From Grad School to Kindergarten

I know, I know. Most people finish Kindergarten before going to grad school. But I needed a catchy line. Please read on.

A sad truth in urban America, including Boston, is that the “achievement gap” exists even before the first day of school for far too many children. There are many reasons for this, most related directly or indirectly to economics.

In Boston, the recently formed Zero to Five Coalition is developing strategies to prepare all young children for school. It is an ambitious plan, led by Mayor Menino, and involving all sectors of our City. Its premise is that all children are born ready to learn and need a nurturing supportive environment to do so, starting with the family and extending into every layer of community. We want to eliminate the achievement gap in Boston before kids enter school, by preparing them be ready for school when they reach Kindergarten.

Generations Incorporated will help. With a grant from an anonymous foundation we are developing a project that will place trained Experience Corps members, all volunteers, in Kindergarten classrooms in our partner schools. Imagine the increased learning that can happen with another caring adult present.

Here’s the Grad School part. Wheelock College, a national leader in early education, will teach a specially designed graduate course in Early Childhood Education for our Experience Corps members. They will attend Friday and Saturday classes in April and May, and with additional training by the public schools, will be ready to go to Kindergarten in the fall.

They will then serve in Kindergarten classrooms helping children with literacy skills, specifically oral language, as well as play and social skills. They will help reach out to and support parents, so that parents can learn to be “first teachers” for their children.

We are grateful to our partners in this project, including the BPS Early Childhood Department, Wheelock College, and our donors. This is one example of the impact that we as older adults can make in our community, and our deep desire to do so.

It important to act now, there is a lot of work to be done. If you would like to support this effort, please contact me.

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