Five Reasons Online Pre-K is Worth it
Pre-K is the beginning of a child鈥檚 educational journey. It鈥檚 about getting children ready for kindergarten through purposeful play, fun songs, hands-on exploration and interaction with others. It鈥檚 about inspiring curiosity and building confidence.
But can all that happen if Pre-K is online? Is online Pre-K even worth it?
For the first time ever, three- and four-year-olds in the 91制片厂 are embarking on their educational journeys completely online. Due to COVID-19, 91制片厂 is starting the school year virtually and will offer an online option to any who prefer it for the entire school year.
鈥淎s educators, we all know that there is no better option than face-to-face instruction,鈥 said Dr. Jackeline Orsini, 91制片厂 director of early childhood learning. 鈥淗owever, we have been preparing all summer for virtual Pre-K, and we are ready to deliver the best online early childhood learning experience possible.鈥
The district鈥檚 online Pre-K is going to include live instruction every day, plus small group activities, circle time, art and lots of fun experiments.
鈥淓xploration and creativity will be embedded in all the lessons,鈥 Orsini said.
So, yes. 91制片厂鈥檚 Pre-K online will be well worth it!
Here are five of the many reasons online Pre-K through 91制片厂 will be a fantastic educational experience for our youngest learners.
1. Online Pre-K will still offer high-quality instruction
The instruction won鈥檛 change just because it鈥檚 online. The program will continue following the and expectations and will use the district鈥檚
comprehensive early childhood instructional model, which is enriched by using Frog Street Pre-K curriculum.
鈥淲e have carefully planned a curriculum that includes a combination of virtual and hands-on learning opportunities for our students,鈥 said Dr. Hildelisa D铆az, AISD early learning coordinator.
Through daily live and recorded lessons, teachers will provide meaningful learning experiences to all students, opportunities for active exploration through thoughtfully planned activities and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
鈥淭eachers will be able to model what instruction looks like for the skills being taught at home,鈥 said Nadia Azari, AISD early childhood instructional specialist. 鈥淭hese 鈥榟ow-to鈥 lessons will serve as guides for students and families.鈥
2. Online Pre-K will inspire curiosity
Pre-K teachers, who are creative by nature, are designing lessons specifically to promote exploration and inspire curiosity.
鈥淟essons and activities must be engaging and intriguing enough to stimulate curiosity,鈥 said Ken Foster, AISD early childhood instructional specialist. 鈥One of ways we’re doing this is by using the classroom and home environments as 鈥榲irtual labs.鈥欌
Foster explained that teachers will broadcast lessons from their classrooms or home and show students how they can turn their own homes into a perfect setting for exploration. The teachers will draw connections and demonstrate activities that pique curiosity about a particular topic. They will model activities, art projects and fun experiments that kids can do with materials they have at home, like toys or things in the kitchen.
鈥淏ehind the scenes, all of our Pre-K teachers and staff are working very hard to make online instruction effective and engaging for our little ones,鈥 said Serena Webb, Berry Elementary Pre-K teacher. 鈥淲e are finding creative ways to extend real classroom learning experiences to our students in their homes.鈥
3. Pre-K teachers are prepared for online teaching
鈥嬧淥ur certified teachers received significant amounts of early childhood professional development hours during the summer in early childhood learning and are now well-prepared to deliver high quality online instruction,鈥 Orsini said.
But it鈥檚 not just the training that has Pre-K teachers ready to teach online. It鈥檚 who they are. Pre-K teachers are dedicated to their students and will go to any length to inspire them.
鈥淧re-K teachers teach Pre-K because they have a passion for young children,鈥 said Kelly Schrader, Pre-K team leader at Miller Elementary. 鈥淭hey eat, breathe and sleep Pre-K. The way that Pre-K teachers deliver quality instruction is different than any other grade levels. Make up a silly song and do a crazy dance? Of course, we will! Read a story with all animated voices? You bet we will! Just because we will be doing online instruction will not change the love we have for early childhood education and the extra steps we will go to make our students feel engaged, encouraged and excited for learning.鈥
4. Pre-K students will interact with their teachers and fellow students
Pre-K students may be at home, but the Pre-K program will transport them virtually to school and make them feel like they are part of a class. They will see and interact with teachers and classmates in daily live and recorded sessions. Though strangers on the first day of school, they will quickly get to know each other and become friends.
鈥淭here is nothing better than getting to see your students and teachers face every day,鈥 Schrader said. 鈥淭he love that Pre-K teachers and their students have is indescribable. Even though virtual Pre-K looks different than in-person Pre-K, the daily interaction is so very important.鈥
Interaction with teachers and classmates 鈥 even in the virtual classroom 鈥 cultivates growth, understanding and confidence. Foster explained that students perceive value and worth through their classroom community.
鈥淭his establishes a good foundation for learning.聽The student is聽much more interested聽in what their teacher says聽if the student feels valued,鈥 Foster said.
5. Paper packets will supplement online learning
Paper packets with activities to supplement online learning will be available for each unit. Parents will pick them up at the campus before the beginning of a new unit and use them in conjunction with online learning.
鈥淭hese packets are thoughtfully planned out to extend online learning and reinforce material learned virtually,鈥 Schafer said.
It鈥檚 going to be a great year in 91制片厂 Pre-K no matter what! Whether it鈥檚 online or in-person, the teachers are ready and eager to inspire our youngest learners!
It鈥檚 not too late to register your child for Pre-K. Register online here. And if you need an iPad for your child to go to school online, sign up for one on our technology resources page.