District focus on student preparation evident in Younger Wonders program

February 15, 2012

Creation of the new Younger Wonders program is giving 24 3-year-olds a jumpstart on their formal educational journey. The program began Jan. 30 at Shady Dell Early Childhood Center and is designed to provide additional support to ensure academic success for these students, who are delayed in their development of certain social-emotional skills.  Classroom instruction focuses on developing these skills so the early preschoolers will be equipped with pre-academic skills when they enter the Wonder Years program next school year.  

Take a peek at the learning that occurs in Mrs. Call's Younger Wonders classroom in these video clips:

Calendar time

Days of the week

Story time

Student growth while in this program will be measured by the DIAL IV and the Deveraux Early Childhood Assessment, which is a measurement of “protective factors” or social-emotional skills. 

The effective use of monetary support for this program, derived from Title I, provides for additional classroom resources which expand the instructional time available for these targeted students. 

The instructional staff for the classroom consists of a teacher and a paraprofessional, both of whom have bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education.

Students in the 2011-2012 Younger Wonders program will advance to the 2012-2013 Wonder Years program deepening their engagement in the academic process while immersing them in  age-appropriate rigor and expectations. The Wonder Years program serves four and five year olds who will attend kindergarten the following school year.

All placements in SPS preschool programs begin with a developmental screening. To be considered for any of the Springfield Public Schools preschool programs, please call Parents as Teachers and Screening Services at (417)523-1160. 

Category: News

Younger Wonders Shady Dell