Transitional Kindergarten Curriculum

Southern California Kindergarten ConferenceMarch 20131

TK – Collaboration Is KeySCKC – March 2013 Judy Crenshaw judycrenshaw@roadrunner.com retiredfrom Pleasant Valley School District in Ventura County Ada Hand adajhand@gmail.com retired from CADepartment of Education & former K teacher in SonomaCounty Debra Weller dwteller@cox.net TK teacher fromCapistrano USD2

Kindergarten Readiness ActOverviewLaw was passed in 2010 with two years to get ready. Nov 1 of 2012‐13 school year Oct 1 of 2013‐14 school year Sep 1 of 2014‐15 school year and each year thereafter If a district elects to enroll children prior to theireligibility, they may not claim ADA until the child turns 5.These children must have a Continuation Form on file.3

Overview, con’t In 2012‐13, districts are required to offer TKP for age‐eligible children, being reimbursed by ADA. The program must be age & developmentallyappropriate. Parents are not required to enroll their age‐eligiblechildren in TKP, but these children will not be age‐eligiblefor K until the following school year.4

Overview,con’tImplementation varies with some districts offering: PreK‐TK combo classes TK‐K combo Separate TK – may have children from one school orseveral Varied class size & with early/late bird schedules No TK at all – districts claim parents haven’t wanted it Doing all at once – Sep‐Oct‐Nov birthdates in 2012‐135

Transitional KindergartenCurriculumSan Juan Capistrano School DistrictDebra Weller6

Bathgate Elementary, Mission Viejo, CA I have 34 children, no aides, an early bird/late owlschedule. There are 3 TK teachers in our district. We are using Dr. Debbi Keeler’s curriculum found atwww.californiakindergartenassociation.org We meet on the first Tues. of each month to plan forthe next month. We share our ideas through Edmodo, TransitionalKindergarten CUSD The curriculum evolves every day. We use Math TheirWay, Weekly Reader and MESS for science.7

Daily Schedule The Early Birds arrive at 8:15 and dismiss at 12:08 The Late Owls arrive at 9:45 and dismiss at 1:38 The overlap time, when all 34 are in the room at thesame time, is 103 minutes total. The children have a 30 minute recess at 10:20 and thisis my duty free time. On Wed. all children come from 8:15‐12:08. It is a staffdevelopment or grade level meeting day. We go to the school library on Wed. for a half hour.8

Classroom EnvironmentCalendarLiteracy Center9

Classroom EnvironmentColor Coded CubbiesTeacher Work Supplies10

Classroom EnvironmentPlayhousePuppet Theater11

Classroom EnvironmentWriting and ListeningCenterLibrary and Writing Center12

Classroom EnvironmentEasel and Art AreaMath Bins13

Tools for OrganizationSnack BasketsWater and Sanitizer Station14

Tools for OrganizationPhoto Name CardsChoosing Sticks15

Transitional KindergartenCurriculumPleasant Valley School DistrictCreated by:Judy Crenshaw and Sharon HaradaAugust 201216

Curriculum Guidelines Has to be in the head and the heart before it canbe in the brain Active learning (kids are involved through singingand movement) Learning has to be meaningful (has to make sense tothem) Curriculum should be thematic (kids mush it alltogether) Environment supportive of talking (broad richvocabulary makes strong readers)17

Preschool Foundations andCommon Core State Standards18

Backwards MappingPreschool Learning Foundations are the BRIDGEto Kindergarten Around 48 months of age (end of first year of preschool) Around 60 months of age (end of second year of preschool) Describes learning situations and development and skilllearning with appropriate supportCommon Core State Standards Kindergarten Describes educational goals for children to becomeconstructive classroom citizens19

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Designing Curriculum Began with themes that coordinated with district‐adopted Language Arts Curriculum monthly 3‐4week cycle Allowed TK teachers to be able to plan withKindergarten team at schools Attention given to Williams Act – guarantees eachstudent have access to adopted curriculum Designed units of study with active involvement,movement, and relationships at the core21

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Assessment ToolsESGI – Also used in Kindergarten24

Report CardUsing Kindergarten Standards‐Based Report Card Transitional Kindergarten is the first of a two yearkindergarten program. The marks below are ratings todescribe how well the student is making progress towardsmeeting the end of kindergarten standards. Strength: On Target:Weakness:‐proficiencyxStrong progress toward meeting kindergarten proficiencyDeveloping skills toward meeting kindergarten proficiencyLittle development towards meeting kindergartenNot addressed this reporting period25

September Themes‐ Understanding of Self, The Five Senses, bodyparts, emotions, using tools in the classroom, making new friendsand rules.Using and sharingFree Choicemath bins26

September27

Journal WritingMondays we meet in a circle to passthe Story Stick. Only the childholding the stick gets to speak & allothers are respectful listeners. This isa good way to practice oral language.The children talk about theirweekend activities.I model writing & sounding outwords. I play classical music toremind children not to talk. Theywrite in their journals and draw apicture to match the words.Journals go home once a month witha writing rubric to help parentsunderstand progress and goals.28

