It’s only Pre-K!!! If I only had a nickel for every time I heard that phrase! Many times parents and community members, and even teachers of older grades, fail to see the importance of what our Pre-K teachers accomplish on a daily basis. The students who come through our program are more likely to succeed at the top of their class than students who do not attend a high quality Pre- K program. Our program offers students a full day of instruction by certified teachers, and there is an assistant teacher assigned to every classroom, full time. We have a state approved curriculum that we use along with supplemental materials, science experiments, and real life experiences such as field trips. State attendance laws go into effect as soon as a parent voluntarily enrolls their child in Pre-K. That means that getting Pre- K students to school every day on time is just as important as it is for a third grader, an eighth grader, or a high school senior. Our students receive so much more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. They receive love and nurturing from their teachers so that they in turn learn to love and nurture others around them, including their peers. They are greeted at the classroom door each morning by their teacher who lets each child choose how they want to be greeted that day. They might select a hug, a high five, a pinky hug, etc. They leave the classroom at the end of the day with a hug, and “I love you”, and “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow” from their teachers. They are taught how to self-regulate their emotions, good and bad, in order to gain their own composure and be able to rejoin the class on their own. This helps them identify their emotions and learn how to deal with anger, upset, sadness, excitement, etc. appropriately. They learn that all emotions are normal and ok to have. However, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to deal with one’s emotions. Our students learn the meaning of family and community in the classroom through “I love you” rituals and connection songs. They learn that each and every one of them matter, are a valuable part of the class, and are missed when they aren’t at school. Absent students are placed in the hearts of the other students in the classroom, and they wish the absent student well. Upon their return, the absent student receives a butterfly kiss wherever they choose to show how happy their peers and teachers are that they are back. This helps them learn empathy and love for others. Students learn that it’s ok to make mistakesand take chances in their learning because they trust their peers and teachers to not judge or make fun of them, and that their mistakes are part of life lessons. They play in centers and on the playground to help foster cooperation, competition, sympathy, sharing, how to praise peers, gross motor and fine motor skills, oral language skills, and most importantly, how to be a good friend to everyone. They learn life skills through dramatic play, read alouds, and acting. Play dough, crayons, lacing beads, tweezer games and Legos help strengthen the muscles in their hands so that they will be able to correctly hold a pencil and write. Students learn to love coming to school and to love learning within their classroom community, or family. We also teach students how to write their names, state their birthdays and addresses, how to count to 100, the letters and sounds of the alphabet and how to read. Through repetition, songs, movement, and games, most students pick up on academic skills very quickly, but we offer so much more than just academics. I have heard the phrase, “All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. However, it is my firm belief that our students learn all of their foundational life lessons for their own future success in Pre-K. It’s true… “It’s only Pre-K”, but look at what we teach!! For more about the critical importance of a Pre Kindergarten visit us at the postnewspaper.net or go directly to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6hHjVU18TM
