By: Lauren Ellis, Senior Director of Growth & Programs
We’re thrilled to announce the return of our beloved free, all-day, play-based Transition to Kindergarten program at all four campuses at Impact Public Schools! Recently conditionally approved by the WA State Charter School Commission, this program offers an incredible opportunity for young scholars to thrive and get a strong start to their educational journey. At Impact, we know that early childhood education lays the foundation for long-term success, and we’re proud of the high-quality program that we’ve built for our scholars and families. (Check out this article from The Hechinger Report about our program!) We’ve seen firsthand how this program boosts confidence, curiosity, and skill development in our youngest learners.
What Makes Impact’s TK Program Special?
At Impact Public Schools we have four pillars to our model – Social Emotional Learning, Project Based Learning, a Culture of Positivity, and Individualized Instruction. Led by highly trained and passionate teachers, our Transition to Kindergarten program brings these components to life, and allows for a rigorous, yet developmentally appropriate learning environment for four-year-olds.
Learning Through Play
At Impact Public Schools, our Transition to Kindergarten program uses Tools of the Mind, a play-based curriculum rooted in the research of how children learn best. Throughout the day, scholars engage in play experiences that integrate math, literacy, science, and social studies while also building social connections with their peers. One of the highlights of the TK day is Make Believe Play, where scholars joyfully engage in play centers that take on the characteristics of a theme. There are seven themes throughout the school year – Family, Grocery Store, Restaurant, Doctor’s Office, Pet/Vet, Community Helpers, and Camping. During each theme, the six play centers in the room are transformed to reflect the theme. For example, during the Grocery Store unit, scholars can play at the Check-Out Counter, Pharmacy, Produce Center, Bakery, Loading Dock, and Deli. Scholars take on roles such as the Customer, Manager, and Clerk and engage one another in make-believe scenarios that incorporate their role, center, and corresponding props. This play is facilitated by the teachers and helps scholars develop more complex language skills, increase social interactions, and provide concept development. This play-based model closely aligns with Project-Based Learning, integrating academic concepts into fun, real-world themes that help children see themselves as capable learners.
Ready for Kindergarten and Beyond
As a program committed to supporting scholars to Kindergarten readiness, Transition to Kindergarten has not only a focus on social emotional development for scholars, but academic development as well. In our daily schedule, there is intentional academic time built throughout the day. This includes read alouds, whole-group and small group instruction, and integration of curriculum into the play-based components. For example, in the thematic unit of Grocery Store, scholars might practice counting sets of oranges in the Produce center, writing the initial sound of words when creating their grocery list, and sorting boxes by size in the Loading Dock center. While scholars might think that they are just playing, they are learning through authentic application of concepts!
Additionally, scholars practice academic skills such as counting, letter/sound awareness, writing, concepts about print, and the property of objects in structured math and literacy small group times that teach concepts through activities set up as games. Each academic skill is aligned to the Science of Reading and/or the Common Core State Standards which supports scholar readiness in Kindergarten and beyond!
Our team has worked to ensure strong alignment between the Transition to Kindergarten program and subsequent years at Impact Public schools. We know that all scholars develop and learn at different levels and every one of the activities and whole or small group lessons can be customized to provide targeted and individualized instruction for each scholar, according to the areas where they are demonstrating strengths and where they still have areas of growth. Our teachers use regular assessments to understand where their scholars are performing and adjust their instruction accordingly.
Building Lifelong Skills
A key focus of our program is developing Executive Functioning skills, like:
- Self-Regulation: Staying focused, managing impulses, and taking turns.
- Working Memory: Remembering facts or steps for later use.
- Problem-Solving: Finding creative solutions to challenges.
These skills are essential for both academic success and social-emotional growth, and we can help scholars practice them throughout the day in fun and practical ways.
A Place to Belong
And like all of Impact Public Schools, our Transition to Kindergarten program is highly inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging for our youngest scholars. This includes intentional representation of families, cultures, and abilities in the books we read, images we show, and language we use. Scholars are celebrated as individuals and provided the opportunity to receive targeted support in their specific areas of growth. We believe that four-year-olds deserve a learning experience that is intentional, joyful, and impactful.
Ready to Learn More?
If you know of any families in the area or siblings of your scholars who may be interested in attending our Transition to Kindergarten program in the 2025-26 school year, please encourage them to apply today!
This spring, we’ll be hosting information sessions and learning opportunities for families to share more about Transition to Kindergarten. Keep an eye out for invitations from your school community, and join us to learn how your child can have an amazing start to their educational journey!