October Themes‐ My family and Pets, Five Senses,Sorting by shape and color29

Classroom ChangesThe first six week boot camp. Noparents were allowed into the room.Good‐byes were said at the door.Children were taught to beautonomous.A monthly Home Activity Folder wasexplained at Back to School Night.Parent Volunteers help at small groupcenters, overlap time and library. 14parents signed up. Room Parents wereselected and a class directory was made.We met with our 5th grade buddies forthe first time.I started assessments.The TK team had a release day todevelop a TK report card.30

Science ThemeSensory StationSense of Touch31

Centers are on Tuesday and Thursday‐ I teach readingand phoneme awareness. The parents teach science,social studies, math and art centers.Math Sorting by colorLiteracy Center32

Family ThemeOur FamiliesFamily Picture Sort33

October ArtPainting PumpkinsPumpkin Patch Mural34

Project LearningFamily Project WallSorting Salty and Sweet food35

Encouraging LiteracyBabies BookLoving Library Books36

Science Theme‐ BonesThinking Map on BonesDog Bone Printing37

NovemberWe had parent conferences.It was nice to be able toencourage parents to helptheir children at home. Ishowed them interactivelearning games to play.The Themes for Novemberwere:My Home‐ We studied abouttypes of homes, what objectsare in a home and patterns.We learned about havingcompassion for our friends.38

Science ThemeWe learned about leaveschanging colorsTissue Collage39

Social StudiesPilgrim Children34 birthdays in November!40

Native AmericansDrawing what we knowWeaving41

Seasonal Art WorkEvery month we make a hand printmemory book pageTurkey hats42

Studying NatureStudying leavesTracing and drawing leaves43

MathMaking and copyingpatternsLeaf Patterns44

Learning about SeasonsSeason Picture SortDrawing about Seasons45

DecemberThe theme for December wasFamily Celebrations.We also studied about differentkinds of trees and how animalsprepare for winter.We practiced counting andwriting numbers to 10.The alphabet and phonemicawareness is ongoing.The families were invited toshare holiday traditions.We had a parent/child readingmorning and the children sangsome holiday songs.46

ScienceStructure of treesNocturnal Animals47

Holiday ProjectsEasel PaintingDesigning Thank you notes48

Class ActivitiesBecoming number expertsBalancing like a squirrel49

How do animals preparefor winter?Watercolor resist squirrelsSquirrel Mural50

Class ActivitiesReindeer hatsElf hats51

Assessments and Report Cards‐ We had a releaseday to develop the report card. We havedeveloped grade level assessments.1st Trimester2nd Trimester3rd TrimesterLANGUAGE AND LITERACYResponds to one and two step oral commandsSpeaks clearly to be understoodby othersSOCIAL/EMOTIONAL1st Trimester2nd Trimester3rd TrimesterUses descriptiveand vocabularyDisplayslanguageimpulse controland self‐regulationExpresses emotions in an appropriate ognitionsharesothersParticipates positively in group settingsAlphabet knowledge: lower case recognitionEngages in meaningful relationships with adultsAlphabet knowledge: letter soundsWrites letters and draws pictures to communicate conceptsWrites own name legiblyDisplays comprehension regarding key components of text52

ProjectsMaking a shopping listPoinsettias fromdiamond sponges53

Coming attractions: February Themes‐ Friendship, kindness, manners,sorting words by initial consonant sounds,introduction to high frequency words, healthy heartsand dental care. March Themes‐My community, story sequences,study of teen numbers, changes to plants and animalsin the spring season, changes in daylight and nighttime. April Themes‐My Land, taking care of theenvironment, animals of land, air, and sea, introducestory problems for simple addition and subtraction.54

Coming Attractions: May Themes‐ My world, making connections withdiverse cultures, traditions, housing, types of ethnicfood, high frequency word play, measurement June Themes‐ Traveling in my world, study oftransportation, how wheels work, use of maps We are constantly looking at the curriculum andevaluating how the children are responding andletting the children guide us to determine what isworking for their needs.55

The Most Important Components We are striving to make this child centered anddevelopmentally appropriate. We do not have a lot of required constraints. Music and Art are valued as critical to development. Science and Math are doorways to critical thinking. Opportunities for oral language are given freely andplanned. Choice and free play are encouraged. Fine and Gross motor activities are critical.56

2013‐2014 School Year We will add 3 new classrooms. Parent informationnights and registration began in Feb. The 3 teachers will be training the new TK teachers. Now we have a road map!! The District will need to comply with the WilliamsAct in providing materials for the students andoutfitting the classrooms. The sharing of resources through CKA andwww.tkcalifornia.org has been so helpful.57

What Have I Learned? Be joyful!! The whole class of 4 years olds is not a challenge ifyou spend the first 6 weeks in boot camp! Parents are essential to a success equation. Be brave to change a lesson in the midst. It is OK to slow down and not feel like you have adeadline to cram information into the children. When in doubt say the magic words: “Choice Time!!!”58

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Transitional Kindergarten is the first of a two year kindergarten program. The marks below are ratings to describe how well the student is making progress towards meeting the end of kindergarten standards. Strength: Strong progress toward meeti