working partnerships among district staff, preschools, families and community organizations to promote development of these skills. The Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies to ensure the use of consistent, effective practices to support all students making the transition to kindergarten. This guide provides examples of effective preschool-‐to-‐kindergarten transition activities, supported by mini-‐grants through the Ready Schools Team, in three overlapping categories: 1. Welcoming, Orienting and Preparing Children pages 4-‐6 2. Welcoming, Orienting and Engaging Parents/Families to Kindergarten and the School Community pages 7-‐10 nd 3. Preschool and Kindergarten/K-‐2 communication, collaboration, and alignment pages 11-‐12 2
Summary of Activity Examples by Time of Year Activity
Purpose/Focus
Time of Year
X X X
X X X X
Teachers; PreK-‐K alignment x
X X
X X
X
X
Getting to Know You (HF) page 6
X
X
Kindergarten Play Date (HF) page 6
X
X
“Welcome to Kindergarten” Breakfast (HF) page 6
X
X
Homework Kit (Garfield) page 8
X
X
Ice Cream Social (HF) page 9
X
X
Parent orientation/education (Orion) page 9
X
Joint Professional Development: Vocabulary & Math (FO) page 11 Pajama Story Time (HF) page 9 Holiday Happening (HF) page 10 Preschool & Kinder Teacher Classroom Observation (Hawes) page 11 Hundreds Madness math evening (HF) page 10 Joint Professional Development: Science (citywide) page 12 Preschool-‐Kindergarten Transition Team (JG) page 11 Cross-‐grade classroom visits among PreK/TK/K teachers (citywide) page 12
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X X
Child Parents Kindergarten Orientation (FO) page 7 Kindergarten Orientation ( Hawes) page 7 Kindergarten Orientation (Hoover) page 7 Preschool-‐Kindergarten Buddies (FO) page 4 Preschool visits to Kindergartens (Roosevelt) page 4 Child and parent transition activities (Head Start preschool) page 5 Summer Preschool Experience (private preschool) page 5 Classroom meeting with incoming Kindergartners (Hawes) page 5 Ice Cream Social (FO) page 8
May Spring May May-‐June May Spring June-‐August Week before school Week before school 2 days before school start Weekend before school start First day of school First week of school Sept., after school start 3rd week of school October 2011 October December January -‐ March February February 2012 All year All year
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Welcoming, Orienting and Preparing Children Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used
In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Preschool-‐Kindergarten Buddies Introduce Preschoolers to Kindergarten May-‐June, weekly visits Child Weekly visits of onsite preschoolers to kinder classes for coloring, cutting, pasting, etc together; kindergartners helping preschoolers. Added benefit of preschool teachers observing K classes Fair Oaks Lupe Guzman, Principal
[email protected] K and District PreK teachers 1 Psc & 1 Kinder Mailbox subscription w/ online license for activity ideas ($29.95x2=59.90; Crayola Write Start colored pencils, 4 classroom sets 212.80; 100 glue sticks $36 Teacher time
Preschool Visits to Kindergartens Familiarize children with kinder classroom May Children Preschool students located on campus invited to attend kindergarten classes for one hour to do an activity with kindergartners, to get a preview of kinder and try working in the different environment. Roosevelt Patricia Girardi, Principal
[email protected] Kinder and preschool teachers 0 Staff time
Roosevelt Child Development Center preschoolers doing art activity with Kindergartners
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Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Partners
Child and Parent Transition Activities Child and parent readiness for kindergarten Spring Children and parents Head Start’s transition plans for each child/family include several activities, including parent information meeting; child backpacks with school supplies & summer parent/child readiness activities; practice of new routines such as using cafeteria-‐style lunch trays IHSD/Fair Oaks Head Start Sheri Geesey, Site Supervisor
[email protected] Site Supervisor, teachers and Family Services Manager Bridges to Success grant funds for backpack materials, lunch trays Staff time RCSD teacher S. Stanchfield-‐-‐ speaker at parent meeting
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Partners Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
Summer Preschool Experience Readiness of children with no preschool experience Mid-‐June to early August Children A free 4-‐week session was offered to families of 20 incoming John Gill kindergartners identified as not having attended preschool. Four enrolled and the school was able to extend to 8 weeks. Children received readiness assessments, followed by individualized one-‐on-‐one lessons on phonics, numbers, shapes, colors, writing, etc. In conferences in their home language, parents were provided with assessment results and resources to support their children. One child deemed not ready for K and needing speech therapy was offered a full scholarship for the school year. Beresford Montessori (Private preschool) Karina Barbera, Director
[email protected] Director, Head Teacher and high school volunteers $200 Director and teacher time High School Student Volunteers
Classroom meeting with incoming Kindergartners Orient and assess children; build relationships with families Week prior to school start Incoming Kinders Families invited to bring child for 15 min. session to meet teacher, play a little and do short evaluation. Parents given copy of “Read to Your Bunny” to 5
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
