Pre-K Information and Resources
“Research shows that children who attend high-quality prekindergarten programs increase their opportunities to be successful later in life.”
The Pew Charitable Foundation
“Kindergarten students who attended prek were three times more likely to be ready for school.” E3 Alliance
High-quality prekindergarten provides a learning environment that inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and fosters a love of learning. In high-quality prekindergarten, children learn essential skills for being successful in school like:
- Paying attention
- Following 2-3 step directions
- Learning lots of new vocabulary words for objects and ideas that help them to comprehend what they read and hear
- Learning the ABCs and the sounds associated with each letter
- Learning how to read and write short words including their name
- Learning numbers from 1-20 and counting
- Sequencing, sorting and problem solving skills that will help them with reading and math
- Following daily routines
- Taking turns, sharing and appropriately communicating with others
- Building strength and coordination of muscles for academic and nonacademic activities
- Exploring
- Asking questions
- Seeking answers
- Building confidence as learners and a positive relationship with schoo
PreKindergarten Best Practices
- Play is learning and learning is play for our pre-k students! See all the skills they are learning when they play with blocks.
- Fine motor activities help build the small muscles in the hand which prepare our pre-k students for writing!
- Did you know young children learn best through active movement? Our pre-k teachers keep our pre-k students engaged through movement activities.
- What is the purpose of the picture schedule? Picture schedules help young children self-regulate throughout the day.
- Pre-k students love read aloud time! So much learning: vocabulary, comprehension, listening skills, and much more!
- Instruction built on social and emotional skills, rich play, toys, games, art, music and movement complements explicit instruction focused on things like learning to count and matching letters to sounds and words. Both benefit kids' readiness for school.
How to Prepare Your Child for Pre-K
- How to Prepare Your Child for Preschool
- Before Starting Preschool: What Your Kids Should Know
- A Child Becomes a Reader
- Expert Q+A: Are We Ready for Preschool?
Family Resources
- Parents as Teachers Website
- CLI Engage CIRCLE Activity Collection: Family
- Help for Parents. Hope for Kids.
- Zero to Three: Grandparent Guide
- E3 Alliance School Readiness Parent Guides
- Texas School Ready Resources for Parents
- Early Childhood Texas
Texas Education Agency Information
- Prekindergarten Four-Year-Old Guide (Spanish version)
- Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
- Texas Infant, Toddler, & Three-Year-Old Development
MISD PreKindergarten Program Evaluation 2021