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More than 300,000 children and families transition from Head Start programs to kindergarten every year, and thanks to Head Start training and support, children and families are more likely to experience school success in kindergarten and beyond. 

These facts and figures are behind the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start program conducting its first in-person 2021 SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness Camp (KRC), according to Adrienne Kaesberg, instructional services coordinator. 

KRC will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, June 7-Wednesday, June 30 at Bluffview, Cahokia and Jackie Joyner-Kersee Head Start Centers. “The Camp is for children, ages four and five, who will be in kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year,” said Lisa Tate, assistant program director/center operations. 

“We want to support a smooth, successful transition for children into kindergarten,” explained Kaesberg. “The in-person Kindergarten Readiness Camp will allow for social interaction, hands-on learning and more to prepare preschoolers for success.” 

Other KRC coordinators include Denise Brown, health services, Shameka Brown, special services, and Alina Schnietz, family services. 

KRC is aligned with KIDS: Kindergarten Individual Developmental Survey, an observational assessment tool developed to assist teachers and parents to better understand the readiness of children upon kindergarten entrance, noted Kaesberg. KRC’s lesson plans incorporate the KIDS standards in the areas of language/literacy, cognitive/math, and its approaches to learning and social-emotional development. In addition, outdoor gross motor skills have been selected to support increasing children’s executive functioning skills. 

Illinois State Board of Education State Readiness Measures include:

• Curiosity and initiative in learning
• Self-control of feelings and behavior
• Engagement and persistence 

“Kindergarten readiness might best be understood not as a single goal but as a process,” added Kaesberg. It provides experiences and an environment that prepare students to learn. The SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness camp will provide such experiences.” 

In helping parents, camp team members will provide them with kindergarten enrollment and health requirements, and an increased understanding of the expectations of school districts. Information will also be shared about what parents can do at home to continue to support their child’s growth and development. 

The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program serves more than 860 families and children birth through age five, including children with special needs, throughout St. Clair County. The program also provides services to expectant mothers. The program is housed in 12 early childhood centers, seven managed directly by SIUE staff and five collaborations. The program includes a rigorous school readiness program and provides comprehensive services, such as health/ dental screenings and family engagement and support activities.  

Photo:
SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness committee members from left to right: Shameka Brown, Adrienne Kaesberg, Denise Brown and Alina Schnietz.