encourage reading daily to child. Second year, added practice folder of materials for parents to use with their children. Hawes Antonio Perez, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teacher Teacher stipend; Copies of R. Wells’ Read to Your Bunny = total $200 Principal’s time for Transition Team meeting
Getting to Know You Meeting families; Child assessment 2 days prior to school start Child Teachers met with families 1:1 in round-‐robin format; teacher assessed basic skills of child, parents complete informational questionnaire. Book given to child to take home. Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teachers Teacher stipends $900 Books from SVCF
Kindergarten Play Date Families/children get to know each other and school site Saturday before school start Child, families Get together for children and families to meet, and for children to acclimate to kinder playground at school Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teachers Snacks $100 Teacher time
“Welcome to Kindergarten” Breakfast Introduce Preschoolers to Kindergarten First day of school (1 hour, parent/child class + breakfast) Child, family Following 1 hour class time with parents attending, all are invited to stay for breakfast on the K playground and meet with representatives from PTA, ELAC and CDC (child care), as well as other families and the teachers. Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teachers $104 to supplement donations of breakfast goodies, fruit and coffee Teacher time 6
Welcoming, Orienting and Engaging Parents/Families Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Kindergarten Orientation Help parents prepare for kindergarten Spring Parents Presented the Hawes schedule and curriculum in 2 classrooms; viewed part of DVD and discussed; presentations each in English and Spanish; parent guides provided Hawes Antonio Perez, Principal
[email protected] K and PreK teachers Child care for preschoolers during meeting; total: $296 “Are You Ready?” DVD and parent guides in English/Spanish
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Partners
Kindergarten Orientation Introduce Parents & Preschoolers to Kindergarten May 12, one hour before school Open House Parents and Children Provided information and activities to help orient families: Showed video, described and answered questions about kinder, gave take-‐home educational materials; Family Center staff helped fill out paperwork; families visited classrooms while Open House going on. Fair Oaks Lupe Guzman, Principal
[email protected] K teachers + Family Center coordinator Teacher stipends $25x4; door prizes $50 (educational games, flashcards, books); snacks $50 “Are You Ready?” DVD Family Connections staff (intro Kickoff to Kindergarten program)
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Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Kindergarten Orientation Help parents prepare for kindergarten May 24 Parents 1 hour orientation (English & Spanish) followed by ½ hour classroom tours Parents were provided with info about: how to prepare preschoolers for kinder (skills to practice, basic knowledge, self-‐care needs); how to reduce anxiety, support student from home, good home routines. Also info on logistics (emergency cards, first day, uniforms, Family Support Center, volunteering). Hoover Amanda Rothengast, Principal
[email protected] 3 Kinder teachers, Vice-‐Principal Teacher stipends (3 x$165=495) Handout of information
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used
Ice Cream Social Welcome/build relationships with children & families; Complete paperwork, receive work materials Week prior to school start (1 hr.) Incoming Kindergartners and parents Meet their teacher and classmates, complete paperwork, enjoy ice cream sundaes, receive take-‐home packet with laminated sheet of letters, numbers, shapes and colors and area to practice writing name; crayons, scissors, pencil, journal and name plate. Fair Oaks Lupe Guzman, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teachers Teacher stipend, sundae supplies, packet materials
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Homework Kit Provide materials for parents to work with child at home First week of school Parents Kits included: crayons, paper, child scissors, numbers, alphabet. Teachers gave to parents at pick-‐up time, encouraging family involvement. Garfield Patricia Ortiz, Community School Coordinator
[email protected] Kinder teachers $670 Teacher time
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Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Parent orientation/education meeting Engage parents in new kindergartners’ learning Third week of school Parents Parent meeting about how we teach reading, writing and math, and how parents can best support their kindergartner’s learning of basic skills at home. Packet of materials (see photo) provided for parents to work with child. Orion Cathy Okubo, Principal
[email protected] Kindergarten teachers Take-‐home materials for parents to support child’s learning at home Teacher time
Orion take-‐home materials
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Kindergarten Ice Cream Social Families getting to know each other and teachers Saturday afternoon, Sept., after school start Families Children & families connect/play with new school friends and their families Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] Kinder teachers Ice cream and drinks $200 Teacher time
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
