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https://headstart.gov/publication/activity-calendar-families

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More than 320,000 children and their families transition from Head Start programs to kindergarten every year. When these transitions are successful, children and families are more likely to experience better long-term school success. There are four points of connection that, when strengthened, facilitate effective transitions: Family-School, Child-School, Program-School, and Community-School. Such connections with local schools strengthen when these high-quality practices are implemented: Sharing Information, Building Relationships, and Establishing Alignment.

Explore these videos, guides, and other helpful resources to support program and school efforts to understand the importance of the transition to kindergarten. Learn how to strengthen the four points of connection and implement transition practices that ensure all children and families are ready to engage and succeed in school.

Before you begin, check out the Transition to Kindergarten: Resource Guide for an interactive catalogue of the resources below. Find suggested ways to use them based on the needs of those you support and the training opportunities ahead of you.

Follow the conversation on social media using the hashtag #KeepTheirHeadStart.

Building Bridges

Educators Supporting Successful Transitions to Kindergarten

Educators Supporting Successful Transitions to Kindergarten

Learn about the key components of successful kindergarten transitions. Explore several practical strategies that educators can implement during the transition process. For shorter vignettes that highlight each of the three essential practices individually, check out the resources under the "See It: Effective Practice in Action" heading on the Transition to Kindergarten page.

Gather Information: What You Need to Know About the Transition to Kindergarten

Discover what research says about supporting effective transitions to kindergarten.

See It: Videos of Effective Practice in Action

Watch and learn from effective educators, families, children, leaders, and community members. They share their experiences, feelings, and key practices around fostering partnerships and successful kindergarten transitions.

Apply It: Practical Guides and Planning Tools

Explore concrete strategies and step-by-step plans that leaders, educators, and families can use to navigate the transition to kindergarten.

Host a Summit: Supporting Materials

Smooth transitions depend on strong partnerships between Head Start programs and local education agencies (LEAs). Head Start and school leaders can use this set of materials to organize and carry out a successful local transition to kindergarten summit. Materials include a summit guide, customizable presentation slides, and planning tools.

Related Webinars

Join our hosts and guest experts as they dive into a variety of key transition topics.

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Transition to Kindergarten | HeadStart.gov

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Preschool children transition into kindergarten more successfully when their schools and families take part in the preparation, and when their preschool and kindergarten teachers connect.

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Kindergarten in Kansas booklets
Kindergarten in Kansas provides information to support families of young children as they prepare to begin kindergarten. These are the most current electronic versions of the Kindergarten in Kansas booklets.

Kindergarten in Kansas English (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Spanish (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Arabic (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Burmese (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Swahili (PDF)
Kindergarten in Kansas Vietnamese (PDF)

Click here to order free printed copies of Kindergarten in Kansas booklets, or contact Natalie Schweda at nschweda@kpirc.org

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Let’s get ready for Kindergarten in Kansas City, KS! This channel features video activity guides for your family to try at home using your School Readiness Kits. For questions or comments, contact us at readyforkindergarten@kckps.org

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The Serious Work of Play: Supporting the Whole Child

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The Serious Work of Play: Supporting the Whole Child

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The Serious Work of Play: Supporting the Whole-Child

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OSEP (Office of Special Education) Resources

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OSEP (Office of Special Education) Resources

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OSEP Guidance

OSEP Policy Letters

Training Modules

developed by NICHCY at the request of OSEP, and are maintained by the Center for Parent Information and Resources. These 3 of the 10 available modules are particularly relevant to transition:

Transition Processes: Tools and Needs Assessments

Developed for TA organizations to support strategic planning efforts with states, this framework is a tool for states to analyze their transition system infrastructure and systematically identify improvement strategies to improve local implementation of the transition requirements of the IDEA as well as support effective local infrastructures for effective transition practices.

This worksheet lists the IDEA transition requirements and key infrastructure components in chart format. It can be used as a planning tool and discussion guide for identifying factors contributing to non-compliance and effective practices. It is a companion to the Designing and Implementing Effective Early Childhood Transition Processes framework document.

This tool corresponds directly to the components and elements presented in the transition document and is intended to be used by state or local interagency teams to assess their current practices and identify improvement activities to enhance the infrastructure necessary to support successful transitions.

This tool like the other self assessment references the document "Designing and Implementing Effective Transition Processes". This self assessment takes evidence statements from the document and is organized around the processes of interagency policies and practices, personnel development and training, roles and responsibilities, and strategies and practices.

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developed by NICHCY at the request of OSEP, and are maintained by the Center for Parent Information and Resources.

