Nuts and Bolts for Transitional Kindergarten: Preparing Our Youngest Students to Succeed in Kindergarten

1. Nuts and Bolts for Transitional Kindergarten:Preparing Our Youngest Students toSucceed in Kindergarten Washington School Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District Mrs. Shirley Esau, Principal

2. Charter district for 16 years. • ADA 2300 • Grades TK-8 • 6 school sites all grade specific Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District

3. Washington School

4. Transitional Kindergarten Rationale

5. “ The implementation of a recent reform of kindergarten education policy gives California a significant opportunity to expand access to kindergarten readiness. The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 creates transitional kindergarten, the first year of a two year experience for students born between September and December. A Blueprint for Great Schools – Superintendent Torklason

6. The bill changes the required birthday for kindergarten admission to : • November 1 for the 2012-13 school year. • October 1 for the 2013-14 school year. • September 1 for the 2014-15 school year, Synopsis of SB 1381

7. 2011-12 – All TK students 2012-13 – TK students not born in Nov. or Dec. 2013-14 – TK students not born in Oct., Nov., or Dec. 2014-15 – TK students not born in Sept., Oct., Nov., or Dec. Continuance Form Usage for Transitional Kindergarten Students

8. Activity A student registers for kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year. What do you need to do? Can the student go to kindergarten or must they go to transitional kindergarten? The student’s fifth birth date is Nov. 13? What if the student’s fifth birth date was Sept. 2? What if the student’s fifth birth date is June 30?

9. Communication

10. Kingsburg Preschool Network 10

11. School Site Timeline

12. School Site Timeline

13. Funding Sources 13

14. Find the Entrance to Kindergarten Policy Change the dates Add the paragraph about Transitional Kindergarten from SB 1381 Or wait until CSBA has a new policy template. Board Policy

15.  Age of Admission • Proof of age shall be required of all enrolling students. The legal evidences of age, in order of desirability, are a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, immigration certificate, Bible record, or affidavit from the parent/guardian. • Entry to Traditional Kindergarten • A child who will reach the age of five on or before September 1 of the school year shall be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten at the beginning of that school year or at any later time in the same year. (Education Code 48000) • Entry to Transitional Kindergarten • A child who will reach the age of five between September 2 and December 2 will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten, a two-year kindergarten program. Transitional Kindergarten means the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. (Education Code 48000) • Early Entry to Kindergarten • A child who becomes five years old after September 2 may be admitted into kindergarten, or Transitional Kindergarten, with parental approval, at any time after his/her fifth birthday during the school year when the Superintendent or designee determines on a case-by-case basis that such admittance is in the child's best interests. • The Superintendent or designee shall provide parents/guardians with information as to the effects, advantages and disadvantages of early entry into kindergarten. (Education Code 48000) • AR 5111(b) • Classroom space must be available, and the class size cap specified in certificated negotiated agreements may not be exceeded. • (cf. 5123 - Promotion/Acceleration/Retention) • KINGSBURG ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT • Kingsburg, California • Regulation Approved: May 7, 1992 • First Reading: July 18, 2011 • Regulation Approved: August 22, 2011 Students Admission AR 5111(a)

16. Mrs. Ying Lee - Pioneering Teacher • .

17. Mrs. Mana Transitional K teacher • Teaching one on one with EL to help him understand small, medium and large.

18. Daily Schedule 8:10 – 8:25 Opening 8:25 – 9:50 Language Arts 9:50 – 10:10 Recess 10:10 – 10:20 Calendar 10:20 – 10:55 Math 10:55 – 11:20 Lunch 11:20 – 11:40 Math (reteach) 11:40 – 11:55 PALS 11:55 – 12:30 Recess 12:30 – 1:00 Writing/Science/Social Studies 1:00 – 1:30 Centers/Reteach 1:30 – 1:40 Pack up

19. Assessments

21. Using what resources we have for kindergarten and modifying it to be developmentally appropriate. Curriculum Preschool Foundations California Common Core Standards

22. Environment

24. Instructional Focus for English Language Arts and English Language Development Early Literacy and Pre-reading Skills Phonemic awareness Oral language development

25. Instructional Focus for Mathematics Number sense

26. Developmental Instructional Strategies Kinesthetic activities - physical phonics - tapping out sounds - I Can Spell mat Learning through music/songs - Songs/Chants - rhyming rhythm - Greg and Steve: Listen and Move used for teaching action words - using musical terms to teach reading Puppets - phonemic awareness - story telling (literature, math)

27. Instructional Strategies Hands on - Handwriting Without Tears - Touch Math - AIMS Realia - vocabulary building - oral language - phonemic awareness

28. Centers for Exploration and Oral Language Development Science – making and recording observations ABC center Listening center Math center Puppet/Dramatic Play Word work Computer Bring a balance between teacher directed and child directed learning.

29. Transitional KindergartenPre-K Assessment Results 2010-12

30. Success Indicators Transitional KindergartenDIBELS Benchmark 1 (Sept.) and 2 (Jan) and 3 (May)

31. DRA Jan – May 2010-11

32. Options: All students spread through out the kindergarten classes or district Looping Move by cohort Kingsburg moved by cohort Year 2 Transitional KidnergartenT

33. Options: All students are spread through the school in K. Looping Cohort movement Year Two TK

34. On track for success

35. Challenges Communicating that this is the law with new entry dates for kindergarten. Communicating clearly how SB 1381 provides for Transitional kindergarten. Communicating that it is a two year kindergarten program that gives the children a gift of time to be successful in school and build a solid academic foundation. 35

36. Successes Selecting qualified teachers that are willing to be pioneers with high expectations, but mindful of child development pedagogy. Parent support, involvement, approval, and advocacy.

37. Successes Students achieving socially, physically, cognitively and excited about attending school. Seeing children benefit from this gift of time. 37

38. Work with the preschools and child care providers that feed into the school. Help them understand Transitional Kindergarten. Communicate, communicate, communicate with everyone. Then communicate more! Be willing to take a risk to do what is right for children. Be an advocate for our children. Most important lesson learned this year

39. All district must provide Transitional Kindergarten for students with November birthdates. Parents need to be informed of the changing dates and district policy. What needs to happen by 2012-13?

40. Success – The gift of time SB 1381 “

41. Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District Website www.kingsburg-elem.k12.ca.us Washington School Transitional Kindergarten www.tkcalifornia.org Email:sesau@kingsburg-elem.k12.ca.us