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KIPP Texas Public Schools offers Pre-K and Kindergarten programs that set a foundation of literacy and skills for a strong academic future. Starting Pre-K at KIPP puts students on a path toward long-term success in K-12, college, and beyond.
We help our littlest KIPPsters develop a love of learning from day one by building joyful learning experiences that set the foundation for fun curriculum and higher language, math, and reading levels. By offering unique small-group learning time and exploratory active play, our programming helps students grow social-emotional skills and build relationships with their peers and teachers.
Pre-K Goals
By the end of PK4 students should be achieving at a STEP level 1 which includes:
- Accurately spelling first and last name
- Recognize 35 uppercase/lowercase letters
- 8 Letter sounds
- 6 Beginning sounds
- Concepts of Print
- Reading Accuracy
- Developmental Spelling
Kindergarten Goals
- By the end of kindergarten, students will sound 24 letters and know 20 sight words used to support reading of level-C books with 90% accuracy.
- While reading, kindergarteners will comprehend details from pictures and text to identify story elements when prompted.
- Through phonemic awareness of separating 3-4 letter words into individual sounds and blending onset and rhyme sounds into words, students can write the initial and ending sounds of words.
Starting Pre-K or Kindergarten marks the beginning of a new phase in a child’s development and many parents ask themselves, “Is my child ready?”
Preparing your child academically for Pre-K or Kindergarten may be simpler than you think and chances are you’re already doing many things at home to prepare them. By simply reading, playing, and exploring together, you are helping your child get ready for preschool activities.
Here are three things you can do to make the transition to Pre-K and Kindergarten easier for your child:
Participate in pretend play.
To help your child prepare for Pre-K, consider role playing. You and your child can take turns playing the role of the parent, child, and teacher then act out common daily routines, such as saying good-bye to parents before school, preparing their backpack, singing songs, reading stories, or playing outside. While role playing, you can prepare your child for what to expect in school while reassuring them that it’s a good place where they will have fun and learn.
Read books with your child.
There are plenty of books about preschool and Kindergarten that can be used to help prepare young children for the transition.
“Introducing your child to the vast world around them through books is vital in the foundation of early education. Instilling a love of literacy at such a young age will positively affect their learning journey.” – Nadia Abdalah, KIPP Paseo Teacher, Pre-K4
Make time for adventure.
A good way to keep kids learning is to explore their sense of adventure. You can go for nature walks, work on puzzles, play games, or visit your local library. By offering your child a mix of active, playful experiences you will help them have fun while learning. You can also do quieter, more focused activities like painting, working with play dough, or making jewelry together to help them build motor skills.
View additional tips here.
Research shows that high-quality early learning is connected to school readiness and later life outcomes. Choosing the right Pre-K program for your child now can make a difference for their future!
KIPP Texas currently offers high-quality Pre-K 3 and 4 programming in Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Our schools offer Pre-K 3 making it possible for Little Kippsters to start school as early as three years old. San Antonio will offer Pre-K 4 at KIPP Somos Primary starting in the 2023-2024 school year. Learn more and apply on our website.
