Junior Kindergarten
Junior Kindergarten is a half day class (8:45-11:45 and 12:30-3:30) offered by the Marion Independent School District for students who will be 5 years old by September 15th. Both morning and afternoon classes are held at Emerson Elementary and free bussing is available for all students who are eligible for bussing. It is designed for children who may need an extra year to develop before starting all day kindergarten. Most, but not all, of the children have birthdays in May, June, July, August, and September.
These students may not be able to or may not have the desire to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. They may not like to do things like color, cut, or learn to write their name and other letters and numbers. They may not be good at sharing, taking turns, or solving problems with their peers. They may prefer to be playing on the floor with toys than working in school. They may need help in getting in and out of outdoor clothing. They may have some difficulty understanding common school directions or expressing their thoughts. They may be extremely shy or have some separation anxiety when leaving parents. There are many reasons a child could benefit from Junior Kindergarten. Preschool teachers may recommend to parents that their child could benefit from an alternative kindergarten program. Relatives and friends may make suggestions and you can discuss this issue with your child’s physician.
Emerson and open enroll students generally attend the morning class and Starry students attend the afternoon class. The curriculum in JK consists of thematic units that work on skills of cutting, writing, some letter and letter sound recognition, drawing to represent an idea, receptive and expressive language skills, counting, numeral recognition, making sets, following routines and directions, listening skills, social skills with peers, problem solving, and classroom independence.
If you are thinking about Junior Kindergarten for your child, please talk with one of the kindergarten teachers about it and s/he can give you a form to fill out that indicates your interest in the program. This form does not guarantee that your child will be in Junior Kindergarten. If you indicate on the form that you are thinking about it, but not sure about your decision, a teacher will call you to discuss it. Decisions do not need to be made immediately. Phone calls will be made after spring break in March and April. Class lists will be determined in April or early May and you will receive a letter or phone call regarding your child at that time.
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Independent School District, Marion, IA