Kindergarten teachers embrace newcomers
Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, July 29, 2011
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Scenes from Kindergarten Kickoff at Yates Elementary ...
Youngsters soak up lots of individual attention during the annual Kindergarten Kickoff activities in Fayette County Public Schools. They get to show off what they know and take home a goody bag, too.
“We want the children to feel comfortable being here,” said Anita Ault, a veteran teacher at Yates.
All the elementary schools host two days of informal orientations that promote a positive transition into kindergarten and begin to build rapport. Some families signed up for July 29; others for Aug. 1.
“Children come in and are assessed with a teacher for about 30 minutes. Some schools give tours, most schools have families start to fill out paperwork, and there’s someone there to answer questions,” said Whitney Stevenson, the district’s early childhood gap intervention specialist. “It’s a great way to get children into the building. They get to meet school staff and see other children.”
Families also pick up classroom supply lists and bus tags, learn about after-school care options and sign up to volunteer at the school if they’d like.
Friday at Yates, everything went smoothly as parents filed in with kids in tow. Whether timid or outgoing, each child left feeling special. Their families also expressed relief and appreciation.
“This is a good way to start out the year. At the beginning, there’s a lot going on,” said Jasmine Phipps, who took the opportunity to complete a few school forms in a quiet classroom before the first-day-of-school whirlwind.
At a nearby table, Jamie Smith waited for her older son. She also thought the kickoff was good for the children.
“It gets them excited about going to school and knowing what to expect,” she said.
Their youngsters spent a half-hour demonstrating their knowledge and abilities. For instance, the “learning checks” pinpoint who knows their colors and shapes, who can count to 20, who can write his name and who recognizes rhyming patterns, among other literacy and math concepts.
“We gather information on children so teachers know from the start where to individualize instruction,” Stevenson explained.
Yates parent Michelle Montoya, who also has a second-grader, said the screening enables the school to group kindergarteners for everyone’s benefit.
“They get to spread the kids across the three teachers, and it helps the kids, too, because they learn from each other,” she said.
Since Yates used its kindergarten classrooms for kickoff activities, the children will be familiar with the tiny desks and storage cubbies come Aug. 11. In the meantime, Stevenson suggested all FCPS families can continue to prepare their kids by reading books about school, driving by to see their building and dropping by the playground, and talking up how much fun they’ll have with new friends.
Kindergarten in FCPS
Any child who turns 5 on or before Oct. 1 is eligible for full-day kindergarten. School starts Thursday Aug. 11.