Pre-K Updates
September 2021 Edition
Ready Rosie
Our PreK 3 and PreK 4 families will have access to ReadyRosie again this school year. If you are new to PreK, see the short preview created for teachers below. PreK 4 families will receive their subscription to ReadyRosie through the Savvas adoption. PreK 3 families will receive access through the teacher. More information for both is coming soon!
ReadyRosie Teacher Welcome Video
Savvas - Three Cheers for PreK!
PreK 4 will be using Savvas Three Cheers for PreK! as our primary curriculum resource for this school year. With our new adoption, our students have access to all of the print materials in a digital format, Unite for Literacy, and student games. Our parents will have access to ReadyRosie and the Family Engagement Portal. For those of you who are new to PreK, see the preview below. For those who need the full training, please click on the link for a 2-hour pre-recorded webinar. The passcode is nWQh9=fG.
Three Cheers for Pre-K Program Overview
Learning Without Tears
Did you know that Learning Without Tears has a YouTube feature page? There you can find songs, videos of instruction, and playlists. If you are new to Learning without Tears, want a refresher of how to use their materials, or want to see how others are using them, then click on the link below. I have also added two videos (one English and one Spanish) of ways to use the LWT materials to teach body parts and how to build a Mat Man. In the Spanish video, the students are building a lion. The songs are located in PreKITT that PreK 4 teachers have access to on the launchpad.
Mat Man Song - Handwriting Without Tears
Mat Man se parece un Leon
Jack Hartmann - Rapid Letter Naming (4 Seconds)
Our students struggled last year with the Rapid Letter Naming on the Circle Assessment. The video below will provide your students with the practice of saying the name of the letters quickly. The beginning is in English, but the letters have no voice attached and could be used with either language.
Alphabet Automaticity | Upper and Lower Case | 4 Seconds | Jack Hartmann
BOY Circle Assessment
The BOY Circle Assessment window is scheduled for September 27- October 8. Please be sure to select Wave 1. For information on the User Guide, how to assess, how to add and remove students, and all other Circle questions please see the Circle Folder in our PreK Teacher Shared Drive. The areas that we will be assessing beginning, middle, AND end of the year are the following:
Rapid Letter Naming (2.5 Minutes)
Rapid Vocabulary (2.5 Minutes)
Phonological Awareness (4 Sections - 6 Minutes Total) 3 Sections for Spanish - no onset-rime
Early Writing (10 Question Checklist)
Math (7 Sections - 4 Minutes Total)
Social-Emotional Behaviors (25 Question Checklist)
Important Dates
September 9:
PreK4 Supporting Complex Communication Needs Training; 3:30-4:30 (Zoom)
SWAG (2nd Six Weeks):
Monday, September 18; 4:00-5:30 Administration Building
September 27-October 8:
BOY (Wave 1) Circle Assessment Window
Early Childhood Highlights
Pierce Early Childhood School is Named a Solution Tree PLC Model School
Congratulations to Pierce Early Childhood School for being named the first Early Childhood Model School in the nation! The Pierce staff has been working hard for several years to fine-tune their PLC process which is not easy seeing as how there are no other model campuses with the same age group and data to share. On the Friday before school opened, Superintendent Hernandez, school board members, members of the cabinet, and Principal Jennifer Dickson surprised the staff with the exciting announcement of their achievement!
Brandenburg Elementary School is also Named a Solution Tree PLC Model School
Congratulations to Brandenburg Elementary School, and the awesome PreK teachers and assistants at Brandenburg for being named a PLC Model Campus! We are so proud of your achievement! The staff at Brandenburg were also surprised on Friday, August 13 by Superintendent Hernandez, the school board, the cabinet, and Dr. Rendon with the announcement of their model school status. Well done Brandenburg!
First Day Of School
It was so exciting to see all of our students back in person and to see these happy faces on the first day of school. Thank you for working so hard to ensure a great first week for your students.
A Message from the Director
Welcome back to an exciting new year!
Irving ISD Early Childhood Programs
Director - Jennifer McKee
Email: jmckee@irvingisd.net
Website: www.irvingisd.net/prek
Phone: (972) 600-5032
Twitter: @jennmckee3