Pre-K crash course helpful

learning Six weeks can make of preschool a significant difference in a child’s ability to adapt to school. That is the key finding of a Cobb County “early kindergarten” program launched last year to give kids who might not have the opportunity to attend a pre-K class the skills that put them on an even keel with their peers who did. “We followed 19 students from last year and looked at qualitative and quanti- tative measures,” said Jennifer Lawson, the district’s chief academic officer. “For instance, we did a preliminary reading inventory to see where they started and ended. And we saw improvement, even on things that are harder to quantify, such as building self-confidence and being ready to make the transition to kindergarten on the first day.” The idea for a six-week, pre-K crash course grew from the concern students who don’t attend these classes are at a distinct disadvantage. “These could be students who had socio-economic or language barriers and limited early learning experiences,” said Lawson. “We were looking for opportunities to minimize some of those barriers and to make the transition to school as seamless as possible.” The summer session gives kids the chance to learn numbers and letters, and also helps them acclimate to the rhythm of school, said Lawson. “So when the first day starts, they’re in the full swing of learning when there are hundreds more children, different schedules and a new environment. It’s helpful to spend some time first in an environment that’s less chaotic.” The program launched at Belmont Hills Elementary in Smyrna, a school official identified as having a large number students reporting to kindergarten without any other school experience. It was widely advertised to incoming families, and the interest was high enough that this year, the program was held at Belmont Hills and nearby Norton Park. “We used email blasts and phone calls and talked to families who had younger siblings coming in,” said Belmont Hills Principal Ashley Campoli. “We posted it on social media and on our website to put it out there as much as we could. This year, we ran a kindergar- ten orientation in March, and we got a lot of sign-ups there as well.” Students spend the six weeks concentrating on academics, Campoli said. “Most of them don’t recog- nize letters or sounds, so we’re really starting from scratch. This gives them time to learn those skills in a quiet setting. And it also gives them first-hand exposure to things like picking up lunch, getting off the bus or raising their hands to speak.” Last year’s inaugural class was assigned to the same teacher and monitored throughout their kindergarten experience, and at the end of the year, the results showed all were performing on grade level. “We’ll continue to watch them through first and second grades,” said Lawson. “Then we’ll use that data and the experiences of the children, families and staff to look at expanding in the future.” Information about the Early Kindergarten program and Belmont Hills Elementary is online at cobbk12. org/BelmontHills.

CONTRIBUTED Students in Cobb County’s “early kindergarten” — a sixweek summer program — are introduced the basics of school in a small, less chaotic environment.