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Health & Fitness

Why Early Childhood Education Matters

Preschool is not just about ABC's and 123's

The following article was contributed by Joshua Giannone, (Morris Street School Readiness Staff):           

 The Preschool/Kindergarten Summer Reading Program at Morris Street Elementary School is officially over. This four week program (run by the Morris Street Family Resource Center) was designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn basic rules and expectations of kindergarten.Students experienced a morning of academics (including letter and number identification and phonemic awareness), received breakfast and lunch in the school cafeteria and became accustomed to the kindergarten routine. This is especially valuable to students who are transitioning to kindergarten without any preschool experience. By attending the program, children are not only adjusted to the rules and expectations of kindergarten, but have demonstrated academic growth as evidenced by the results of their individual assessments.

It should be noted that each student was assessed at the beginning and end of the program.  Every child who regularly attended made great improvements over their first assessment. This led me to question the difference between a child who belongs to an early education program and a child who will be entering kindergarten without any formal schooling. Does preschool make a difference in a child’s early academic success? Having the opportunity to observe and teach in the Morris Street School Readiness Program, the answer is a definite.. yes!

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According to District Administration, children who attend preschools surpass non- preschool students in several areas of the kindergarten curriculum such as math and reading comprehension (2010).  If that is not convincing enough:

  • Children will establish a daily routine within a preschool environment. Organization and a consistent schedule aid in a child’s learning.
  • The preschool classroom is very similar to the kindergarten experience. Therefore, a child will find adjusting to kindergarten a much easier transition.
  • Children are able to build strong social skills in the preschool environment.
  • Preschoolers have a solid foundation in fine motor skills through the use of manipulatives such as clay, water and sand. This strengthens their ability to properly use scissors, pencils and other classroom tools effectively.
  • Other areas of development are addressed daily: gross motor skills, cognitive skills, and personal/social skills. 

These examples are only some of the benefits of early childhood education.  The staff at the Morris Street School Readiness Program prepare children for academic success from the moment they enter the classroom each morning; structured circle time, multiple learning centers, small group activities and various opportunities to acquire language are just a few of the benefits each child experiences daily. 

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Parents who are interested in enrolling their child in an early childhood program should look for programs who have received accreditation from organizations such as The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and are licensed by the State Department of Public Health. These programs must adhere to strict guidelines and ensure all standards are met and exceeded.  For a list of School Readiness programs in Danbury, please visit http://danburysr.org/

 

Sources:

Dessoff A. (2010). The Push for Public Preschool: More districts are seeing the advantages of school readiness and preparing youngsters for their K12 careers. District Administration, 46(7), 72-76.

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