Smoothing the Entry to Kindergarten
Early Childhood Photos

Smoothing the Entry to Kindergarten

August 22, 2017 1 min read
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Nearly 4 million kindergartners will be enrolled in the nation’s schools for 2017-18, mostly starting with a blank slate for teachers who may have little information on their skill level and previous learning experience. Reporting on efforts to ease young children’s entry into school, Education Week reporter Christina A. Samuels and freelance photographer Amanda L. Smith featured the Kids in Transition to School program at the Prairie Mountain School in Eugene, Ore., which helps prospective kindergartners focus on school readiness, social skills, and literacy.

Autumn Edwards and her mother, Lindsey Edwards, walk toward Prairie Mountain School, where Autumn will take part in the KITS program.
Autumn Edwards and her mother, Lindsey Edwards, walk toward Prairie Mountain School, where Autumn will take part in the KITS program.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Assistant Teacher Kimberly Fisher talks with a student preparing for kindergarten. Children in the KITS program attend multiple sessions, where they learn the so-called soft skills they will need to be successful when they start school in September.
Assistant Teacher Kimberly Fisher talks with a student preparing for kindergarten. Children in the KITS program attend multiple sessions, where they learn the so-called soft skills they will need to be successful when they start school in September.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Assistant Teacher Kimberly Fisher talks with a student preparing for kindergarten. Children in the KITS program attend multiple sessions, where they learn the so-called soft skills they will need to be successful when they start school in September.
Assistant Teacher Kimberly Fisher talks with a student preparing for kindergarten. Children in the KITS program attend multiple sessions, where they learn the so-called soft skills they will need to be successful when they start school in September.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Incoming kindergartners Gracie Walters, at center left, and Jamileth Ixmatlahua build a block building for a wooden “class city.” The program focuses on activities that help students learn about skills such as sharing and taking turns.
Incoming kindergartners Gracie Walters, at center left, and Jamileth Ixmatlahua build a block building for a wooden “class city.” The program focuses on activities that help students learn about skills such as sharing and taking turns.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Lead teacher Katie Rutherford helps her students learn how to line up by playing Simon Says.
Lead teacher Katie Rutherford helps her students learn how to line up by playing Simon Says.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Tyler Johnson, center, is picked to choose the next lesson during a KITS class.
Tyler Johnson, center, is picked to choose the next lesson during a KITS class.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week
Tyler Johnson, right, hugs a neighborhood friend after completing the KITS class at Prairie Mountain School in Eugene, Ore.
Tyler Johnson, right, hugs a neighborhood friend after completing the KITS class at Prairie Mountain School in Eugene, Ore.
Amanda L. Smith for Education Week

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School Readiness Oregon

A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

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