Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is an optional program that is designed to be a bridge between preschool and Kindergarten that uses a curriculum that is both age and developmentally appropriate. The curriculum for TK is a blend of the Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Kindergarten Standards. A child is eligible for the TK program if their 5th birthday lands between September 2nd and December 2nd.

The Transitional Kindergarten program is intended to give young learners an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that supports each child’s academic and social needs. Academic learning in TK is supported by a curriculum that focuses on math, literacy, language development, science and social studies. A main focus within literacy is to help children develop phonological awareness (the sounds that letters make) in order to prepare them for reading as well as writing. Mathematics in TK is designed to help children develop mathematical reasoning skills as well as early number sense.

Beyond academic learning, a key focus of Transitional Kindergarten is social-emotional growth. In a TK environment child will learn how to identify/manage emotions, focus attention, initiate cooperative play with peers, resolve social conflict, follow agreed upon rules, and meet classroom expectations. Children will also learn how to work in both independent and cooperative settings while developing a sense of self confidence.

Kindergarten is an essential year for children for them to learn, develop, and grow both academically and socially. Over the course of the school year, children develop primary skills that help form the foundations of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and social-emotional growth. The curriculum is based on the California Common Core Kindergarten Standards; it integrates all content areas, with a strong emphasis in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In the classroom each child is recognized as an individual in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles, and to ensure that the needs of all children are being met. Learning in Kindergarten is very hands-on. Young children learn best when they are actively engaged with materials and presented with experiences that have meaning and relevance to their own lives. A variety of classroom materials allow children to show their thinking in different ways, problem-solve, think critically, share, and create through a hands-on approach. Children learn best amongst a community of learners, in a loving and safe environment, which is a main goal for our teacher each year. In addition, families play an important role in a child’s education, and the partnership between our teacher and parents working as a team is important for a child's social and academic growth.

Overview of Learning Goals for Kindergarten:

English Language Arts:

• Develop reading skills and habits that help children understand phonemic awareness (letter-sound relationship) and make meaning from text

• Develop writing skills and habits that allow children to write fluently, and understand written language use and conventions

• Demonstrate listening comprehension and ability to communicate feelings and ideas

Mathematics:

• Understand number concepts and develop early number sense

• Recognize and describe multi-dimensional shapes

• Collect data, sort, and classify objects

• Recognize, describe, create, and extend patterns

• Represent quantities with objects, pictures, graphs, and words

Social-Emotional Growth:

• Develop skills in conflict resolution

• Recognize, understand, and manage emotions

• Respect and work cooperatively with peers and teachers

• Demonstrate independence, focus, and organizational skills

• Be able to listen and follow directions

• Develop confidence and maintain a positive self-image

Submitted and Prepared by:

Ms. Delaney Sullivan, Teacher at Vista De Las Cruces