Transitional Kindergarten

1. Transitional Kindergarten Preparing Our Youngest Students toSucceed in Kindergarten

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Kindergarten Readiness What skills (social and academic) should a child have to demonstrate kindergarten readiness? Kinder Readiness

5. 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

6. 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.

7. “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) Why SB 1381?

8. 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 1st • For the 2014-15 school year and each school year thereafter the date is September 1st

9. Transitional Kindergarten Students The TK children come from your K student population Presented by Preschool California Page 6

10. 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.

11. 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?

12. The How:When teaching TK, consider DAP Developmentally Appropriate Practices Age appropriate Individually appropriate Culturally appropriate

13. The How: Meeting TK/K Needs • Groupings – small flexible groups • Shorter blocks of time • Intentional interest areas/centers • Flexibility of schedule

14. The How: Classroom Environment • Sets the stage for active and engaged learning • Warm, welcoming and inclusiveof all students • Safe, organized, and has clear pathways for movement

15. Teacher sets up the environment to engage interests. Teacher and students learn from each other. Teacher provides opportunities to facilitate conversations around interesting topics.

16. TK Resources Social Emotional Development Language and Literacy English Language Development Mathematics

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

18. Overarching Principles • What point(s) did you find particularly striking and why? • What connections did you make? • What questions do you have?

19. BREAK

20. What is a TK modified curriculum based on?

21. The What: Foundations & Standards PLF describes the knowledge and skills that all young children typically exhibit when attending a high-quality program at or around 48 and 60 monthsof age. Kindergarten standards address grade level expectations regardless of age.

22. The What:The Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 1 Social 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

23. The What:Dive in to the Foundations/Standards • Domain • Strand • Substrand #.0 • Foundation

24. The What:Dive in to the Foundations/Standards Identify the differences between 48 months, 60 months, and K standards on your alignment doc.

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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

28. Interest Areas Centers • Library /Reading Area • Listening Area • Writing Area • Computer Area • Science Discovery Area • Math Area • Block Area • Dramatic Play Area • Sand and Water Area • Art/Painting Area

29. TK Classroom Field Trip

30. LUNCH Raffle tickets will be awarded for those who return on time. Have a nice lunch. Thank you!

31. 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?

32. 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.

33. TK Student Assessments • CELDT – initial / PreLAS Espanol • DIBELS Next – Print, save, and place assessment report in CUM • District ELA K Constructive Response • District Math Quarterly Assessment • School selected assessments • ELD portfolio • Report card – follow district reporting perioduse the category dropdown comment, “Reflects enrollment in Transitional Kindergarten” *Benchmark goals for TK have not been established

34. 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

35. TK/K Curriculum Resources • Social Emotional - Second Step • Language 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 Kits • Social Studies – Scott Foresman HSS or Harcourt Reflections • Physical Development – SPARK/Nike Let Me Play • Art – Art Instructional Guide arts.lausd.net

36. A Recap of TK Facts Definition Transitional Kindergarten Non-Examples Examples of what instruction looks like

37. TK/K Curriculum Resources Visit the LAUSD – Transitional Kindergarten website http://literacy.lausd.net/early-education/early-education

38. Raffle Time! Thank you for your participation and for the outstanding work you do for children and their families.