Colorado kindergarten teachers prepare for bigger class sizes, wider range of experiences
2020 saw drop in preschool and kinder enrollment
Potential challenges for kindergarteners amid pandemic
and last updated 2021-04-14 14:38:39-04
DENVER â The pandemic saw more Colorado parents pulling their kids out of daycare, and âredshirtingâ kindergarten-age students. The state saw a 23% drop in preschooler enrollment, and a 9% drop in kindergarten enrollment, as part of an overall school enrollment decline.
Kindergarten teachers are aware of the challenges theyâll face with potentially more students and a range of preschool experiences. But they say, in kindergarten, thatâs normal.
âIn a typical year. you ll have a kid who comes in who s reading, and in your typical year, you ll have kids who come in who don t know the letters of their name, and that s all normal,â said Elizabeth Smart, a kindergarten teacher at Stober Elementary School in Lakewood.
The George J. Mitchell Elementary School in Little Egg Harbor is going virtual for the next couple of weeks due to a recent rise in Covid cases.
Principal Deniese Guinan wrote a letter to parents on Thursday saying the Department of Health made the recommendation they operate virtually for 14 days.
The hope is to open back up again on February 12. The teachers are fully prepared to pivot to virtual instruction and will continue to provide high quality lessons for your children. I understand that this may pose a temporary inconvenience for you, but please know your child’s safety is our top priority. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding during this unprecedented time as it is essential that we follow the recommendations of the Department of Health, Guinan said in the letter.