The journey from preschool to kindergarten represents a pivotal transition in a child's educational life - one that shapes not just their academic foundation, but their social, emotional, and cognitive development for years to come. That's why transitional kindergarten (TK) matters so deeply.

Join host Lisa Gonzalez-Solomon as she delves into the transformative world of TK with two passionate education leaders from Santa Ana Unified School District: Maricela Roque, Director of Elementary Education, and Damaris Sandoval, Certificated Learning and Achievement Specialist. Together, they unlock the secrets of how thoughtfully designed TK classrooms support children's natural development through play-based learning while building critical skills.

Discover how TK serves as the perfect bridge between early childhood experiences and elementary education, allowing children to learn through exploration, collaboration, and hands-on activities. You'll hear how classroom environments are deliberately organized into specialized areas for literacy, math, science, and dramatic play - each designed to nurture different aspects of a child's development.

The conversation explores the crucial partnership between parents and educators in supporting early learning success. From establishing consistent routines at home to fostering independence, asking open-ended questions during daily activities, and maintaining regular communication with teachers, parents play a vital role as their child's first and most influential teachers.

Looking toward the future, our experts share how Santa Ana Unified is expanding TK programs while emphasizing equity, cultural responsiveness, and innovative teaching practices to meet diverse student needs. Whether you're a parent of a young child, an educator, or someone passionate about early learning, this episode offers invaluable insights into how we can work together to build a strong foundation for our youngest learners.

Subscribe to Better Together and join our community dedicated to educational excellence through collaboration. Have you enrolled your four-year-old in transitional kindergarten yet? Connect with your neighborhood SAUSD school today to give your child this transformative educational experience!

Visit us at our Buzzsprout site below for more ways to listen, links to our social media sites and any referenced materials, and complete transcripts of our full-length episodes.

Visítenos en nuestro sitio Buzzsprout a continuación para conocer más formas de escuchar, enlaces a nuestros sitios de redes sociales y cualquier material de referencia, y transcripciones completas de nuestros episodios completos.

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