5th Annual Transitional Kindergarten Conference

The sold out 5^th Annual TK Conference was co-hosted by Early Edge California and New Teacher Center and co-sponsored by First 5 California and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). It provided TK professionals with innovative strategies, practical resources, and hands-on activities to take back to their TK classrooms for a high-quality experience for young learners.

Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, kicked off the conference with a presentation about the power of learning through play. At lunchtime, Cecelia Fisher-Dahms, administrator of the Quality Improvement Office at the California Department of Education – Early Education and Support Division, discussed new professional development modules for TK, and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty spoke about the importance of TK and advocacy.

Below are materials from each of the workshop sessions and video of the luncheon presentation and select workshops.

TK Conference Agenda

Speaker and Workshop Presenter Biographies

Workshop Sessions

Developing Comprehension and Language Skills through Interactive Read Alouds

This interactive session focuses on implementing effective early learning read alouds that promote oral language and comprehension strategies for all children including dual language learners. This session will include family engagement opportunities and additional read aloud resources.

Emergent Writing in the TK Classroom

This session will give you tools and activities to get your TK children excited about writing. You will learn about the stages of writing development and discuss tips and strategies on how writing can easily be incorporated throughout the day. You’ll learn fun and engaging ways to embed writing into whole group, small group, and play, addressing the needs of emergent writing through activities that develop fine motor skills, pencil grip and multi sensory writing experiences that utilize the entire body.

Rituals and Routines that Build Social Emotional and Literacy Skills

This session will explore the value of implementing meaningful routines and rituals throughout the day in your TK classroom. We will share strategies and investigate the ways in which our routines, rituals and transitions help us connect with children to create intentional relationships that nurture children’s social and emotional development and prepare them to be engaged learners in our classrooms.

Organizing a Classroom for Optimal Learning

In this session, participants will engage in thinking about the classroom environment and discuss why, what, and how to intentionally create a space for all students to engage and learn. Throughout the session we will articulate and observe the characteristics of effective physical and emotional environments, with special attention paid to a culturally responsive and social emotional development lens.

Supporting Effective TK Instruction: Setting the stage for Common Core (morning only)

Much evidence suggests that the work of high quality Early Learning classrooms prepares children to develop the foundations of Common Core skills. During this session, participants will explore the connection between the Preschool Learning Foundations and Common Core Standards, refine observation skills through the use of classroom video and consider the opportunities that come from aligning effective teacher support in the Early Learning and the K-12 space.

Leading for Quality Early Learning: TK Administrator PLC (afternoon only)

Administrators and TK support providers are invited to an interactive session designed to address problems of practice leaders face when introducing high quality TK teaching and learning opportunities to their schools and districts. During the workshop, we will explore the TK Implementation Guide and offer additional resources to draw from as we discuss implementation and troubleshoot challenges.

The Power of Our Voice – Advocating for TK (afternoon only)

Join us for an interactive advocacy opportunity to engage legislators and/or their staff in the state Capitol to showcase the benefits of transitional kindergarten programs in your school district. In this session you will learn techniques and strategies that will prepare you to make the case for broadening investments and/or educating policymakers about the core elements that make TK successful. (Please note: this session may last longer than 90 minutes depending on the timing of meetings scheduled at the Capitol. All meetings will conclude by 4:00pm at the latest.)

Sponsored by First 5 California and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)