full day kindergarten beginning with school year 2011-2012, the swansea public schools will join...
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SWANSEA PUBLIC SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT
Full Day Kindergarten
Beginning with school year 2011-2012, the Swansea Public Schools will join many other districts in offering a full day kindergarten program
80 % of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth now offer full day kindergarten
Time On Learning Half Day Program
2 .5 hours / day x 180 days = 450 hours/ year
Full Day Program
6.5 hours/day x 180 days = 1170 hours/year
720 hours more per year taking part in a school based activity
Expectations
Academic Social/ Emotional Behavioral Developmental
Academic New Massachusetts Standards, adopted
from the ‘Common Core’ standards, demand a higher level of cognition
Standards have been brought down a grade level anywhere from six months to one year
Problem solving, higher order thinking, and abstract reasoning skills have also been increased
More time for cooperative learning and technology
Social/ Emotional
Students will have more time to interact with peers
Students will have more time to learn and practice character education skills that will help them with social interactions
Emotional issues such as missing family, being away for the day, wanting to stay with parents, and the need to play all day, will be worked out before grade 1
Behavioral
Students will learn what it means to be a participant in a school environment
Students will learn the parameters of acceptable behavior and positive outcomes
Students will learn how to interact with teachers and follow agreed upon rules
All before grade 1
Developmental All Students develop at their own pace A full day of kindergarten will allow for the
school to identify strengths and weaknesses of the students. Once these traits are identified teachers will individualize instructions for the students
Struggling students will get more remediation help and supportive services that they require to become successful
Consolidated resources (Referral Process)
A Typical Day In Kindergarten
Kindergarten schedules will follow the grade 1 and 2 model
All students will receive daily instruction in literacy, math, writing
Each day students will receive specialized instruction in Art, Music, P.E./Health, Technology
Students will be afforded time to build social skills through lunch, recess, and center time
Literacy and Math Curriculum Houghton Mifflin; Journeys
Journeys is the newest edition of the literacy program aligned with the new Massachusetts Frameworks
Houghton Mifflin; Math Expressions
Family/ Parental Benefits
Less stress and difficulty to family in scheduling transportation and child care
Eliminates child transitions to different locations
More opportunity for parental involvement in the classroom and the school
Financial savings (day care and private kindergarten, etc.)
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