Junior Kindergarten
Junior Kindergarten is a free, full day program, with daily routines for students (see below), that allows children to become familiar with the structure and format of a school day while developing critical skills for elementary school. Students who attend will most often enter formal kindergarten the following year. For the 25-26 school year, Junior Kindergarten classes will be located at Grayson, Donelson Hills and Houghton elementary schools. Transportation may be provided in most areas.
Students develop and grow at different rates. Junior Kindergarten enrollment is not based on academic criteria but rather is for students who need more time to mature and develop. If your child has a late birthday (June, July, or August) and you believe your child would benefit from an additional year, our Junior Kindergarten may be the perfect option for your family! Additionally, the State of Michigan has changed the entrance age for kindergarten to September 1st. If your child’s birthday is between September 2nd and November 30th, but you feel beginning his/her formal educational journey is the right choice, then Junior Kindergarten may be a perfect option for your family.
Daily Routines for Students
JK Daily Schedule
Arrival & breakfast (20 min) –Non breakfast eaters have an opportunity to move among tables for table time activities.
Greeting time (15-25min) – Greeting time provides a smooth transition from home to school and builds connections among the children. Adults share the morning message and go over daily schedule, calendar,child of day & review and reflect on yesterday if needed.
Planning/choice Time/Cleanup (30 min)– Children carry out their plans and make choices about where and how to use materials. Adults encourage children’s problem solving both with materials and during times of social conflict.
Outside Time (20 min) – Children engage in vigorous, noisy outdoor play! Teachers participate in, and support children’s play experiences outdoors.
Large-Group Time (20 min)– Children and teachers gather together to learn about emotions, complete science experiments, work on literacy and math skills, or move to music. This provides an opportunity for children to learn the social skills of imitation, turn taking, listening to others, and sitting appropriately during group time.
Small Group Time (20 min)- Adults meet with children to work on the activities planned by the teachers, to provide some of the key experiences of cognitive growth. The children explore, play, work with materials, and talk about what they are doing. Children will rotate through 4 small group activities per week, completing 1 per day. Small groups include math/science, ABC/sounds, fine motor/writing, & art/science If children need additional time, small groups can be placed out again during choice time. On the 5th day children complete Handwriting without tears centers. (40 mins)
Book Look (15 min) children look at books when they are finished with small group activities. 2nd semester reading workshop model is introduced.
Recall Time (10 min) – Children reflect on, talk about, and/or show what they have done this morning.
Teachers can have class discussions about problems and/ or celebrations.
Lunch & Recess (45 min)
ABC time (10 min) Children enjoy technology to master letters and sounds or participate in whole group activities focused on literacy skills.
Quiet/Resting Time/Cleanup (35 min)– Resting is a time for sleeping or quiet play on mats.
Movement/yoga (10 min) – this creates a peaceful opportunity to re-enter into our afternoon activities.
Read aloud (10 min)
Specials (40 min) –art, P.E., 2 music, library, computers
Snack (20 min)
Table Time (30 min) – Children complete teacher directed activities and learning games at the tables. 2nd
semester this may include more whole group activities like interactive writing, writing workshop, shared reading, and learning letter sounds.
Outside time (15 min)
Goodbye gathering & Dismissal (15 min)
