There has been a lot of controversy in our area about “Transitional Kindergarten” (TK).  There has also been a lot of confusion about it.  Well, I am happy to say that we no longer need to have the controversy or feel the confusion.  The funding is no longer earmarked for TK.  It is however, earmarked to support what we already have going on in education.  So, our children already in school will benifit from current funding  rather than lose educational opportunities because of this new TK.

Am I the only one who thought it was a little strange that we were cutting SO many programs, teachers, rasing the numbers of students per teacher, but somehow we were going to come up with this new “grade” of students?  We were going to bring an exsisting Kinder teacher over to teach this new grade, taking the kinder students from his/her class and putting them in already over crowded kinder classes for exsisting teachers to teach?  How is this good for children?  Where was the funding coming from when cutting funding for children is seen  all over the place?

Don’t be worried.  You can either get your child ready for Kindergarten by putting them in a preschool of your choice, or teach them at home.  There are websites that can help you get them ready at home.  But you will want them to get a group experience so that they are ready for social interactions at kindergarten. For parents that want more interaction in the preschool experience and less cost, join a Co-op preschool that you help out at.  Or, try to find a preschool scholarship if you can.  Can you swap services with a preschool?  Think about your skills.  Maybe you could come in and clean once a week in exchange for preschool tuition?  See what type of arrangement you can make with the owner/director.  Could you bring a music program in or a gymnastic program into the preschool in exchange for tuition?  Use your imagination.

Try to get your child involved in a preschool experience. They will then be ready for Kindergarten.  It will make your life easier and the kinder teacher’s life easier, and most of all, your child’s life easier and more fun.  It can give them a love of shool that they might not get otherwise.