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Resources 1,000 Books Before KindergartenRead to your children as newborns, infants, toddlers and preschoolers. It makes for giggly, wonderous, cozy fun. It also sets them up for success in school by building language and pre-reading skills. Read 1,000 books before kindergarten and earn rewards for every 100 you share together. For more information Dolly Parton’s

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Head Start Resources for Early Childhood Professionals 

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Head Start Resources for Early Childhood Professionals 

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https://headstart.gov/publication/early-childhood-transitions-supporting-children-families

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Head Start Resources for Early Childhood Professionals 

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Head Start Resources for Early Childhood Professionals 

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https://headstart.gov/publication/educator-practices-support-successful-transitions-kindergarten

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The move from an early learning program to kindergarten is a major transition for children and families. Educators have a valuable opportunity help children and families move through it feeling ready and confident. In this resource, find a list of specific, research-based transition activities that educators can implement to support the four key points of connection with the child's receiving school.

Download the PDF

The move from an early learning program to kindergarten is a major transition for young children and their families. Research shows that a smooth and successful transition to kindergarten is strongly linked to children's academic and social success in the school years to follow. The more transition practices are implemented, the smoother the process. Explore research-based activities educators can implement in the days, weeks, and months leading up to and following the start of kindergarten. They are organized by four points of connection: Child-School, Family-School, Program-School, and Community-School.

Point of Connection

Transition Activities

Child-School

Participate in a spring or summer kindergarten orientation for children and their families.

Organize visits to kindergarten classrooms, and visits from kindergarten teachers.

Bring children to events at the receiving elementary school.

Have children practice kindergarten routines (e.g., lining up, putting on backpacks, carrying lunch on a tray) in the early learning setting.

Incorporate familiar activities or routines from the early learning setting into the kindergarten year.

Encourage kindergarten support staff to visit future students in their early learning settings.

Help make connections between children and families who will attend the same receiving elementary school.

Establish a "buddy system" between children who will be entering kindergarten and students who are currently in kindergarten.

Provide children with books and interactive materials about kindergarten in the months leading up to the transition, including materials children can take home to share with their families.

Encourage families to have discussions and read with their child about kindergarten.

Stay in contact with children and families formerly enrolled in the Head Start program. Visit them in their elementary school setting and encourage them to visit the program.

Family-School

Participate in a spring or summer kindergarten orientation for children and their families. Invite families of children who have previously attended kindergarten to talk about their transition experiences and tips.

Arrange for families of children who are dual language learners to receive kindergarten information and registration materials in their home languages. Provide support for completing registration forms and enrollment requirements.

Contact families in person or by phone in the days or weeks prior to the start of the new school year. Prepare questions for families and invite families to ask questions.

Participate in orientation events for children and families before and during the beginning of the kindergarten year to build relationships with them in the new learning setting.

Identify the preferred communication methods of individual families.

Determine the level of support needed for individual families. In some cases, facilitating family engagement may require providing only basic program information; other families may benefit most from regular home visits, phone calls, home learning activity ideas, or other individualized supports.

Establish a primary point of contact for families. Communicate regularly throughout the school year, with extra frequency in the beginning of the year.

Meet with families in person periodically.

Collaborate with families around any specific transition issues that arise for their child.

Ensure child data is accessible to families, and that families have opportunities to contribute information about their child.

Provide families with information about community resources, such as health screenings, library story times, meal programs, and other services.

Encourage families to engage in learning games and activities at home to prepare for kindergarten. Offer resources in their home languages.

Invite families to participate in the learning setting and in program- or school-wide events.

Provide opportunities for families to help plan events or activities and to offer feedback on events and activities in which they participate.

Send letters, program information, and other helpful resources to families in their home languages.

Offer families tips and other resources about how they can support their child through the kindergarten transition.

Program-School

Participate in joint professional development opportunities for education staff from Head Start programs and kindergarten classrooms.

Participate in meetings between Head Start and kindergarten educators to discuss and coordinate:

Strengths-based child data

Special information for supporting individual children and their families

Classroom routines and procedures

Learning standards, instruction, and assessment

Visit the learning settings of partner schools and programs.

Collaborate to develop common routines and language used in early learning and kindergarten classroom settings.

Community-School

Engage in joint events and partnership activities between Head Start programs and receiving elementary schools.

Tell families about literacy opportunities offered in the community, such as library story times or language learning services.

Identify and partner with organizations in the community (e.g., medical offices, grocery stores, libraries, popular restaurants, meal programs) that could offer resources for families, children's books, or activities about kindergarten.

Participate in community efforts or events about school readiness and kindergarten, such as story time, school playground gatherings, or school supply drives.

