Kindergarten Readiness: A Progress Report A project begun by:
What is the Best Beginnings Council? • Who is on the Ready Children Workgroup? – Head Start – Billings Public Schools – HRDC – Early Head Start – The Center for Children & Families – United Way – And more… (child care centers, community groups)
Background • Community Perspective • State Perspective • Federal Perspective
Community Perspective • Best Beginnings Work group members felt strongly that Kindergarten Readiness should be a priority for our community. • Anecdotal stories from principals and Kindergarten teachers speak to the need for more readiness skills.
State Perspective • We discovered work has started on this topic at the state level! • http://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/hcsd/docume nts/ChildCare/BBAC/MeetingInformation/201 6June/BBACAssessmentWorkGroupUpdate.pd f • Support programs like: Graduation Matters! Attendance Matters! In Montana
Federal Perspective • A National Priority for the last decade or more has shown a marked increase in state funded Pre-K. This has been driven by a desire to improve school success across the USA.
So, we got started! • First we created a logo:
• And a Readiness Checklist:
We asked ourselves some key questions: • If the goal is to better prepare children in Yellowstone Country for school success, who should this information be geared toward? • How should we deliver the information? • What do parents and child care providers want? • What do Kindergarten teachers want?
Who should this information be geared toward? • Parents • Child Care Providers • Community members • Pediatricians
How should we deliver the information? • In an in-person class format • Other ideas? – Apps – online course (accessible easily to parents) – 2 versions… one for families one for providers? – FREE – Child care?
What do parents and child care providers want? • Easy delivery method • Do-able (cheap, convenient) activities • Prompts/reminders
What do Kindergarten teachers want? • Social and Emotional competence • Some academic readiness • Family support in the school experience
So what have we come up with so far?
What will the curriculum include? • Video • Activities (hands on in class) • Activities to do at home/at child care (handouts) • Links for resources/ideas • Apps for reminders/hints for success
So let’s hear from some local experts! • What Billings Kindergarten teachers have to say about Academic readiness!
Examples of Academic Activities • Counting, sorting, organizing • Describing (vocabulary) • Measuring, comparing • READING READING https://www.facebook.com/sandi.klingler.3/videos/vb.100000508380697/320568 747970069/?type=2&theater
Ready to Read Montana http://ready2readmontana.org/R2R-flash-main.html
Ready to Read Montana http://ready2readmontana.org/R2R- flash-main.html • Example Texts:
Sample/Demonstration • Born Learning Trail Born Learning Trail https://youtu.be/vWamqFccJ6k
Another App! http://www.joinvroom.org/
Sample from another teacher:
Social Emotional Readiness • What Kindergarten Teachers have to say:
Sample Activities • Give your child warnings before transitions. If they know what’s expected, they’ll be more likely to comply without upset. • Link to a video about waiting that parents can watch with their children, and talk about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWwP0bY0PUg • Print out emotions faces and talk about one each day. “How do you think he/she is feeling? What if your friend/sister made that face? How could you help/join in?” • https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280 &bih=838&q=emotions+children&oq=emotions+children&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i8i30l8.4965 .7514.0.8010.17.17.0.0.0.0.127.1400.14j3.17.0..2..0...1.1.64.img..0.17.1391.hRNJjb5aFjs
Understanding the importance of routines/schedules
Skill Building for Success
Examples • Stringing • Squeezing playdough • Using writing tools daily • Using paintbrushes at least weekly • Pouring • Opening containers • Peeling fruit • Setting the table • Dressing and undressing
Providers: what sorts of suggestions do you have?
Thank You!
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