WHAT HAPPENS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN?
Pre-Kindergarten can be one of a child’s most exciting years in school. Four-year-olds are naturally curious and eager to learn. Pre-Kindergarten students leave Keller ISD's program with a love of learning and the skills they need to be successful students and citizens.

Every KISD Pre-Kindergarten class has a certified teacher and a trained paraprofessional who work together to provide enriching experiences for the students.

Young children learn through play and hands-on activities. High priorities are learning about the alphabet, expanding vocabulary, developing awareness of language sounds (phonological awareness) and the building of social/emotional skills.

WHAT DO PRE-KINDERGARTENERS LEARN?
The Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is based on the Texas Education Agency's Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines. Areas included are:

• Social and Emotional Development
• Language and Communication
• Early Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Fine Arts
• Physical Development
• Technology

Oral language, alphabet recognition, and phonological awareness (awareness of language sounds) are emphasized in Pre-Kindergarten. Students learn to interact with others and monitor their own behavior. Expressing themselves through words, art, and music is also part of the curriculum. Students develop observation and thinking skills through math, science, and social studies. Computers are introduced as tools for learning.

HOW DO PRE-KINDERGARTENERS LEARN?
Pre-Kindergarteners are active learners. They learn through music, movement, and hands-on activities. A typical day in a Pre-Kindergarten classroom includes time in a large group setting, participating in read-alouds, songs, and rhymes. During the day, there is also time for small group instruction where the teacher reinforces important skills specific to the needs of each child. Students also have time to choose their activities at learning centers during Discovery Learning. These may include blocks, dramatic play, computers, library, and writing centers. In Pre-Kindergarten, children also have outdoor time and participate in weekly rotations of physical education, library, and music. 

The most important experience for young children is to be read to daily. Students should be read to at least 10 minutes per day outside of school and begin to understand that print has meaning. Worksheets and workbooks are not used in developmentally appropriate Pre-Kindergarten classes.