Introduction
There
are three main differences between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten
(K). First, the children in the two
grades are at different levels of social maturity, and the skills development
work undertaken reflects this. Second,
children in K are expected to have longer attention spans and greater ability
to concentrate. Third, TK places
more emphasis on one-to-one attention, while group work is more prominent in K.
However, a principle common to both grades is that each child will be extended
and encouraged academically according to individual needs, abilities and readiness.
Social
Ski
lls
The
children in the two grades are at different levels of social maturity. Accordingly, there are some differences between TK and K in the development
of the children’s social skills.
Some
of the social skills developed in TK are:
-
making
own choices
-
cooperating
with others
-
joining
in appropriately in a group situation
-
listening
to and following several instructions
-
responsibility for own and class possessions
-
responsibility
for own behavior.
Children in K pursue a very similar set of skills but at a more advanced level.
Attention
and Concentration
Children
in K are expected to be able to concentrate on their activities for longer periods
of time than children in TK. Accordingly,
children in TK have a slightly more formal rest time (30 minutes). The children can lie or sit to read, listen to music or sleep on mats. In contrast, children in K do not use mats.
One
to One Attention
There
is a greater emphasis on one-to-one attention in TK, while there is more group
work in K. The majority of the day
in TK is center time. This is a time when the children explore different activities individually
or in small groups. During this time the teacher gives individuals attention, giving
them help and encouragement in the areas that the children need or are ready for.
Reading
in TK is taught individually according to each child’s needs and abilities, whether
it involves sharing a book together or the child reading the text independently. Children in K are taught reading in small groups. Children in K usually have the concentration and social skills necessary
for small group reading lessons and, at this level, benefit from group interaction. |
