ADDISON, Ala. – Addison Elementary School’s Pre-K program is a part of the First-Class Pre-K Program created by the Office of School Readiness (OSR). Many local Alabama preschools are a part of the same play-based, explorative program including Meek Elementary, Harmony, Good Hope, Vinemont and Cullman Head Start. The program is meant to provide a developmentally appropriate method of learning for 4-year-olds. There is no set curriculum for the programs; rather, the students either participate in various learning stations throughout the day, or the teachers teach based on a different theme every few weeks. If the theme is “nature” the kids may go on nature walks so that they can examine and explore at their own pace.
Addison Elementary Principal Sharon Naylor spoke about the ways in which pre-k helps to prepare students for kindergarten, saying, “I try to stress to parents, the Pre-K program is not necessarily so that they memorize the alphabet, or they know how to write their name, or they know everything forward and backwards. It prepares them for school in the sense that they are learning routines. They’re sitting for read-alouds. They are learning to work with other children. It’s very good for their social development. And most of our kids who come in, they are very well prepared for kindergarten, but the main focus then is not strictly academic. We let them learn at their own pace because when they get into kindergarten, they’re going to receive more specific instruction.”
Naylor said that some kids learn very quickly when exposed to new experiences, but for others, the most important thing is the social aspect, especially if they don’t have a big extended family with children their own age to interact with. In pre-k classes, social, speech and motor skills can be monitored, and teachers can make recommendations to parents if a service such as speech therapy should be considered. Naylor’s Pre-K students are very successful when they go into kindergarten. She says the program helps to prepare them without the stress and pressure that are typical when school starts.
To schedule a preview of Addison’s Pre-K program, call their Elementary office at 256-747-1665. Registration is open until March 15. To register for a local First-Class pre-k program, visit: https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov/.
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