2. The Power of K: NC Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce its first North Carolina Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative. In response to the many challenges facing kindergarten teachers across our state and nation, the Primary Team is launching a new project to enhance the leadership skills and content knowledge of a selected group of kindergarten teachers from each region of our state.
The goal of this initiative is to establish a group of kindergarten teacher leaders for North Carolina. This group of teachers will participate in a three-year comprehensive professional development project that is designed to increase student achievement by implementing practices proven effective in addressing the educational needs of all students. The model is designed to develop and enhance the teachers’ pedagogy and leadership skills in order to impact the long-term growth, development and academic success of all kindergarten students.

3. NC State Board of Education Regions
From 219 applications, 36 kindergarten teachers were selected to participate. The represent each of the 8 State Board of Education regions in our state.

4. This is when Amy and I did our “skit”!
Started out by saying…oh wait, Amy, wasn’t there someone else that we wanted to introduce people to? I don’t see them. Do you? Let’s go look? We’ll be right back. Begin the Cinderella music and then come out sweeping!!! See skit for specifics.

5. Kindergarten Position Statement
The Power of K:
North Carolina Position Statement Kindergartens of
the 21st Century
The Primary Team, along with a group of kindergarten teachers, administrators, consultants and B-K Faculty has created a position statement: The Power of K: North Carolina Position Statement on Kindergartens of the 21st Century. We have received endorsement of this position statement from the NC State Board of Education, the NC Birth through Kindergarten Institutes of Higher Education Consortium, the NC Office of School Readiness and the NC Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as other interested agencies.

6. Why?
State Board Goal - 21st Century Learners “Future Ready Students”
What does this mean for kindergarten programs in NC?
How can K support this goal?
What are the successes & challenges for K teachers to meet this goal?
Why was this position paper written?
It came about because of the goals of our State Board of Education regarding “future ready students” and 21st Century Learners. We began asking…what does this mean for kindergarten programs? How can kindergarten programs support the development of 21st century learners. What will be the challenges in striving to meet this goal?

7. Why? Kindergarten Today Challenges
Lack of consistent goals / expectations / practices
Lack of understanding of effective practices for working with young children
Implementation of standards while remaining true to the learning styles and developmental needs of increasingly diverse 5 year olds.
Retention
K ‘04-’ ,659 students %
So, we began to consider the challenges for kindergartens today…
Lack of consistency across the state
Lack of understanding of how to work with young children
The struggle to meet standards and expectations while remembering how young children learn and grow
The retention rate in kindergarten is increasing each year!

8. Why? Universal point of entry
Public school credibility highest at kindergarten year
Last position paper on Kindergarten
June, 1989
the Kindergarten year is seen as the universal point of entry for all young children…since children come from a variety of places and experiences before kindergarten…preschool, home child care, home, etc.
During the kindergarten year we see the biggest amount of parent participation and it has the highest credibility of all the years in school
The state hasn’t had a position on kindergarten practices since 1989!

9. Why? Kindergarten Teachers Speak Out January, 2006 - “K Sharing Day”
50 teachers - regional representation
Administrators & B-K faculty
Purpose
Begin the Conversation
Successes & challenges
Strategies and support systems
Gather data - programs, SCOS, assessment, expectations
Recommendations
Because of the many concerns related to kindergarten, the Primary Team convened a group of kindergarten teachers to share successes and challenges.
This group came up with LISTS of recommendations….

10. DPI Action Prioritize recommendations Kindergarten position statement
The Power of K: NC Position Statement on kindergartens of the 21st Century
SBE endorsement - June, 2007
The Primary team looked at all the recommendations and prioritized them…it was loud and clear that number one on the list should be to create a position paper about kindergarten from the state’s perspective and we are pleased to say that the NC State Board of Education endorsed this position paper in June of this year…which means that the Board of Education encourages districts to use this position paper as a framework when planning and designing kindergarten programs in their schools.
Endorsement does not equal mandate…It is not required, but strongly suggested / recommended!!

