Educators Push Early Learning Plan

By Heather Woodward, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

Jan. 13–Some kindergartners have been exposed to as many as 5,000 books before they start school, Washington educators told lawmakers this week during a committee meeting. Others haven’t heard a single bedtime story.

“Kindergartners come in all shapes, sizes and ability levels,” said Christine Goode, a kindergarten teacher at Centennial Elementary in Olympia.

Making sure all Washington kindergartners show up at school ready to learn is expected to be a key focus during this year’s legislative session, with Gov. Chris Gregoire proposing to spend $178.7 million to improve early-learning programs. The move comes as less than half of Washington kindergartners — 44 percent — arrive ready to learn, according to a state survey of teachers.

The governor’s plan includes money to expand state preschool programs and to increase the rates the state pays for children in subsidized child care. The latter is a move intended to attract and retain quality child-care workers, her budget states.

Gregoire’s proposals also would pay for all-day kindergarten in 10 percent of Washington schools, focusing first on schools with high poverty levels. Right now, state money funds half-day kindergarten. However, some schools offer full-day options for which families pay tuition.

State Superintendent Terry Bergeson’s plan goes even further, calling for all-day kindergarten programs at all Washington schools within four years. Her 2007-09 budget would commit about $117.6 million toward that effort.

Full-day kindergarten can increase students’ school readiness, improve attendance and support literacy and language development, Bergeson said.

Goode taught half-day kindergarten until this year, when she switched to full-day. Some 5-year-olds aren’t ready to spend a full day at school, and others thrive in the program, she said.

“You really have to look at your own child,” Goode said at the meeting Wednesday. “I haven’t seen huge differences (in all-day kindergarten), except the kids that are struggling have a little bit more time to flesh out their lessons.”

To improve children’s school readiness, the Bellevue School District increasingly has focused on early learning programs, district educators told lawmakers this week.

They said the district has expanded its preschool programs, particularly for low-income and special-education students. Still, funding and space remain challenges that the state could help with, Bellevue educators said.

“This is where we can really make a difference in helping kids be successful,” Judy Jurden, program coordinator at Phantom Lake Elementary’s integrated preschool, said of early learning.

Heather Woodward covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-4225 or hwoodward@theolympian.com. Preparing for kindergarten

Below are ways parents can help their children prepare for the first day of kindergarten.

Read books together.

At the grocery store, have your children point out the fruits and vegetables they recognize.

Take walks together and talk about what you see.

Provide them with stimulating experiences such as story time at the library or a trip to the Hands On Children’s Museum, a park or the zoo.

Let your child help you prepare a meal. Stirring ingredients in a bowl, for example, can help hone motor skills.

Teach your child to recognize his or her name.

Play board games, which offer a chance to take turns, extend attention span and learn how to handle disappointment.

When you’re doing laundry, have your child count the socks of a particular color.

Count the number of cars of a certain color that you pass on the road.

Let your child tell you when a traffic light has turned from red to green.

For more tips, go to www.southsoundbornlearning.org or www.bornlearning.org.

Source: South Sound Born Learning

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

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