kindergarten transition - easton area school district
TRANSCRIPT
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KindergartenTransition in the
Easton Area School District
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Welcome!
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Session Objectives• Learn about transition efforts in the Easton Area
School District—including history and current activities
• Showcase sample branding materials and data collection methods
• Discuss challenges to the work and ideas for sustainability
• Allow for group time to discuss transition in your own districts
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Group Thoughts• What do you hope to learn from this session?
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Our District• Approx. 9,000
Students• 1 High School• 1 Middle School (6-8)• 1 Alternative School• 7 Elementary Schools
(K-5) [3 Title I Schools]
• 2 Community Schools • 2 Head Start
Classrooms• 1 Pre-K Counts
Classroom• District Supports: Family Connection & Communities In Schools
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DemographicsDistrict-Wide:• 9,000 students• 46% Econ.
Disadvantaged• 4% ELL• 14% Special
Education
Paxinosa ES: • 700 Students• 83% Econ.
Disadvantaged• 13% ELL• 14% Special
Education
Cheston ES:• 550 Students• 77% Econ.
Disadvantaged• 8% ELL• 17% Special
Education
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Beginnings• Family Connection has targeted Kindergarten
Transition as one of its key areas of focus since 2009
• A needs assessment survey was conducted with Pre-K educators, Kindergarten teachers, and EASD administration
• This survey became the basis of the Kindergarten Transition Plan, which was developed by Family Connection in conjunction with several partners and approved by the EASD School Board in 2011
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Transition Plan• Main Goal: Create activities & align systems to
ensure a seamless transition for students and families from Pre-K or home to Kindergarten
• It is the driving document behind the creation of the Kindergarten Connection and transition activities
• Transition serves 2 distinct populations, each equally important in creating a successful transition program—Teachers and Students/Families
• It is Research Based and a “Living Document” allowing for assessment and re-assessment
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Transition PrioritiesOur three main priorities are:
Registration
Welcoming Environment
Professional Development
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Readiness vs. Welcome
• What does ‘readiness’ look like?• Are the students, parents, school/district, and communityready?
• Our goal is to welcome families even if they are not “ready”
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Relationships are the Key to Success
• KtO Partners: o Career Institute of Technology Tech Tykes, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, Spring
Garden Children’s Center, 3rd St. Alliance, YMCA
• Approximately 30 total Pre-Ks/Day Cares in Easton; variety of sizes and quality
• Grassroots development; Face-to-Face networking
• Project LEAP
• PTA Liaisons, local colleges, Easton Area Public Library, Easton Promise Neighborhood, Cops N’Kids…and more!
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Transition Activities in Easton
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Fall Festival• Used to promote spring registration• District-wide but in one location• Invite current kindergarten students as well as
incoming kindergarten• Fun event (Bingo/silent auction)
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Public Library Visits• “Learn the Library” Event
• Story Time
• Crafts or other activity
• Tour of library
• Parents Welcome
• Transportation arranged through EASD if needed for Pre-Ks
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Promotion of On-Time Kindergarten Registration
• Door Hangers• Fliers/Mailers• Banners• Website• “Hitting the Streets”• Intent to Register
Forms• Bike Raffles
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Branding & Outreach
• You’ve already seen Ready Rover LIVE!
• Baby Rover Logo• T-shirts, Bags, etc.• Social Media• Text Blasts through Google
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Readiness Backpacks• Given to children at Kindergarten Registration• Items with resources for use at home• Over 600 given
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Readiness Backpacks
o Finger puppetso Crayonso Scissorso Paper tabletso Play dougho Bookso Activity calendar
o Open ended questionso Conversation startero Note pinned to the outside
about next event
o Priority schools get regular backpack and string backpacks for other schools.
• Looked at developmental appropriate items and cost effective
• Be more creative independently• Some items included
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Bee Ready Sessions• Held only at Paxinosa & Cheston Schools• Series of 3 evenings after registration but before
summer to keep families engaged• Introduction to school and staff• Increase comfort & feel welcomed• Answer questions, create dialogue• Resources/Materials given
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Spring To Kindergarten
• Family events at every EASD elementary school• May include classroom time with Kindergarten
teachers, tours, information sharing, giveaways and popsicles on the playground
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Early Childhood Dialogues
• Transition topics presented to stakeholders• Over time because of the relevant of the topics
attendance has grown• Presenters have come from across the
educational spectrum
• We used surveys to obtain feedback to determine additional topics for these dialogues
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Reciprocal Visits
• Reciprocal Visits piloted in 2014-15
• Teachers are required to complete an observation form to assess their experience
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Data Collection• Parents and Pre-Ks complete surveys on incoming
Kindergarten students
• Collected and compiled by Family Connection; then given to Kindergarten teachers
• Surveys also conducted with Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers and administrators to assess program strengths & weaknesses
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Fine Tooth Committee• Purpose to revise old transition plan because
there was no balance between family/children/school district/community
• The plan will be reviewed and updated yearly
• Pilot testing• New plan is developmentally appropriate with
the balance between stakeholders
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Barriers to Transition in Easton
• Finding children not enrolled in a Pre-K• Buy-in from stakeholders• Changes in leadership at schools/Pre-K centers• Frequent changes in kindergarten staff• Funding availability• Time within the school year to accomplish goals
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Sustainability• Transition coordinator• Grant Writing• Advocacy/District support/Community support
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Questions & Wrap Up
Maryanne WestKindergarten Connections Coordinator
Family ConnectionsEmail: [email protected]