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All Day Transitional Kindergarten

The goal of our TK program is to provide the best foundation for your child’s future academic and social success.

Because our Transitional Kindergarten is All Day, there is ample time

  • to teach the critical first steps for understanding math, writing, letters and literacy
  • for the very important free play where students learn social, problem solving and leadership skills.

Our Transitional Kindergarten students also benefit from their weekly instruction with our music, art and physical education teachers.

Children must be age 4 by September 1st to apply for All Day Transitional Kindergarten.

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN READINESS

Staff

Our Transitional Kindergarten is taught by a full-time teacher and a full-time instructional aide.

Allison Torok
Allison Torok Transitional Kindergarten
Esmeralda Valezquez
Esmeralda Valezquez Transitional Kindergarten Instructional Aide
Shelly Dirksen
Shelly Dirksen Educational Achievement Specialist

Each day, students rotate through active learning centers, which focus on important instructional elements that are aligned with Common Core Curriculum Standards.

Religion 

In addition to learning many Bible stories, students learn that God loves them.  Respect and kindness are taught every day.  Kind words, kind actions and kind thoughts make St. James’ TK a great place to be.

Writing

Tracing letters, shapes and numbers help to develop fine motor skills and develop pencil grip.

Math

Through many fun activities, students become adept at counting objects and number recognition.

Letters

Students learn to identify upper and lower case letters, sort letters and match lower and upper case letters.

Literacy

Students learn to blend letter sounds to form words.

Free Play Time

Children play both indoors and outdoors, promoting motor coordination, imagination, fair play, sharing and sportsmanship.  During free play, children experience leadership, problem solving, social skills and language development.  When children are playing they are learning.

 

Music

Twice a week, music director, Mr. Schwagerus (or Mr. S to our TKers) brings his guitar and other fun instruments to the classroom where the students learn songs and respond to music through movement.

Physical Education

Three times a week, under the direction of the school’s full-time P.E. teacher, students attend formal Physical Education classes, either in the school’s gym or on the play field.   They learn skills in games, team play and gross and fine motor coordination.

Visual Arts

Students channel their creative expression by painting, drawing and constructing art pieces.  They use play dough and other tactile objects on a daily basis which supports fine motor skills, prewriting skills and imagination.  Once a week, the school’s Art teacher exposes the students to a Fine Arts Program where they learn about artists and their work, Art History and how to produce similar pieces.

Library Time

To cultivate a love of reading, Transitional Kindergarteners are introduced to the library through weekly story-time sessions with the school’s librarian.