Join the local kindergarten transition task force. Work together with families, other educators, leadership, and community members to coordinate kindergarten transition efforts.

Support research-based policies related to the kindergarten transition.

Identify and promote the community's hopes and expectations for children.

" Go to Transition to Kindergarten

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Educator Practices to Support Successful Transitions to Kindergarten | HeadStart.gov

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Discover a list of specific, research-based activities that educators can implement during the transition to Kindergarten process. They focus on ways to foster the four key points of connection with the child's receiving school.

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Leadership Practices for Supporting Kindergarten Transitions 

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Leadership Practices for Supporting Kindergarten Transitions 

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https://headstart.gov/publication/leadership-practices-successful-transitions-kindergarten

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A successful kindergarten transition requires effective and intentional leadership. Explore this packet to find several research-based practices Head Start and elementary school leaders can implement to support the transition to kindergarten. Find examples of activities that support those practices. The practices and activities are organized around the four points of connection that are critical during the transition: program-school, child-school, family-school, and community-school.

Download the PDF

" Go to Transition to Kindergarten

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Leadership Practices for Successful Transitions to Kindergarten | HeadStart.gov

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Find research-based practices and activities to help leaders create successful transitions to kindergarten. Use this information to support the four points of connection that are key to transitions.

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Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) and resources

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Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) and resources

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The Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) recently went through a collaborative revision engaging partners across the Kansas early childhood education community. It was firmly grounded in evidence and developmentally appropriate educational practices.

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Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit | Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund

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The All In For Kansas Kids initiative was made possible by grant number 90TP0131, which was awarded to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. The Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are leading this work with the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

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https://headstart.gov/publication/selected-childrens-books-about-kindergarten

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ECTA (Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center) Resources 

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ECTA (Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center) Resources 

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National Centers, Studies and Specialized Projects Resources

Children's Defense Fund

Transition to Kindergarten - Site provides videos, guides, and other helpful resources to support program and school efforts to understand the importance of the transition to kindergarten.

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development

Resources from the National Early Childhood Transition Center (NECTC) are now hosted by this project. NECTC investigated and validated practices to enhance the early childhood transition process and support positive school outcomes for children with disabilities.

This training tool developed by SERVE Regional Educational Laboratory is designed to help teachers, principals, parents, and other stakeholders improve their transition processes through more effective planning, implementation, and evaluation. The training package includes a trainer's guide, a participant's guide, a CD with all the transparencies needed, and a copy of all the handouts necessary for the training.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

W. K. Kellogg Foundation's initiative entitled SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) (2009)

Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS)

The Pre-elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS) funded by the National Center for Special Education Research at the Institute of Education Sciences is a multi-year study examining preschool special education transition to kindergarten. (2012) The report entitled Early School Transitions and the Social Behavior of Children with Disabilities: Selected Findings from the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (2009) provides selected findings from the first three waves of data collection.

State Resources

Colorado

Connecticut

Georgia

Bright from the Start includes materials with suggestions for pre-K staff on classroom activities, parent workshops, and maintaining documentation.

Maine

Transitioning into Public School - Site provides state specific guidance and suggestions for:

Pre-K and kindergarten educators in planning a quality transition process.

Community preschool and childcare to understand their role in transitioning children into school, and;

Families in understanding what to expect from schools and how to support their children's transitions.

Minnesota

Kindergarten Transition Toolkit - Toolkit designed to provide resources for principals, program administrators, teachers, educators, and families to help support children's kindergarten transition from the year prior to kindergarten entry through the kindergarten school year. Resources in the toolkit include videos, infographics, parent brochure, and a practitioner report. The strategies and resources in the toolkit are designed after Minnesota's kindergarten (school) readiness definition.

North Carolina

New Jersey

Vermont

Parent Resources/Handbooks

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Transition from Preschool Services to Kindergarten

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Transition to Kindergarten - Site provides videos, guides, and other helpful resources to support program and school efforts to understand the importance of the transition to kindergarten. Resources from the National Early Childhood Transition Center (NECTC) are now hosted by this project.

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Going to kindergarten is an important life event. Here are some suggestions to support families so they can help their children with the transition.

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https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/2014/t2k_booklist.pdf

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https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/2015/t2kmulti_booklist.pdf

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As each new school year begins, adults who work with children in the year before kindergarten have much to think about. Research in recent years highlights the importance of early education, and we all want to give children educational and social experiences throughout the pre-kindergarten years that will give them the best possible start. What you might not realize, however, is that the start of the pre-kindergarten year is also the perfect time to begin thinking about kindergarten.

