Ark Valley News - All-day kindergarten praised

All-day kindergarten praised
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 23, 2013

Kindergarteners reading?

Nine months after the Valley Center school district started all-day kindergarten, dozens of the district's youngest students graduated into the first grade with the ability to read and write full sentences, reinforcing to teachers and district decision-makers the value of the expanded program.

"The gains they made in kindergarten were just incredible," said kindergarten teacher Sara Penner.

Teachers saw improvements across the curriculum.

Penner said last year's kindergarten class was expected to count to 20. This year's kindergarten students are able to count to at least 100, and many have learned addition and subtraction skills.

"They definitely gained in all areas," Penner said.

District officials began discussing ways to adjust to the increased learning as this group of kindergarten students leads the way through the next grade levels. It comes at a time when the district is roadmapping its compliance with new common core standards, which will require deeper learning in traditional subjects, such as reading and writing.

"I think the first-grade teachers are going to be pleasantly surprised by the group they get," Penner said.

The additional time with kindergarten students allowed teachers to spend more time in small groups, which teachers say is an ideal environment for learning.

"It's where you hit specific needs in the shortest amount of time," Penner said.