Hillside School Full Day Kindergarten ProposalMarch 3, 2014

Allendale Board of Education Meeting

Full Day Kindergarten Rationale The demands of the new core curriculum content standards are

rigorous and comprehensive. Fulfilling the needs of these new standards is challenging within the confines of a 2.5 hour day (exclusive of specials). A full day option affords deeper instructional time that could propel our students to higher achievement.

We are the remaining elementary school in the Quad District that sustains a half-day kindergarten program, yet we are accountable for the same curricula requirements.

Full Day Kindergarten Rationale Approximately 17% of our present first grade students are new to

Hillside School. These new students are more likely to be in need of academic and or social/emotional support, including Basic Skills Instruction (BSI) and/or social skills training. We have very little data on this new population; therefore it makes the first grade transition more complex. More time in kindergarten would afford us with richer student data.

Approximately 55% of our current kindergarteners attend a private kindergarten placement, in addition to the half-day session they attend at Hillside. Often times, the instruction and methodologies in these private placements are not aligned with our curriculum and core content standards.

Full Day Kindergarten Rationale The transition to a full day schedule for first graders can take up to

six weeks. If our students were afforded more time at Hillside, beginning in kindergarten, this transition process would be minimized and first grade teachers could begin small group instruction in a timelier manner.

Students who are delayed cognitively, physically socially and/or emotionally benefit from having more time to obtain support and to practice skills in the areas of delay.

Teachers can individualize and personalize instruction better if they have their students for twice the time.

A full-day provides for more of a balance of cognitive activities and affective/social activities.

Analysis of Bergen County School Districts

2008 2012 2014

Half Day Programs 20 14 7

Full Day Programs 47 53 57

Proposed Full Day Schedule

MondayFull Day for All Students

TuesdayFull Day for Group A

WednesdayFull Day for Group B

ThursdayFull Day for Group A

FridayFull Day for Group B

  MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

8:45-12:15

ALL STUDENTS

 

ALL STUDENTS

ALL STUDENTS

ALL STUDENTS

ALL STUDENTS

12:15-3:00 GROUP A GROUP B GROUP A GROUP B

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday8:45-9:15 Meet and Greet/ Sharing Circle/ Star News/ Morning Message9:15-9:30 Shared and Interactive Reading9:30-10:00 Word Study/Phonics

10:00-10:30 Specials (i.e.: physical education)10:30-10:45 Snack10:45-11:15 Reader’s Workshop

11:15-12:00 Mathematics

12:00-12:15 Math Centers12:15-12:20 Math Centers Group B Dismissal Group A Dismissal Group B Dismissal Group A Dismissal 12:20-12:40 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch12:40-1:00 Recess Recess Recess Recess Recess

1:00-1:40 Reading BuddiesGuided Reading

GroupsLiteracy Centers

Guided Reading Groups

Literacy Centers

Guided Reading Groups

Literacy Centers

Guided Reading Groups

Literacy Centers

1:40-2:00 Social Studies/Science

Social Studies/Science

Social Studies/Science

Social Studies/Science

Social Studies/Science

2:00-2:40 Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop

2:40-3:00 Small Group Differentiation

Small Group Differentiation

Small Group Differentiation

Small Group Differentiation

Small Group Differentiation

3:00 Dismissal Dismissal Dismissal Dismissal Dismissal

Questions?Thank you for your consideration.