Transitional Kindergarten: Please Jump on This Bandwagon!

For several years now, I have listened to kindergarten teachers (including my wife) lament that students are not coming into kindergarten with the skills necessary for some/many to get to standard in a seamless way before first grade comes along. There are different scenarios that dictate some of these issues. One of them is the standards themselves are set at a high bar of rigor. I am not suggesting this to be wrong, just that the standards are set at a very high level. There are cases where some families are not engaging their young children with some of the pre-academics many of us were accustomed to when we were little. For instance, some children are not getting read to at home on a consistent basis. Letter and number games may not be happening as they were when many of us were young. Other factors also come into play with a growing number of single parent homes. Sometimes, single parents just do not have the energy to work with their children except to provide what they can for the family to survive. Again, I am not criticizing, just stating that society is different than it used to be. I too was a single parent for seven years and can empathize with folks out there working hard and providing for their children. There were times when my tank was on empty and I just needed to rest.

All that being said, a newer program has begun to crop up in elementary schools that is a tremendous answer to many of these issues. The million dollar answer is, (drum roll please) Transitional Kindergarten. If you know what this is, please bear with me as I will give a quick scenario of T.K. (As it has become to be known).

Transitional Kindergarten is a classroom set up for 4 year old students who will be kindergarten age the following year. The ones I am familiar with house approximately 15 students, give or take and offer a full day program for these students. I like to think of it sort of like a year long boot camp or preview to kindergarten. The students work on academic skills, including but not limited to colors, shapes, letters, numbers, writing their names and the all important social emotional skill sets. Much of the learning each day is set to play and or music and singing.

I have first hand knowledge of one of these programs because my wife, who has taught kindergarten in the past is now working as a T.K. teacher in one of our local school districts.The beauty of this program is the following. The spring before entering a classroom, the students are screened. Students who are deemed behind in their developmental skills and are in the serving area of this particular school qualify for the T.K. program for the following school year. It is set up as a full day, 180 day program.

Some might say a full day program for 4 year old children is too much. I would argue that they are capable to handling this amount of time if the program is structured in the correct way. If there are opportunities for resting times, the students are able to work through some of the potential crankiness and will make it quite well through a typical school day. Some days of course offer some struggle depending on a plethora of items but generally, the students thrive as well as learn.

Yes, what about the learning? Those young brains are ready to soak up knowledge like sponges. They come into the school year developmentally immature and 3 year old like and leave in June ready for kindergarten the following year. The data I have seen has been super positive in that the student's level of progression spans hugely throughout the school year. Those brain synapses are coming together at such a rapid pace and the information given to them sticks. They are ripe for this type of program. The students also generally have a pure joy for wanting to learn. The best part of the data comes from the kindergarten teachers. Once those students do hit kindergarten the following year, they are said to be the most ready students those kinder teachers have. Those voices speak volumes for Transitional Kindergarten programs!

As time moves along in our world of public education, I am hopeful this new-ish wave will be a proven deal breaker for school districts. I am hopeful all school districts will jump on this T.K. bandwagon and house at least one classroom in each elementary school. I feel this will completely support not only the future kindergarten teachers but more importantly, it will provide the skill sets for students to have a very successful kindergarten school year. If you ever have an opportunity to watch a pro T.K. teacher in action, I challenge you to do so- it will make your day a great one.