Oak State Preschool & Education Resource Center
How Parents Can Help Their Child Be Ready For School
Oak View
State Preschool
Housed
in four modular classrooms adjacent to the Oak View School campus,
the state-funded Oak View Preschool serves 192 three and four year
old children of low income families living in the greater Oak View
community. The preschool program and daily schedule are
child-centered and balanced to meet the cognitive, language,
social-emotional, physical, and creative needs of the children.
Activities reflect the interests and values of the child and
his/her culture and community. Curriculum is based on the overall
goals of kindergarten readiness and English language development.
The Prekindergarten Learning and Development Guidelines, published
by the California Department of Education in 2000, and the
California Desired Results are used to guide the curriculum. The
preschool program prepares children and parents for a smooth
transition into kindergarten. Twenty-four children are assigned to
each class: the adult-class ratio is 1:8. In addition, one parent
assists each day in the classroom bringing the ratio to
1:6.
Oak View
Education Resource Center
The Oak View Education Resource Center is located on the Oak View
Preschool campus is a collaborative effort of the District,
Huntington Beach Adult School, First 5 California, Orange County
Children and Families Commission and Even Start Family Literacy
Program and serves as a model for integrated education services.
This multi-funded Center includes four preschool classrooms, two
adult education classrooms, one computer lab, two babysitting/child
care rooms, an Even Start Parent Resource Room and one
administrative building. Also on the campus are a preschool play
yard and a "tot lot".
The Huntington Beach Union High School Adult School provides English as a Second Language (ESL) classes through their Community Based English Tutoring (CBET) program. English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are taught with parenting skills and the United States education system forming the basis of much of the curriculum. Adults are trained in ways to enhance the literacy skills of their own children and other Oak View students. Adult students read regularly with Oak View Preschool students. Computer, math and parenting classes are also offered at the Center. The computer lab is used by adult students to increase their awareness of technology, learn to use the internet, practice English skills, and work on academic skills. Adult classes are offered during morning, afternoon and evening hours.
As part of the Oak View Preschool and Education Resource Center, two classrooms are designated for babysitting services for children while their parents participate in the Huntington Beach Adult School program at the Center. Children must be one year old and able to walk to participate in the babysitting program. Age appropriate immunizations including proof of a negative TB screening must be shown before a child can attend.
Even Start
Family Literacy Program
Even Start is a family
literacy program that began at Oak View School in 19932. This grant
is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The Ocean View Even
Start Family Literacy Program works with approximately thirty Oak
View families with children age birth to eight years
old.
Even Start requires parents to regularly attend adult education classes (ESL and math or GED), participation in in-home parenting lessons for children age birth to Kindergarten, and be involved in parent-child literacy based classes (Mommy and Me or Daddy and Me) for children beginning at age one. Children ages 3 and 4 attend the Oak View State Preschool. One and two year old children attend child care on site. These programs classes are scheduled while parents attend adult education.
Even Start parents are very involved in their child’s school, adult education classes and parent education. They volunteer regularly in their child’s classes and make a difference because of their time and commitment to the education of their family.
Other
Programs At The Center
Grants funded by Orange County Children and Families Commission and
First 5 California provide in-home parent education lessons for
parents of children age 0 to 3 years. The Parents as Teachers Born
to Learn curriculum is used to enhance the intellectual, language,
social-emotional and physical development of the children. The
funding also provides part-time health technician, school nurse,
speech and language specialist, and psychologist for children and
families at the Center. Child care is also funded by these
grants.
A Model Program
This multi-funded, integrated, collaborative effort between Ocean View School District, the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Orange County Children and Families Commission and First 5 California serves as a model for community and family education. The "Oak View Families Learning Together" program has been recognized as a program of excellence by the California School Boards Association which awarded it the Golden Bell in December 2002. The program also received the Peter A. Hartman Award (Orange County Program of Excellence) from the Orange County Children and Families Commission in May, 2003.
School
Readiness Initiative
Ocean
View School District along with other county school districts
participates in the School Readiness Initiative sponsored by the
Orange County Children and Families Commission. Ocean View School
District coordinator works with school staff, families, community
stakeholders and early care and education community to identify
service gaps and promote best practices to ensure school readiness
for all children.
The Commission’s Strategic Plan identifies the Goal: Children learning and ready for school: to provide early care and education opportunities for all children to maximize their potential and succeed in school. The outcome anticipated for the School Readiness Initiative is: Increased school readiness for kindergarten, successful completion of first grade and ability to read by third grade.
For more information about the Oak View Preschool and Education Resource Center contact Joyce Horowitz, Coordinator, Preschool and School Readiness Programs - 843-6938.
How
Parents Can Help Their Child Be Ready for School
Parents can do
a lot to help their child be ready for school. Here are some
ideas:
Read to your child every day. Check out books from the public
library. They're free!
Encourage
your child to:
- Express his/her thoughts and ideas
- Count to ten
- Be responsible for his/herself by:
- Picking up toys
- Throwing trash in the trash can
- Zipping, buttoning, buckling, etc.
- Flushing toilet after using
- Washing hands independently
Encourage your child's self esteem by giving him/her special jobs
to do. (Set the table, turn off the TV at dinnertime)
Give your
child opportunities to:
- Count things. (People in your family, stop lights we pass going to the market, etc.)
- Follow two-step directions. (Get your jacket in the living room and put it in the bedroom.)
- Recognize and write his/her name. (Capital first letter, lower case for the rest.)
- Make choices. (Do you want to wear your red or blue shirt today? Where should be go first - to the park or to the market?)
- Separate from you for a
few hours. Let your child stay with a friend or family member while
you are away.
Monitor the amount of time and the programs your child watches on TV. One hour is plenty, and educational shows are best. If possible, watch the programs with your child, and discuss their content with him/her.
Be ready to get involved in your child's education! Plan to attend:
- Kindergarten parent orientation
- Back to School Night
- Parent-teacher conferences
- PTO/PTA meetings
- Open House
- Other school events
Plan to volunteer in your child's class and school. Parents can do
many things to help the teachers and staff. The more you know about
your child's class and school, the better able you will be to help
your child succeed in school and be prepared for success in life.
And it begins with kindergarten.