Too often, preparation for kindergarten does not begin until a month or two just before kindergarten begins. However, transition to kindergarten is a process that is most successful when it is carefully planned out over the entire pre-kindergarten year. Whether a child is in preschool, child care or spending time with parents or caregivers at home, the transition to kindergarten can be a stressful time for parents, educators and children.

This toolkit, created by the AFT and the National Center for Learning Disabilities, includes tools and materials that will help you implement strategies to facilitate this process and enhance children's transition to kindergarten. View this video to learn how educators and parents are using T2K tools. Whether you are a school administrator, early childhood professional, child care provider or kindergarten teacher, you will find practical and easy-to-use tools, materials to pass along to parents, and resources and guides to steer you through the process. You can use everything in this toolkit, or just pick a few pieces that will be most helpful for your particular situation.

School Readiness
How do you know if a child is ready for kindergarten? The time that you spend with a child every day can give you lots of information about how he or she is progressing. This section contains a helpful guide on creating an "Early Learning Passport," a kindergarten readiness indicator checklist, an observation and activity guide, and a drawing and writing sample template.

Get Ready to Read!
The Get Ready to Read! Screening Tool is intended to provide early childhood professionals and parents with a "snapshot" of where a child is on the path to developing important early literacy skills. This section includes the screening tool, as well as instructions on how to use the tool and how to score a child's answers. Also included are 36 engaging, skill-building activities for use in group settings.

Visit the Get Ready to Read! online interactive screening tool.

Transitioning to Kindergarten Booklist
The AFT Early Childhood Education Cadre has recommended some of their favorite books. Each booklist pairs a set of learning activities (included in this section of the toolkit) with books that explore similar ideas and skills. Many of the titles are available through First Book.

Transitioning to Kindergarten Multicultural Booklist
This booklist contains book recommendations available in English and Spanish. Also including selections from Colorín Colorado, this booklist encompasses children's stories and characters from a rich array of cultures. Each booklist in this guide pairs a set of learning activities (included in this section of the toolkit) from the "Transitioning to Kindergarten" toolkit with books that explore similar ideas and skills. Many of the titles are available through First Book.

For Parents
This section guides you through the process of sharing what you know about your child with the kindergarten teacher who will be working with your child in the new school year. It gives you the opportunity to pass on important information about your child's likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and any concerns that you may have. If your child is receiving any special services, the information that you provide here can help to ensure that those services continue without gaps into the new school year. Also included are 36 engaging, skill-building activities for you to try at home.

Para Los Padres
Este cuadernillo le servirá de guía para transmitir lo que usted conoce acerca de su hijo al maestro de jardín infantil que trabajará con el niño en el nuevo año escolar. Es la oportunidad para que usted comparta información importante sobre lo que le gusta y no le gusta al niño, los puntos fuertes y débiles del niño, y cualquier otra preocupación que usted tenga. Si su niño recibe atención especial, la información que aquí se proporciona servirá para asegurar que esos mismos servicios continúen sin interrupción durante el nuevo año escolar. Las siguientes páginas contienen 36 actividades para el desarrollo de las destrezas de ¡Prepárate para leer! Estas actividades son divertidas, atractivas, actividades de lectoescritura temprana amenas para los niños y que usted puede usarlas en casa.

Other Resources
There are many free resources available on the internet about transitioning to kindergarten. Some provide ideas for introducing children to new experiences at home and in the community. Others include information about research and best practice in early childhood education. This section contains some helpful resources on the Web for parents, educators and child care providers.

Training Guidelines Training Guidelines PowerPoint presentation . Feel free to customize this guide for your particular group.
This section of the Toolkit is for people who will be conducting workshops for early childhood educators on how to use this Toolkit. Before conducting a training workshop, make sure to become very familiar with both the Toolkit and the accompanying

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Transitioning to Kindergarten: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators

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As each new school year begins, adults who work with children in the year before kindergarten have much to think about. Research in recent years highlights the importance of early education, and we all want to give children educational and social experiences throughout the pre-kindergarten years that will give them the best possible start.

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https://headstart.gov/publication/transition-kindergarten-transition-plan-form

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Manhattan-Ogden Kindergarten Resource Page for Families

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Manhattan-Ogden Kindergarten Resource Page for Families

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Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383

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Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383

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Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383

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Stay tuned for more content coming soon. 

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Stay tuned for more content coming soon. 

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https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ncase_transition_to_k_ost_tipsheet-508c.pdf

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Discussion Questions:

How does connection-centered leadership support positive kindergarten entry experiences for children and families?

How does relevance, relationship, and reflection factor into positive kindergarten entry experiences for staff, children, families, and schools?

How do you current kindergarten readiness strategies reflect these principles? How could you incorporate them further?