Ready Children + Ready Families + Ready Communities + Ready schools =
SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS
When children and schools are ready for each other, wonderful things can happen. Children and families feel valued and eager to learn, teachers are able to work with children in developmentally appropriate ways and the community as a whole benefits. On average, children who experience positive transitions to school have improved educational success and stay in school longer than those who have negative transitions.
Since 1994, SB6 has been partnering with early childhood programs, community agencies and school districts in Mifflin and Juniata County’s to build a seamless transition for children and their
families to kindergarten.
SB6 has 2 transition groups; Terrific Transitions in Mifflin County and the Early Childhood Learning Cooperative in Juniata County. Below is the goals and activity plan for both county’s.
Goals:
»Improve the transition experience of young children entering kindergarten
»Increase family involvement in the learning process.
»Improve understanding of school readiness between early care and elementary school system.
Transitions Plan
The following is a time line of events for families who have children entering kindergarten that takes place the year prior to entering kindergarten.
August (year before going to kindergarten)
Getting Ready for Kindergarten calendars are distributed
September/October
Small Group Transition Team meets
January
Yellow Kindergarten Registration Folders are distributed
Small Group Transition Team meets
April/May
“Getting Acquainted” Station at kindergarten registration sites
Preschool children visit kindergarten classrooms
Preschool and Kindergarten teachers visit each others programs
“Getting Ready for School Night”- in Mifflin County
May
Small Group Transition Team meets
June/July/August
“Transition Packets” are mailed monthly in Mifflin and Juniata to families
August
Kindergarten Orientation
Parent Surveys
Resources (Available At Our Offices)
Helpful Hints for Transitions- distributed to families through SB6 and the early childhood programs.
Successful Kindergarten Transition by Robert Pianta and Marcia Kraft-Sayre.
Fun with Kindergarten- distributed to preschool classrooms, kindergarten libraries and classrooms.
Kindergarten, Here I Am!- Activity guide full of activities to complete during the kindergarten year.
Also, we are the point of contact for Pennsylvania's Promise for Children materials