Category: Kindergarten Countdown Camp

Kindergarten Countdown Camp provides significant benefits to students who are able to attend and their families.  It prepares them to begin kindergarten with some experience. Most of our KCC students have very little exposure to a school environment. At KCC, we introduce them to structure and school routines.  In addition, children learn to hold a pencil and scissors, identify their name, and begin to learn letters and numbers.  This experience is a real “jump start” to their whole education.

Why is it important for children to be on track and ready to learn when first starting kindergarten?

In kindergarten, we have rigorous learning standards.  Students are expected to finish the year knowing how to read and write. Those children who have not had the opportunity to attend a preschool program and are not prepared for kindergarten are at a disadvantage, as compared to the children who have.  They do not understand the expectations as a learner in a school environment. A great deal of time must be spent helping them to catch up to their peers before academic content can be introduced.

The greatest obstacle that families and children in our community face is not having access to affordable preschool programs. Many preschool-aged children spend time with a babysitter prior to beginning school.  They are not exposed to a structured environment that supports learning and therefore prevents these children from being prepared for the school year.

How does Kindergarten Countdown Camp help prepare children for success in school?

Kindergarten Countdown Camp provides exposure to a school environment that helps the children successfully transition into a kindergarten class.  It helps them begin to develop learning skills such as holding a pencil, following directions, and engaging in conversations. It also gives children a chance to experience separation from their families. Many children have not been away from their homes and parents for any length of time. KCC provides a safe environment for them to discover the excitement of going to school.

For the past two summers I have participated in United Way’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC). The students who attended KCC were able to have their first school experience prior to kindergarten. Each week a group of United Way volunteers comes to read with a small group and help each individual with an educational project. One of my KCC students was in my classroom this past school year. I saw first hand the benefit of KCC as she adapted to the new school year better than her peers. This student also had a boost to her self-confidence, as she was able to help her classmates in their new experiences. Throughout the year, this student repeatedly referred back to “camp” and what she had learned.

Kindergarten expectations have dramatically changed over the years. The students now have tremendous academic expectations. These expectations are not just new to the students but to their families as well. For students to reach their potential in kindergarten, their families play a key role. Teachers need the families to be their partner in their child’s education. KCC educates the families in what their child will be learning, how to work with their student, and school procedures. Furthermore, KCC provides families an early opportunity to form a connection to kindergarten, their school, and the district.

Why is it important for children to be on track and ready to learn when first starting kindergarten?

The early years of education are the most important as they lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Students who enter kindergarten on track and ready to learn adapt quickly to their new academic and social expectations. From the first day of kindergarten, learning begins and moves quickly. Students who are ready from day one have a much easier transition in the classroom and throughout the school. In addition, these students already have a foundation to begin their exciting journey in kindergarten!

Prior to kindergarten, the majority of my students have never had any academic or social experience. When most of my students enter kindergarten, they are not able to identify the name of single letter or a letter sound. They also have not learned to write their names or a single letter. They also are not able to identify numbers or count. Students quite often may not have a single pencil or any school supplies at home. Families may face challenges such as not having the language, education, or time due to work, to help support their children’s education-though they would wish they could.

How does Kindergarten Countdown Camp help prepare children for success in school?

Students who participated in KCC were able to have the benefit of early social and academic learning. KCC provides a successful first school experience prior to kindergarten. Early intervention programs provided by United Way, such as Kindergarten Countdown Camp, are an important component in our young learner’s education.

It’s always great to spend time with the kids. They are always cheerful and friendly and really love to meet new people. You can see they enjoy the camp and it’s a wonderful thing to see how much they learn in such a short time.

I read in Mrs. Feldman’s class. We enjoyed hearing her story about how she got into teaching as a second career. We are lucky she made that change in career, as it’s very clear that she is a superior teacher that the kids really love. At my table I had three students, Romeo, Sophia and Elisa, all of whom were progressing with differing levels of English and classroom abilities. I am sure they will grow up to be great students.

Do you think Kindergarten Countdown Camp is making an impact on the children that attend?

Definitely,  some of the kids in the class did not have the opportunity to be in a classroom prior to KCC. They don’t know the things we all take for granted – how to get on a bus, how to behave and participate in class. How to socialize with adults and the other kids, as well as, the basics of colors, letters and how to use a book. Without these skills that they learn at KCC, they would start their Kindergarten career way behind and may never catch up to their peers. Thanks to Kindergarten Countdown Camp the playing field is leveled giving these children a brighter future.

The most memorable part of my involvement with Kindergarten Countdown Camp has been how sweet all of the kindergartners have been. One boy heard me say that my favorite color is yellow and, when he was coloring a picture, he used yellow and said, “look I used your favorite color!” Little things like that make my day. And at recess, I was pushing the kids on the swings and one girl noticed her classmate sitting on the playground and ran over to him. He came running to the swings with a big smile on his face after she gave him her swing for a turn. They all have such kind hearts and it’s so cool to witness their kindness.

Ms. Beck, the teacher that I assist, has greatly impacted me. I want to be a kindergarten teacher and she is always open to giving me advice and talking about her experiences of being a teacher. She always goes over her lesson plans with me so that I have a better understanding of what the kids are learning and how to teach them the material.

Do you think Kindergarten Countdown Camp is making an impact on the children that attend?

I truly believe that Kindergarten Countdown Camp is making a huge impact on the children that attend. The kids that walked in on the first day of summer have come so far. They have learned how to behave in a classroom, such as raising hands, standing in line, and listening to the teacher. They have also learned so many skills, such as letters, numbers, colors, cutting and writing their names. The kids are definitely better prepared to begin kindergarten after this camp.