Transitional Kindergarten Preparing Our Youngest Students to Succeed in Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten

Preparing Our Youngest Students toSucceed in Kindergarten

Welcome!

Introduce yourself to your table partners.

At your table, how many years experience do you have combined as pre-k/kinder teachers?

Write any questions that you hope will be answered today. (One question per post-it.)

Share what you love most about teaching kindergarten.

Today’s Outcomes

Understand the purpose behind TK

Learn about instructional expectations for TK students and resources to support instruction

Develop solutions to manage a split TK/K class that meets the needs of all students

Kindergarten Readiness

What skills (social and academic) should a child have to demonstrate kindergarten

readiness?

Kinder Readine

ss

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

An early childhood education program

Builds a bridge between preschool and traditional Kindergarten

Has a focus on literacy and numeracy along with strong emphasis on self-regulation and social engagement

Where does it come from?

Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010

Senate Bill No. 1381 amended to change the required birthday for admission to kindergarten and first grade and establish a Transitional Kindergarten program beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

Why SB 1381?

“Today’s kindergarten classroom is a much different place than most of us experienced.

We’re placing real academic demands on our kids, and the youngest are struggling to keep up.

The evidence shows that giving these younger kindergarteners an extra year can make a big difference in heir long-term success.”

- Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto)

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Kindergarten Entry Age

A child shall be admitted to kindergarten if the child will have his/her fifth birthday on or before…

For the 2011-12 school year the date is December 2nd

For the 2012-13 school year the date is November 1st

For the 2013-14 school year the date is October 1stFor the 2014-15 school year and each school year

thereafter the date is September 1st

Presented by Preschool California Page 6

The TK children come from your K student population

More specifics about TK

It is the first year of a two year kindergarten program.

It follows the full day schedule of Traditional kindergarten.

It is based on the California Kindergarten Common Core State Standards and California Content Standards.

It provides a modified kindergarten curriculum that is both age and developmentally appropriate.

Teaching and Learning in TK

Provides an opportunity to learn important academic and social skills in a hands-on way that supports their development.

Emphasis is placed on oral language skills and integrated experiences across the content areas.

Partner Share: Think about your past kindergarteners who struggled. If you had had more time to ensure their success in kindergarten, what might you have done differently?

The How: When teaching TK, consider DAP

Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Age appropriate

Individually appropriate

Culturally appropriate

The How: Meeting TK/K Needs

Groupings – small flexible groups

Shorter blocks of time

Intentional interest areas/centers

Flexibility of schedule

The How: Classroom Environment

Sets the stage for active and engaged learning

Warm, welcoming and inclusive of all students

Safe, organized, and has clear pathways for movement

Teacher and students learn from each other.

Teacher provides opportunities to facilitate conversations around interesting topics.

Teacher sets up the environment to engage interests.

TK Resources

Social Emotional Development

Language and Literacy

English Language Development

Mathematics

TK Resources

“…this framework presents strategies and information to enrich learning and development opportunities for all of California’s preschool children.”

Overarching Principles

• What point(s) did you find particularly striking and why?

• What connections did you make?

• What questions do you have?

BREAK

What is a TK modified curriculum based on?

PLF describes the knowledge and skills that all young children typically exhibit when attending a high-quality program at or around 48 and 60 months of age.

Kindergarten standards address grade level expectations regardless of age.

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The What: Foundations & Standards

The What:The Preschool Learning Foundations

Volume 1Social Emotional

Language and Literacy

English Language Development

Mathematics

http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psframework.asp

The What:Dive in to the Foundations/Standards

The What:Dive in to the Foundations/Standards

Identify the differences between 48 months, 60 months, and K standards on your alignment doc.

The What:Designing Instruction for TK/K Combo

Consider how you might teach a whole group lesson meeting the needs of both TK and K.Keep in mind:•The Foundations/Standards•The Overarching Principles

The How: Preschool Curriculum Framework

After you have completed the handout, take a moment to read/skim through different features of the book to better understand what each component offers.

Learning Centers and Universal Access

“During play, children maximize their attention span... Play not only provides the context for thinking, building knowledge, being attentive, solving problems, and increasing social skills, it also helps children to integrate their emotional experiences and internalize guidance from their teachers.” Preschool Curriculum Framework, Overarching Priniciples

Interest Areas Centers

Library /Reading AreaListening AreaWriting AreaComputer AreaScience Discovery AreaMath AreaBlock AreaDramatic Play AreaSand and Water AreaArt/Painting Area

TK Classroom Field Trip

LUNCH

Raffle tickets will be awarded

for those who return on time.

Have a nice lunch.Thank you!

Learning Centers and Universal Access

With the use of the alignment document, consider how one learning center can support development of both the a Preschool Foundation skill and a Kindergarten Standard skill.

How am I supporting Language Development Opportunities and Social Skill Development?

Assessments

What is the purpose behind TK?

What is the role of assessments?

Assessments along with teacher observations will be used to monitor your child’s growth and progress throughout the year. Staff members will use this information to guide instruction, individualized to meet your child’s needs.

TK Student Assessments

CELDT – initial / PreLAS EspanolDIBELS Next – Print, save, and place assessment report

in CUMDistrict ELA K Constructive ResponseDistrict Math Quarterly AssessmentSchool selected assessmentsELD portfolioReport card – follow district reporting period

use the category dropdown comment, “Reflects enrollment in Transitional Kindergarten”

*Benchmark goals for TK have not been established

Enrollment

See REF-5777.1 Transitional Kindergarten Implementation

Parent Request Form

Kindergarten Continuance Form must be signed by a parent for a child to be considered a TK student

Put both forms in the child’s cum

TK/K Curriculum ResourcesSocial Emotional - Second StepLanguage Arts – K-Treasures

ELD – Treasures ELD and Into English (supplemental resource)

Mathematics - enVison CCSS Math, About Teaching Number Sense (Marilyn Burns), Developing Number Sense Book 1 (Kathy Richardson)

Science - FOSS KitsSocial Studies – Scott Foresman HSS or Harcourt

Reflections

Physical Development – SPARK/Nike Let Me PlayArt – Art Instructional Guide arts.lausd.net

A Recap of TK

Definition

Transitional Kindergarten

Facts

Examples of what instruction looks like

Non-Examples

TK/K Curriculum Resources

Visit the LAUSD – Transitional Kindergarten website

http://literacy.lausd.net/early-education/early-education

Raffle Time!

Thank you for your participation and for the outstanding work you do for children and their

families.