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Transitional Kindergarten Information

Use this page to learn more about Transitional Kindergarten in Del Norte County Schools.

 


 

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for children turning 5 years old between September 2nd through June 2nd.

It gives young learners a head start and provides them with an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Quick Facts

• TK is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten

• TK provides learning through small group settings, hands-on learning, and a language-rich environment

• The curriculum is a balance between social/emotional learning and academics that prepare children for the kindergarten curricula

• In 23-24, TK will serve children who turn 5 between Sept. 2nd and Feb. 2nd. In 24-25, TK will serve children who turn 5 between Sept. 2nd and Jun. 2nd. In 25-26, TK will serve children who turn 4 by Sept. 1st

• TK is an additional educational option for families that is free for all families in Del Norte County

Should my child attend TK or preschool?

The decision to enroll your child in TK or preschool is entirely up to you, but here are some things you might want to consider when making this important decision:

• The length of day of TK programs is required to be the same as kindergarten, which is typically 5 hours per day. Preschools can be as little as 3 hours per day.

• Not all schools offer TK. If you choose to enroll your child in TK, it may not be in your child’s school of residence, which will require you to change schools for kindergarten or apply for an intradistrict transfer to stay at the school site where your child attends TK.

• TK does not provide transportation services for children who attend TK outside of their school of residence.

 

How are TK classrooms different from preschool and kindergarten?

TK classrooms are like preschool classrooms in that they have centers for art, hands-on areas for math and science, as well as a rug for “circle time” reading and language activities.

TK has its own curriculum designed around preschool standards and frameworks. Since TK is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, the first half of the school year has a focus on developing social and emotional skills in a language-rich environment. TK teachers, who receive specialized training and coursework to teach TK, provide activities that promote small-muscle and large-muscle development in addition to pre-academics so that children are fully prepared to learn reading, writing, math, science, and social science.

Kindergarten teachers use circle time for language activities as well, but kindergarten standards are much more rigorous and require a greater focus on academics, which include more paper/pencil activities than occur in TK or preschool.

Mission Statement

It is our goal to provide developmentally appropriate learning opportunities so that children have the social, emotional, and academic skills necessary to be successful in school. Parents partnering with educators will provide a solid foundation for a high-quality, positive educational experience.