Positive Parenting: ‘Young 5s’ provides a special learning opportunity for those born in late summer or fall

by Amanda Mathews

Kindergarten Roundup is coming on March 14, and Stockbridge Community Schools is proud to offer a Young 5s Program at Smith Elementary School. This program is designed specifically for our young learners with late summer and fall birthdays because it enables them to get an extra year of school between preschool and kindergarten.

The Stockbridge program is taught by a certified teacher with an early childhood endorsement. To achieve this endorsement, the teacher was required to take extra courses specializing in children, ages 4-8, which focused on all areas of their development.

Young 5s offers a smaller class size and a full-day paraprofessional in the classroom. This program is a full-day opportunity and follows closely to the kindergarten schedule. These children have the chance to eat lunch and go to recess with kindergarteners, making it an easy transition to their next school year. Children in our Young 5s also attend “specials” daily, like art, gym, music, and/or S.T.E.M.

Research shows that children at this age learn best through play. The Young 5s classroom is a place where children have the opportunity for sensory and hands-on experiences. These young students have daily free-play opportunities, along with stations that allow for more exploration in all play areas.

Our Wonders curriculum is used to build foundational, early literacy skills, such as letter names, letter sounds, vocabulary, and communication skills. Read-alouds are also a key part in building these skills. The curriculum ensures children have hands-on experiences to build math, science, and social studies knowledge. Most importantly, though, we recognize the importance of educating the whole child, so the Young 5s program specializes in building social emotional skills.

Children leave Young 5s with essential skills needed for kindergarten and a love of learning. The program is a transition year between preschool and kindergarten that honors each child’s uniqueness and, within our classroom community, works to build the foundation skills for a strong future.

Young 5s program highlights:

• Certified teacher with credentials specializing in early childhood education
• Full-day paraprofessional
• Smaller class sizes
• Wonders curriculum
• Daily “specials,” including art, gym, music, and S.T.E.M.
• Hands-on educational experiences
• Sensory exploration
• Free play
• Focus on social emotional development
• Outdoor explorations twice daily and incorporated into our curriculum
• Focus on building large- and fine-motor skills
• Strong classroom community
• Attention to foundational early literacy and math skills

Activity Highlight: Noodle Cutting Sensory Experience

Cook spaghetti noodles and let them cool. Rub them with water or provide a spray bottle. Provide scissors and even child-safe knives for children to cut the noodles. Allow them to explore and fill bowls with their noodle cuttings.

Noodle-cutting is a great sensory experience for young children. Photo credit: pinterest.com

The Young 5s classroom is a place where children have the opportunity for sensory and hands-on experiences. Photo credit: Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash.com

Amanda Mathews