Question of Alignment

It is clear that we need to do a better job of linking preschool to the K-12 programs.  While articulation between staff is a key element, I think that there are many other strategies that need to be implemented.  Both preschool and elementary educators need more information on the developmental continuum in the acquistion of academic skills.  It is not just a matter of preschool teachers getting children ready for kindergarten but of staff all along the grade levels being aware of how and what children are learning.  For example, if staff better understand how the foundations of literacy through symbolic transformations in a preschooler's dramatic play connect to the primary grade teacher's efforts around letter-sound relationships, staff at every level could be more intentional and effective in their teaching.  This demands a high level of training and sophistication on the part of all of our early childhood staff.  The Master Plan's emphasis on raising standards, expanding training opportunities and increasing compensation for staff is an important step in bringing this needed level of knowledge to our work.