Building Connections between Preschool

1
Building Connections between Preschool
Kindergarten

• Lesa Schirmacher, Director
• Transition to Kindergarten Program

2
Learning Objectives

• Understanding about the benefits of joint
  training between PreK and Kindergarten teachers
• Ways to create bridges between PreK and
  Kindergarten teachers
• Shared experiences from Buncombe Countys
  Transition to Kindergarten Program

3
Transition to Kindergarten Program

• Funded By Smart Start
• Serve Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools
• Provide Services to Families, Elementary Schools
  and Preschools

4
Create Transition Team

• Create a community based transition to
  kindergarten team including
• Preschool Teachers, Directors
• Kindergarten Teachers, Principals
• Parents
• Community Partners
• (Ready Schools Team)

5
Joint Trainingfor PreK and K

• Promotes continuity of services, builds
  relationships, eliminates an us-versus-them
  mentality, and helps define the transition
  activities that will facilitate childrens entry
  into the new program (Bridging Early Services
  Transition Task Force, 1995b)

6
Bridges between PreK Kindergarten

• Newsletters
• Workshop Series
• Discussion board, website
• Training Opportunities
• Tour PreK and K classrooms
• Attend local and state conferences

7
Training Topics

• School Readiness
• Foundations, Ready Schools Initiative
• Classroom Practices
• Power of K, DAP, Assessments, Center-based
  instruction
• Transition Practices
• Terrific Transitions, SERVE

8
School Readiness

• Goals
• What is School Readiness?
• Overview of Foundations Early Learning Standards
  for NC Preschoolers
• Overview of NC Ready School Initiative
• Activities
• Kindergarten Readiness Survey
• Evaluate School Readiness Materials

9
(No Transcript)
10
Foundations NC Early Learning Document

• Guiding Principles
• Alignment with NC Standard Course Study
• Domains of Learning

11
Development of a Child
12
(No Transcript)
13
What is School Readiness?

• What do you think children should know before
  going to kindergarten?
• What do parents think their children should know
  before going to kindergarten?

14
Myths about school readiness

• Children must be able to recite their name and
  address
• Children must know the alphabet and numbers 1-30
• Children must ..

15
NC Ready School Initiative

• Definition of School Readiness
• Requirements for entry
• The only true requirement in North Carolina for
  kindergarten entry is that a child must be five
  years old on or before August 31 of the current
  year!

16
Who is ready for Kindergarten?

• According to NCs School Readiness Definition
• School readiness is a puzzle with two pieces
• The condition of children when they enter school
• The capacity of schools to educate all children

17
(No Transcript)
18
Classroom Practices

• Goals
• Create a seamless classroom environment for
  children as they move from PreK to K
• Overview of Power of K statement
• Assessment tools for the classroom
• Activities
• Lets Make it Work!
• PreK or K classroom?
• How PreK and K Children Spend their day
• Visit Checklist

19
(No Transcript)
20
Continuity

• Refers to the experiences children and families
  have as they move from one environment to the
  next. When the two environments are similar or
  compatible, the result is transitions that have
  been eased, supported, or smoothed (Terrific
  Transitions, SERVE)

21

• Develops teachers to
• Provide the environment and instruction conducive
  to childrens development in all areas
• Articulate and promote effective practice and
  foundational beliefs to others

November 16, 2009
21
November 16, 2009
21
22
How Pre K and Kindergarten children spend their
day
PreK
Kindergarten
November 16, 2009
22
23
Transition Practices

• Goals
• What is a year-long comprehensive transition to
  kindergarten plan
• Create a written transition plan
• Activities
• Areas to Address
• Intensity Scale
• Transition Assessment Worksheet
• How are we moving children?

24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
Transition Activities Target Connections
Educational Settings
Families
Early Education
Elementary School
Child
Community
Peers
27
(No Transcript)
28

• The following organizations have provided
  support, information and resources
• Haywood County Schools- Myra Watson
• McDowell Partnership for Children- Caroline
  Rodier
• Wake County Public Schools, Project
  Enlightenment- Deborah Connell
• Thank you for your commitment to young
  children and families!

29

• Lesa Schirmacher, Director
• [phone]
• lesa.schirmacher_at_bcsemail.org
• smartstart-buncombe.org