Play supports development and learning in so many ways – emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually.  When children have opportunities to engage in high-quality play experiences, learning happens naturally. Kindergarten educators understand the importance of children’s play.  As you prepare for a new kindergarten year to begin, much attention is given to setting up an engaging environment for learning for the 4- and 5-year olds who will be starting their first year in “big school”. Strategies focused on ways to effectively build strong relationships and create integrated and play-based learning experiences are always on teachers’ minds.

This year, COVID-19 has placed unexpected restrictions on those effective practices.  

 
You are invited to come together virtually with other early learning colleagues to discuss and make plans for tweaking existing practices and developing new and innovative strategies to support your young learners this coming school year. While the uncertainty surrounding what school will actually look like and its impact on the typical strategies used to build a new learning community is overwhelming, when teachers put their heads together, amazing things can happen! 

Join me and other kindergarten professionals to do some reflecting, sharing, brainstorming, and out of the box thinking to help everyone feel more prepared for kicking off a new and yes, different kindergarten program this fall.