Universal preschool is coming; let’s prioritize social-emotional learning and play
Originally published on EdSource on June 3, 2023
Hiiii from Alicia! Lots of fun freelance stuff coming, make sure to read here and on the original site :)
As a third-year transitional kindergarten teacher in the Bay Area, I have seen the effectiveness of the program up close. My students spend the year learning school-readiness skills like how to hold a pencil and sit at a desk. They are all introduced to early academic concepts such as the alphabet, counting routines, and phonemic awareness skills through nursery rhymes and children’s songs. Many of them have never been around dozens of other kids their age and TK allows them to learn social skills through play like working together, sharing and being empathetic.
I am excited for more 4-year-olds to have the opportunity to engage in this learning, but as preschool becomes folded into the K-12 public education system, we have a duty to protect the sanctity of the early years, and we must make sure we do so.
Continue reading on EdSource: https://edsource.org/2023/universal-preschool-is-coming-lets-prioritize-social-emotional-learning-and-play/691883