Loyal 4K program update shared
The Loyal School District’s 4-year-old kindergarten program has looked different this year, as this is the first year the students have been in school four full days a week. Previously, they were in school only two days a week. Teacher Alison Schley gave an update on the program at the latest school board meeting. Schley teaches one 4K class; Jenae Weyer teaches the other.
“The things the kids are expected to know by the end of the year are much different than when I started 23 years ago. The expectations are probably what kindergarten used to be,” said Schley.
She said that with switching to four days a week, the teachers have seen a significant improvement in students’ academic achievement. About half the class is already meeting end-of-the-year academic expectations. Schley said she’s also seen improvement on fine motor skills such as cutting with a scissors or writing.
“Even more important than that, one of the biggest differences — I remember when I first started teaching here, Mrs. Pigott (longtime Loyal kindergarten teacher) said that much more important than the academics is the following the directions, learning the structure of the school, problem solving, getting along with others, cooperation. And so when kids are in the same structured environment four days in a row, we’re seeing much more follow-through with changes in behaviors, changes in social skills, how to handle my emotions — all those things,” said Schley.
Despite the many positives of the fourday- per-week program, it has also come with some challenges. For one, the second classroom was organized at the last minute and all the materials are still stored in the first classroom, so it’s not convenient for Weyer to retrieve materials. The plan is to move the classrooms after this school year to make it easier for the two teachers to collaborate and share resources.
Schley and Weyer also had to double the curriculum this year. The school didn’t purchase any new curriculum, so Schley and Weyer had to get creative in coming up with homemade games, projects and hands-on activities to supplement the existing curriculum.
From a consistency standpoint, the schedule has been a plus, said Schley. “Especially with the kids where you’re working on behaviors or controlling emotions, you’re in the same environment with the same expectations for four days versus ‘I’m there one day, I’m off a day, I’m there one day, I’m off four days.’ I mean where’s the consistency and follow-through with different expectations and different environments? So the consistency is very good for children and families,” she said. She said she had received a lot of positive feedback from parents about the four-day-a-week model as well. “I even had one parent tell me a couple weeks ago that she sees a tremendous difference. This is the third child she’s had go through the program and she sees a big difference in what her child this year knows compared to what the two siblings know.” The board thanked Schley for her report.