Pajama Story Time Develop kindergarten families community; encouraging literacy activities End of October Families Children come in pajamas, with parents, for an evening of stories and songs with teachers in pajamas too! 53 families attended. Each child received a book to take home. 9
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] All 3 kinder teachers Funds for purchase of milk, cookies & take-‐home books Teacher time
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Holiday Happening Families having fun together December, just before winter break Families Families came for evening of holiday-‐ themed activities: stories, math activity, holiday craft and card, picture frame, snacks. Families rotated through at own pace with all 3 Kinder teachers facilitating. Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] All 3 kinder teachers Funds for purchase materials for all activities Teacher time
Hundreds Madness Family evening focused on Math February, after HUNDREDS DAY at school Children/Families Leading up to and on the 100th day of school, all 77 students participated in activities focusing on number 100 and ways to count and build it. That evening, the celebration continued as students shared their strategies and excitement with families; 48 attended. K teachers facilitated activities as families rotated through. Henry Ford Lynne Griffiths, Principal
[email protected] All 3 kinder teachers Funds for materials for activities Teacher time
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Preschool and Kindergarten/K-‐2nd Communication, Collaboration and Alignment Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Preschool-‐Kindergarten Transition Team PreK-‐K communication and alignment All year PreK and K teachers, also extended day programs and child care teachers Teachers met for several months to improve the transition experience for students. Visits to of each other’s classrooms, & meetings to share curricula, standards, expectations for children. Developed & implemented kinder readiness survey on all registered entering kindergartners (prior to new District-‐ wide one) attending any/no preschool. (Almost all returned.) Also: invited incoming kindergartners to Open House in May (to visit classrooms and meet teachers); held kindergarten orientations; invited all incoming kindergartners to school the week before school started to assess readiness (70 came of 90 registered) John Gill Josh Griffith, Principal,
[email protected] Kinder teachers, District & CDI preschool teachers, Principal Teacher stipends for 2 days of articulation meetings $2000 Principal’s time
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher Classroom Observation & Collaboration PreK-‐K communication and alignment January-‐March Teachers PreK and K teacher each take two mornings to visit each other’s classroom to better understand curriculum, English language learners and their families. Kinder teacher gets to know some of her future kinders and assess skill levels. Use of ‘readinga-‐z.com’ subscription to address large variation in reading levels of incoming K’s. Transition Team meets 3 times during year to plan activities Hawes Antonio Perez, Principal
[email protected] One preschool and one kindergarten teacher; Principal Substitute time for PreK & K teachers, $600; stipend for Transition Team meetings $150; $290 for “readinga-‐z.com” subscription & other materials Principal’s time for 3 Transition Team meetings
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description School Contact
Joint Professional Development: Vocabulary & Math Share common knowledge; build relationships October, 2011 Kinder and District Preschool Teachers EISS trainings: Vocabulary Development Strategies, and Meeting the Standards with Math Manipulatives Fair Oaks Lupe Guzman, Principal
[email protected] 11
Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Partners
Fair Oaks K and PreK teachers Reg. fees for 6 teachers $240; stipends @50=$300; parking $120. Total $660 Training offered by San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) Early Intervention for School Success (EISS)—SMCOE
Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources Activity Goal Time of Year Focus Description
School Contact Staff involved Resources used In-‐kind resources
Joint Professional Development: Science Share common knowledge; build relationships February 9, 2012 Kinder and Preschool Teachers CuriOdyssey Workshop: “Swoosh! Squeak! Swirl! Exciting Everyday Science” Thirty-‐one teachers participated in a very hands-‐on, fun 1.5 hour workshop with Karen Miel (
[email protected]). Teachers received certificates for Professional Development hours. N/A -‐-‐ Citywide Kristen Anderson,
[email protected] Private Preschool, District CDC and K teachers from various schools CuriOdyssey funded by Bridges To Success to provide training; refreshments provided by Redwood City Staff time (K. Anderson, Redwood City Child Care Coordinator)
Cross-‐grade classroom visits among PreK/TK/K Teachers PreK-‐K communication and alignment April-‐May 2013 (could be anytime during year) Teachers All Kindergarten, Transitional Kindergarten and Preschool teachers in District and community preschools were offered substitute reimbursement and contact information to facilitate cross-‐grade observation visits. A simple observation tool was used to document learning and evaluate the activity which was highly rated by all participants. Various Kristen Anderson,
[email protected] Eight private & District preschool, Transitional K and Kindergarten teachers Bridges to Success grant funds for substitute reimbursement to release teachers Staff time (K. Anderson, Redwood City Child Care Coordinator) to identify and match teacher visitors/hosts.
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