Education and Early Childhood Development
August 12, 2016
Investing in the Province's Youngest Students
Final Full-Day Kindergarten Preparations on Schedule as New School Year Approaches
In the coming weeks, full-day Kindergarten classes will get underway throughout the province, as the new school year begins. The remaining infrastructure upgrades are being finalized, professional learning for teachers has been delivered with more planned for the fall and classroom and teaching resources have been provided to schools across the province.
"Implementing full-day Kindergarten is a significant progressive step that will support the educational foundation of our youngest students as they learn and develop. The success and benefits of this programming are being seen in provinces across the country and it is time for our students to have access to this opportunity. I am pleased to announce that our final preparations including infrastructure, professional learning and classroom resources are on schedule and schools will be ready for full-day Kindergarten."
- The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The Provincial Government has been preparing to implement full-day Kindergarten over the past three years through an investment of over $30 million that included:
- Creating over 140 new teaching positions and adding an additional 115 hours per day for student assistant time;
- Overseeing approximately 100 renovations to classrooms in schools across the province to address space requirements;
- Increasing capacity with four schools receiving extensions and 12 schools receiving modular classrooms adding in total an additional 27 classrooms; and
- Providing professional learning to approximately 700 teachers and administrators.
Full-day Kindergarten will be offered in 185 schools and will use the existing Completely Kindergarten curriculum that has been in use since 2010 and was developed to support full-day programming. Only one school, St. Peter's Primary in Mount Pearl, will be required to use team teaching in some of their Kindergarten classes for a temporary period. Team teaching utilizes a student to teacher ratio of 14:1, with a classroom having no more than 28 students. The class cap for Kindergarten with only one teacher in the room is up to 20 students.
"Newfoundland and Labrador English School District staff continue to work closely with officials of the Provincial Government to prepare our schools for the implementation of full-day Kindergarten. This is an important milestone for our education system and our teachers and school staff will provide exciting learning environments for our newest and youngest students. We certainly look forward to welcoming full-day Kindergarten students and providing an exceptional learning experience for them, their families and our teachers."
- Milton Peach, Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador English School Board
The annual cost of full-day Kindergarten will be approximately $13 million which will support new teaching positions and programming requirements including additional student assistant hours.
For more information on the implementation of full-day Kindergarten please see the attached backgrounder.
QUICK FACTS
- Preparations for the implementation of full-day Kindergarten are on schedule, including infrastructure upgrades, professional learning for teachers and classroom resources.
- Over $30 million has been allocated during a three year period to prepare for full-day Kindergarten which will be offered in 185 schools, approximately 370 classrooms and to approximately 4,750 Kindergarten students.
- Over 140 new teaching positions were required, 100 renovations to schools, four schools required extensions and 12 schools received modular classrooms.
- Newfoundland and Labrador is the last province in Canada to implement full-day Kindergarten.
- Full-day Kindergarten has been shown to support stronger academic outcomes and reading skills, better social and emotional development as well as positive self-esteem and independence.
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Media contacts:
Blair Medd
Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca |
Ken Morrissey
Director of Communications Newfoundland and Labrador English School District 709-758-2371, 730-0798 kenmorrissey@nlesd.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Full-Day Kindergarten
Completely Kindergarten
The full-day Kindergarten program will be play-based, using the existing Completely Kindergarten curriculum that was developed in 2010 with full-day Kindergarten in mind.
Completely Kindergarten is a curriculum guide designed specifically for Kindergarten teachers. The content includes specific information about the Kindergarten learner and suggestions for teachers on designing play-based learning areas in the Kindergarten classroom through free and structured play.
Overall Classroom Design
A well-designed, play-based classroom is like having another teacher in the room. The environment is also a teacher.
Materials in the room are purposeful and are continually changing to meet children's interests and the learning outcomes. Learning areas are designed to encourage exploration through play and support specific Kindergarten learning outcomes. Examples include:
- A group meeting area that supports children's sharing, planning, and reflection;
- A math and science area that utilizes blocks to support numeracy skills, problem-solving and scientific concepts;
- A writing area that supports literacy skills such as print exploration, creativity and writing development; and
- A dramatic play area that supports the development of social and language skills through imaginary play.
Play-based learning materials stimulate a child's natural curiosity and support choice in their learning activities. Children can approach the materials in ways that are appropriate to their needs, interests and skill levels.
Free Play and Structured Play
The Kindergarten classroom has blocks of time for sustained play with areas for free and structured play. Free play is extended time for pretend play that is mostly child-initiated. Children choose the learning area that interests them and move freely from area to area. A well-equipped Kindergarten classroom includes a wide range of play materials within each area. Structured play involves teacher-directed, planned activities to engage in learning a specific concept.
Considerations for French Immersion
Play-based learning in French Immersion looks quite similar to play-based learning in an English classroom with the obvious difference in the language of instruction. Play is still very important.
There are more teacher-directed activities, especially early in the school year, for developing a language base in French. Second language learning strategies such as songs, poems, stories, drama, games, and routines with repetitive language are also used to introduce and model vocabulary and language structures.
Students with Special Needs
Play-based environments are very inclusive. The physical areas are flexible depending on the needs of the children in any given class.
Demonstration Classroom
There are four demonstration classrooms located throughout the province in St. John's, Gander, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. These classrooms are designed to deliver professional learning for new Kindergarten teachers and to assist current Kindergarten teachers in applying their teaching strategies to a full day of learning.
Professional Learning for Teachers
During this past spring approximately 700 teachers and administrators received professional learning for full-day Kindergarten, with further professional learning in the fall for teachers hired during the summer.
Infrastructure Update for Full-Day Kindergarten
The implementation of full-day Kindergarten required a full assessment of infrastructure needs throughout the province. Through this process, approximately 100 classrooms required renovations, four schools needed extensions and 12 schools required modular classrooms in preparation for full-day Kindergarten.
Schools Receiving Extensions
Schools (4) | Community |
---|---|
Carbonear Academy | Carbonear |
Mary Queen of Peace Elementary | St. John's |
St. Francis of Assisi Elementary | Logy Bay/Middle Cove/Outer Cove |
Pasadena Elementary School | Pasadena |
Schools Receiving Modular Classrooms
Schools (12) | Community |
---|---|
Cape St. Francis Elementary | Pouch Cove |
C. C. Loughlin Elementary | Corner Brook |
Centreville Academy | Centreville-Wareham |
Coley's Point Primary | Coley's Point |
Gander Academy | Gander |
Holy Cross Elementary | Holyrood |
J.J. Curling Elementary | Corner Brook |
Riverside Elementary | Shoal Harbour |
St. Bernard's Elementary | Witless Bay |
St. Edward's Elementary | Conception Bay South (Kelligrews) |
St. George's Elementary | Conception Bay South (Manuels) |
St. Peter's Primary | Mount Pearl |
2016 08 12 11:10 a.m.