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You know your child better than anyone else and you know what is best for them! You are their first teachers, lifelong coaches, and forever cheerleaders. We want to make sure you have the information and tools you need to help you make the best decision for your child.
You know your child better than anyone else and you know what is best for them! You are their first teachers, lifelong coaches, and forever cheerleaders. We want to make sure you have the information and tools you need to help you make the best decision for your child.
Kindergarten Readiness is important across the state of Idaho!
Kindergarten Readiness is important across the state of Idaho!
Incoming Kindergartners across the State of Idaho are assessed each fall to show the extent to which students are prepared to learn. This includes their ability to identify letters, sounds, words, and overall reading comprehension. Students are assessed again each spring to show the student’s growth over the school year. These scores are reported at the conclusion of the year to help us understand how well our students are doing. Each community receives a "report card" showing how they are doing compared to the rest of the state. We want to make sure that the children in the American Falls community are not only prepared for these assessments, but show that they shine!
Incoming Kindergartners across the State of Idaho are assessed each fall to show the extent to which students are prepared to learn. This includes their ability to identify letters, sounds, words, and overall reading comprehension. Students are assessed again each spring to show the student’s growth over the school year. These scores are reported at the conclusion of the year to help us understand how well our students are doing. Each community receives a "report card" showing how they are doing compared to the rest of the state. We want to make sure that the children in the American Falls community are not only prepared for these assessments, but show that they shine!
What does it mean to be "Kindergarten Ready"?
What does it mean to be "Kindergarten Ready"?
In American Falls, Kindergarten Readiness means your child is able to:
In American Falls, Kindergarten Readiness means your child is able to:
Recognize, spell, and write their name.
Name should be written with an uppercase letter at the beginning and the rest lowercase
correct formation of letters begins with pencil starting at the top
Identify most of the letters, both uppercase and lowercase
Know at least 10 letter sounds
Count to 20 orally
Count 10 objects using 1 to 1 correspondence (assigning one number to one object)
Fine motor skills:
color inside the lines
cut with scissors
hold their pencil correctly
Social Skills:
Take turns
share
wait their turn
Simple Self-help skills:
Zip their own zipper (coat, pants, shoes)
Use the bathroom independently
What is a "quality" preschool and how is it measured?
What is a "quality" preschool and how is it measured?
A quality preschool has:
A quality preschool has:
Staff who has had training in Early Childhood Education and knows best practices for teaching preschoolers. Some teachers have college degrees in Early Childhood Eduation or Post Gradute Degrees relating to early childhood education and some have a certificate known as a CDA (Child Development Associates).
Staff who are Infant/Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified.
A developmentally appropriate, researched-based curriculum that will prepare preschoolers to be ready for Kindergarten.
The preschool programs participating in the American Falls Preschool Initiative - PTIW Grant are working toward meeting these requirements to become quality programs.
The preschool programs participating in the American Falls Preschool Initiative - PTIW Grant are working toward meeting these requirements to become quality programs.
These programs are working directly with IdahoSTARS who is the leading expert and referral source for child care in Idaho. Through IdahoSTARS these programs participate in a program called Steps to Quality. Steps to Quality is Idaho's child care Quality Rating System and Improvement System (QRIS), which measures the quality of care in center and home-based child care settings. Steps to Quality also provides child care programs with a set of tools to cultivate a high quality setting.
What can parents do?
What can parents do?
If you are considering a preschool provider, ask the following questions:
If you are considering a preschool provider, ask the following questions:
Is your program state licensed?
Are you participating in the Steps to Quality?
What certifications do you have as a provider?
What is the training/background of the staff that will be interacting with my children?
Are you using a research based and developmentally appropriate curriculum?
To learn more about what you can do as a parent to ensure your child attends a quality program visit Idaho STARS.
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