TK & K: We’re Here for Our Littlest Learners
Dual Language Immersion North County’s two year, tuition-free charter school kindergarten program lays a solid foundation for learning - with lots of fun along the way! We recently got the chance to visit with our kindergarten teachers to learn more about what makes our program special - and how our littlest learners are thriving!
Jump Starting with TK & K
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year of our two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. TK students learn Spanish, classroom and playground social skills, some letters and sounds, number recognition and math skills. They also practice small and large motor skills while expanding their knowledge of themselves and the world around them.
TK students start out their day with a selection of learning activities, followed by a morning circle time to introduce and review prereading, math, and language concepts. These concepts are relayed through stories, songs, and games, and then expanded upon through a variety of activities and small group work throughout the day. TK students enjoy a balance between free choice activities and guided learning activities.
DLINC is the only immersion school in our area that uses a 100% Spanish model for TK and the 90/10 model in Kindergarten. In Kindergarten, DLINC students work on mastery of letters, sounds, and words. They begin reading and writing simple sentences - all in Spanish. Both TK and K students also have art, music, PE, and library time each week, along with two daily two recesses and a lunch break. In the fall, we take a field trip to a pumpkin patch and in the spring we go to the Carlsbad Flower Fields.
A Foundation for Success
Students who have attended TK at DLINC are familiar with the school and routine prior to Kindergarten - which is an advantage. They are comfortable with the Spanish and English spoken at our school, as well as some reading and math concepts, making the transition easier. Both TK and K students are familiar with our building, our campus, and the many friendly faces of our teaching staff, which often makes the jump to 1st grade a seamless experience.
Tips for TK/K Parents
Many of our TK/K parents look for advice on how to best support their child’s learning at DLINC. Here are a few ideas that our TK/K teachers suggested to try at home:
Read to your child everyday, share experiences with your child, find what your child is interested in and plan some activities around those interests.
Give your child opportunities to play with other children in his/her age group outside of the school day.
Help children create a structured routine at home. A consistent schedule can help them build emotional stability and security at home as well as school.
For non-Spanish speaking families, listening or watching Spanish videos can help children feel less anxious when entering school. Here are some helpful websites:
https://pbskids.org/games/spanish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yuiUvi568I
Don’t forget to volunteer! We welcome parent volunteers in our classrooms - just check with your teacher to find an opportunity that fits your schedule.
Do not be surprised if your child is exhausted! It is quite normal for kindergartners to fall asleep in the car on the way home.
Talk to your teacher! Our small school has a family-like atmosphere that values all students. Parents communicate through weekly parent teacher communicators and weekly emails. Parents are also encouraged to email, text, or call our TK/K teachers any time - to talk about what’s happening in the classroom, at home, or any concerns you may have about your child’s learning. Our teachers are great communicators, and they want to partner with parents to support student success!
DLINC’s TK/K program sets our youngest learners on a path to success, through language immersion as well as math and pre reading skills, art and music and more! Find out more and join our proud Wolfpack tuition-free public school community today!
About Dual Language Immersion North County
Dual Language Immersion North County is an award-winning TK-8 tuition-free public charter school serving students in Vista, CA. DLINC prepares bilingual students for bright futures in a multilingual world through a safe, respectful and nurturing small charter school environment. We offer immersion education in Spanish and English and the support to ensure student success. We partner with community organizations to take learning out of the classroom, and encourage families to be closely involved in their students' learning. Join our TK-8 tuition-free public charter school today! Enrolling now.