11. Position Statement Letters of support / endorsement
NC Birth - Kindergarten Institutes of Higher Education Consortium
NC Office of School Readiness
FPG / FirstSchool
NC Association of Elementary Educators
NC Association for the Education of Young Children
Action for Children
This paper has also been endorsed by the following agencies and organizations

12. Outcomes Guidelines / Framework for administrators & teachers
Consistent and clear expectations / practices
K Teacher Leader Initiative
Ready Schools Initiative
Connect preschool to kindergarten and kindergarten to first grade
Establish the foundation for 21st Century Learning Skills and Future Ready Students
These are the intended outcomes for this position paper…
It will serve as a guideline or framework that provides consistent and clear expectations for NC kindergartens
It will serve as the foundation for the work of the NC Kindergarten Teacher Leaders
It has become an important piece of the NC Ready Schools Initiative
It can serve as a way to align our practices in Preschool through grade 1
It provides the foundation for 21st Century Learning during the kindergarten year

13. The Power of K The Mandate The Power of K Kindergarten Today
Kindergarten Children Today
Kindergarten Programs of the 21st Century: Intentional Teaching and Learning
North Carolina’s Charge
Small Group Activity
Let’s take a look at the position paper! The paper is divided into these sections.
Divide the large group into 7 small groups (1 per section, except the Kindergarten Programs of the 21st Century: Intentional Teaching and Learning section should be spilt into 2 groups - intentional teaching and Play)
Provide each group with a set of markers and large piece of chart paper
Go to next slide for directions

14. Be Creative!! Illustrate your assigned section of the Power of K
Ask each group to read their section.
Identify the “main ideas” - the most important parts of that particular section -
Illustrate the main ideas on the chart paper and be prepared to share with the other groups.
This is kind of like a Think, Pair, Share activity! Each group should become the “experts” on their section.
Illustrate your assigned section of the Power of K
Use the chart paper and markers
Be prepared to share with other groups

15. Sharing Time The Mandate
Allow each group to share their chart with the large group.
Begin with section #1 - The State Board Mandate
After they share the chart, go to the next slide to review
The Mandate

16. The Power of K The Mandate
The guiding mission of the NC State Board of Education
Globally competitive students
“Future Ready Students”
Kindergarten “leads the journey”

17. Sharing Time
Group number 2 shares
The Power of K

18. The Power of K The Power of K
“The early childhood years, birth through age 8, are the most powerful years for learning, growth and development in the life of a child” (Jensen, 1998).
Kindergarten is a foundation of a child’s and family’s attitude towards education

19. Sharing Time
Group 3 shares
Kindergarten Today

20. The Power of K Kindergarten Today Must meet multiple demands
Feels the pressure of increased accountability
“suffers from the middle-child syndrome [and] straddles the worlds of preschool and elementary school” (Graue, 2006)
A delicate balancing act

21. Sharing Time
Group 4 shares
Kindergarten Children Today

22. The Power of K Kindergarten Children Today
“Although the 21st Century brings new experiences for young children, their developmental patterns, rates and ways of learning have not changed.”
“still in a very sensitive period for brain development”

23. The Power of K Kindergarten Children Today
“Kindergarten children must be appropriately challenged to progress academically and socially; however, when classroom experiences are not attuned to children’s developmental needs and individual characteristics, they undermine rather than foster children’s learning”. (Berk, 2006)

24. Sharing Time
Group 5 shares
Kindergarten Programs of the 21st Century

25. The Power of K
Kindergarten Programs of the 21st Century: Intentional Teaching & Learning
“K programs must respond to the complex needs of children by linking instructional practices, the physical environment, and learning opportunities to the unique characteristics of 5 year olds.”

26. The Power of K
Kindergarten Programs of the 21st Century: Intentional Teaching and Learning
Kindergarten classrooms must be engaging and interactive where children are guided by trusted and nurturing adults who provide challenging, yet achievable learning experiences
Requirements (page 3 of statement)

27. Sharing Time
Group 6 shares
Play

28. The Power of K
Kindergarten programs of the 21st Century: Intentional Teaching and Learning
Play is the core of a kindergartner’s learning & development and is an essential element of a child’s education in the 21st Century.
“integral to the academic environment”
The absence of play is an obstacle

29. Sharing Time
Group 7 shares
NC’s Charge

30. The Power of K North Carolina’s Charge
All students will graduate from a rigorous, relevant academic program.
Kindergarten programs must ensure rigor and relevance and guarantee supportive relationships for each student.

31. The Power of K Your Personal Charge Awareness
Share information with colleagues & families
Reflect on your classroom practices and the Power of K framework
What are your strengths?
What effective practices do you want to enhance?
Since we know a little more about the paper now and we know what NC’s charge is…now, what is YOUR charge?
Becoming aware of the paper and it’s principles
Sharing this information with colleagues and families
Self-reflection - what are your strengths related to this position paper? What do you want to enhance? What are your next steps?

32. The Power of the Kindergarten Child
Here you can use the Guided Visualization Activity if time allows…

33. It Takes a Village to Raise a Child
Insert photos from your own class to use with Raffi’s song…It Takes a Village!
to Raise a Child