Pre-K recess is a weekly motor group that is done during recess with each Pre-K class either on the playground, in the hallway or in the gym when it is available. When this program was initially created the skills that are introduced to all of the pre-k students were similar skills that were initially being worked on in Kindergarten PE that week. Similar equipment is used and similar instructions so that when the pre-K students enter the Kindergarten PE setting they will have had some previous exposure. This program increased the exposure of various motor skills to all of the pre-k students.
After the Pandemic our related service team made some changes to our program delivery. To date our pre-k team works on speech, fine and gross motor activities to correspond with the pre-k letter of the week in our four pre-k classes. This allows our team to reinforce introduction of letters throughout the week in various activities with our young learners. While Speech and OT push into the classroom to have a group lesson PT works on supporting the letters in small groups working on motor activities that start with the letter of the week in the pre-k playground hallway or pre-k playground.
Students who receive direct physical therapy are targeted during these group times and may repeat the activity with more than just their individual class. Peer modeling in a familiar setting with a smaller group of students is being utilized to support motor skills. Some students receive direct therapy services prior to this inclusive type setting to increase their success in the pre-k recess group.