TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN IN MARIN (TK)
GIVING OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS A STRONG FOUNDATION
At Ross Valley Charter (RVC) in Fairfax, we offer a nurturing and engaging transitional kindergarten in Marin that serves as an ideal bridge between preschool and kindergarten. Our TK program is thoughtfully designed to foster independence and nurture curiosity in our youngest learners. We provide a supportive atmosphere rich in play, exploration, and creativity, where students form friendships, learn to collaborate, and take their first steps in academic learning. Our curriculum emphasizes social and emotional learning (SEL) and mindfulness, ensuring a positive first classroom experience that focuses on kindergarten readiness.
RVC TK students engage in activities that help them learn how to share, take turns, follow instructions, and work independently. The classroom environment is warm and welcoming, featuring cozy spaces for reading, building, playing, and learning. Our TK school day runs from 8:30 AM to 1:45 PM, mirroring the schedule of our kindergarten classes, with dedicated recess, snack, and lunch times for TK/K students.
WHY CHOOSE RVC FOR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN?
• Inquiry-Based Learning: Our curriculum encourages students to explore and ask questions, fostering a love for learning from an early age.
• Social-Emotional Development: We prioritize SEL and mindfulness, helping children develop essential skills for academic and personal success.
• Experienced Educators: Our teachers are dedicated professionals trained in early childhood education, ensuring a high-quality learning experience.
• Community Engagement: RVC fosters a strong sense of community (link to community page) among students, families, and staff, creating a supportive environment for all.
Join our vibrant community and give your child a head start on their educational journey. To learn more about our Transitional Kindergarten program and begin the enrollment process, please visit our Admission Page.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is for children who will turn 4 years old by September 1st of the school year.
Kindergarten (K) is for children who will turn 5 years old by Sept. 1st of the school year
The TK school day is from 8:30 to 1:45, the same schedule as our kindergarten classes. Our TK/K students have their own recess, snack, and lunch schedules that is separate from the upper grades.
Our TK and Kindergarten mixed-age classroom follows an age- and developmentally-appropriate inquiry-based curriculum designed to prepare your child for a full day of learning and activities.
Our Transitional Kindergarten program focuses on social-emotional development and physical and motor development, as well as the academic skills needed to prepare your child for Kindergarten.
Transitional Kindergarten, or TK, creates a strong foundation for future academic by connecting the gap between preschool and kindergarten. At RVC, we combine the development of social and emotional skills with academic learning so that students build the fundamental pre-literacy, pre-math, and other cognitive skills as well as the social and self-regulation abilities required to thrive.
With TK, children have a stronger foundation for success in elementary school. TK also gives families the choice to prepare their kids for kindergarten with foundational learning skills, self-assurance, and socialization they need to succeed.
With a foundation of progressive student-driven learning, social-emotional development, academic rigor, and inspiring project-based education, Ross Valley Charter makes learning come alive for students. Our immersive, hands-on approach creates lifelong learners who act on their confidence, both inside and out of the classroom.
Transitional Kindergarten gives young learners a head start and the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.
Transitional Kindergarten acts as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for students with late birthdays. It's like the first chapter of a two-year kindergarten story.
Transitional Kindergarten is a gentle, play-based way for children with later birthdays to prepare for kindergarten. It also helps Spanish-speaking students get familiar with English before kindergarten. This is extremely helpful when more rigorous academics get started in Kindergarten.
Most brain growth happens before kindergarten, in the first years of life. By having more early education, TK can help everyone do better in school.
Transitional kindergarten also provides benefits that preschool doesn't. It's a bit more structured than regular preschool, which helps children with the transition to kindergarten. It strikes a balance between the structure of kindergarten and the playfulness of preschool. In TK, students develop essential academic skills like reading, writing, and math while also acquiring crucial social skills such as following directions, building friendships, and taking turns.
Ross Valley Charters' TK program places a strong emphasis on social-emotional development and physical and motor development, in addition to building academic skills necessary for a successful transition to kindergarten. This comprehensive approach combines essential pre-literacy, pre-math, and cognitive skills with social and self-regulation abilities, fostering well-rounded students who are prepared for the academic challenges that lie ahead.
Our Transitional Kindergarten students begin their SEL learning right away. Mindfulness, breathing, communication and empathy are all taught, encouraged, and reflected upon throughout the day.
Students who enter RVC at the TK level are enrolled and do not need to re-apply for Kindergarten.
Want to learn more about our TK program? Apply now or sign up for a tour.
