Kids get a jump on school
Published by the Lewiston Tribune on 07/07/2011
By Kevin Gaboury of the Tribune
Reprinted with permission from the Lewiston Tribune
McGhee Elementary teacher Rita Repp helps out Tyler Showers, 5, of Lewiston, as he and classmates learn the alphabet Wednesday during Twin County United Way's Kindergarten Boot Camp.
Emily Bostrom, 5, of Lewiston, watches a classmate play with a plastic spider during Kindergarten Boot Camp Wednesday. The 6-week program is designed to help kids who were unable to attend preschool prepare to start school in the fall.
A student is seen coloring "Eensy Weensy Spider" during Kindergarten Boot Camp Wednesday.With school out for the summer, most of the hallways and classrooms at McGhee Elementary School were quiet Tuesday.
But Rita Repp's kindergarten classroom was abuzz with activity as a dozen 5- and 6-year-olds sang renditions of "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and practiced using scissors, coloring and writing their names.
It's the second week of Twin County United Way's "Kindergarten Boot Camp," a six-week program intended to give kids who haven't attended preschool a jump on the next school year. The name invokes images of red-faced drill sergeants and pushups, but it's really quite the opposite.
"Some kids come to school with preschool, and some don't," Repp said, adding the curriculum gets tougher every year. "It's not a lack of ability to learn, it's a lack of experience and knowledge."
The program has been around since last year, but this is its first year at McGhee Elementary School, said Twin County United Way Executive Director Ron Ramos.
"This year, we're focused more on this neighborhood," he said. "We want to serve the highest-need areas."
The main goal of the program is to prepare kids for kindergarten, but it also gives teachers an extra six weeks to work with their students and address any issues, Ramos said. The three-hour classes focus on letter and number recognition, colors, and motor skill development in the form of cutting and coloring.
"A lot of kids come to kindergarten not able to use scissors," Repp said. "Some aren't able to color - they just scribble."
Lacie Burley, 5, the daughter of Bobbie Laws of Lewiston, traced the letters of her name with help from Title 1 teacher Deanna Didier, saying each letter aloud as she formed it.
"Right now, many don't know the letters of their name or letter formation," Didier explained.
Tyler Showers, 5, the son of Sarah and Wes Showers of Lewiston, demonstrated his knowledge of colors by coloring a wagon red. He said red is his favorite color, but he's also partial to blue and orange.
For many students, this is their first time in a classroom, and the class teaches them social skills, like how to raise their hand to ask questions and how to line up for recess.
The kids didn't seem to mind being in school during the summer and participated enthusiastically in the activities. Classes are only four days a week in the mornings, which gives them plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine.
Emily Bostrum, 5, the daughter of Reni and John Bostrum of Lewiston, had already decided what she was doing after class.
"I'm going to swim," she said, as she carefully cut out a paper spider with safety scissors.
Logan Stein, 5, the son of Angela and Craig Stein of Lewiston, said his favorite part of the boot camp so far has been learning the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song. He then proceeded to put plastic spiders in his hair.
The program is part of United Way's Children's Project Initiative and a boot camp is also conducted at Highland Elementary School in Clarkston. It's funded by member donations, and the money pays for stipends for the teachers, snacks and transportation by the Lewiston School District.
The program proved to be a success last year, with 80 percent of the participating children increasing their letter recognition, 75 percent successfully learning and following school routines, and 50 percent of the participants achieving an increase in positive behavior, according to a Twin-County United Way press release.
"The goal is to surpass the outcomes from last year," Ramos said.
A graduation will be on Aug. 4 at both elementary schools for the children who complete the boot camp.
