TK Network News
This page provides news, announcements, and administrative resources for staff in the TK Network. To subscribe to automatic email updates, please contact Jamie Hansen at 524-2620 or jhansen@scoe.org.
TK Network Updates
Date: 05/31/2018
Author: Brulene Zanutto
The May TK Network was a fun event! Teachers had the opportunity to explore the concept of "loose parts". This open ended exploration of various materials invites conversation and encourages collaboration, while supporting learning across many areas of the curriculum. As an acknowledgment of this busy time of year we revisited how the brain reacts to stress and discussed concrete strategies students and teachers can use to help them self regulate during times of stress. To view the slides access TK Network May 8, 2018.pdf.
The 2018-19 TK Network will meet on the following dates:
Sept. 18, 2018
Nov. 6, 2018
March 5, 2019
May 14, 2019
All sessions take place from 4 - 7pm at the Sonoma County Office of Education. Register for these events at www.scoe.org.
Update and Reminders
Date: 03/22/2018
Author: Brulene Zanutto
The March TK Network meeting focused on classroom strategies and practices that can support the vocabulary development of the young learners in TK classrooms. The TK Network March 13th.pdf slides will give you a glimpse of what was shared at the meeting.
Reminder regarding TK Teacher Requirements as of August 1, 2020
Credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015 are required to have by August 1, 2020 one of the following:
- At least 24 units in early childhood education, or childhood development, or both
- As determined by the LEA employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units of education described in bullet 1.
- A child development teacher permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
One of the approved options for fulfilling this requirement includes the upcoming Foundations for Young Learners workshop that will be offered at SCOE on Saturday, April 28th from 9-4. This engaging and interactive session will focus on the Visual and Performing Arts standards for 4 and 5 year old children. More information and registration can be found here.
If you have questions regarding the teacher requirements or how to meet them, please contact Brulene Zanutto at bzanutto@scoe.org.
January TK Network Follow Up
Date: 01/26/2018
Author: Brulene Zanutto
The January TK Network meeting was an opportunity for participants to learn about the ways in which a maker education lesson can support the language development in young learners, with a specific focus on English Learners. To view the slides from the session please access TK Network Slides Jan. 24th.pdf
If you would like more information regarding supporting English Learners please contact Jenn Guerrero, EL Program Coordinator at jguerrero@scoe.org.
The next TK Network meeting will be Tuesday, March 13th from 4 - 7. Please register for this event at March TK Network Meeting.
January TK Network
Date: 01/10/2018
Author: Brulene Zanutto
TK Teachers
Don’t miss the January TK Network meeting! This hands on session, led by Brulene Zanutto and Jenn Guerrero, SCOE EL Coordinator, is an opportunity for TK teachers to experience and learn about the powerful ways in which maker education can support the development of language and literacy in young learners, particularly English Learners. Time will be provided to do some lesson planning. Please bring a favorite picture book that you plan to read with your class in the future.
Please register for the class at http://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/class.html?class_id=7035 so that we can plan for food and materials. Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you!
November TK Network
Date: 11/17/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
The slides from the recent November TK Network meeting can be accessed here TK Network November 14, 2017.pdf
In this presentation teachers will find suggestions for caring for themselves, supporting their students, as well as picture book suggestions that provide opportunities for students to discuss their experiences and emotions during this time.
Also included are several professional learning opportunities such as a the Santa Rosa Junior College course entitled: Working Through Stress and Loss with Children and Families.
TK teachers taking ECE courses can now qualify for the Sonoma CARES Quality Counts program. Please see the information below for details.
Sonoma CARES Quality Counts is now accepting applications for the
2017-2018 program year on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sonoma CARES Quality Counts will be limited to the first 140 applicants!
Priority will be given to educators working in sites that are participating in the QIRS Quality Counts Program. In order to be considered for the program, please follow the steps listed on this page:
Changes to the Sonoma CARES Quality Counts Program
- The stipend structure for the 2017-2018 Program have changed as follows:
- $100 per unit for all ECE units
- $200 per unit for GE, ESL, or Basic Skills units
- $300 per unit for BA level classes completed when enrolled in a BA program
- $500 degree attainment bonus
- Participants will only be required to meet with an advisor ONCE per program year anytime during Summer, Fall and Springs semesters between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18
- Stipend maximum is $2000 for the program year.
- NOW ACCEPTING TK TEACHERS.
The Fire Story - A Resource for Teachers and Parents
Date: 11/07/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
Lisl Christie, teacher at San Miguel Charter Elementary School, created a book called The Fire Story. This resource can be used by teachers and parents as a tool to support children as they process their thoughts and feelings about the recent fire related events in Sonoma County.
The Fire Story
The Fire in Spanish
September 2017 TK Network Meeting
Date: 09/21/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
During the September TK Network meeting teachers viewed and discussed the recent Ready Report (pdf), which shares Sonoma County data regarding kindergarten readiness in our county. We also discussed AIR's research brief The Impact of Transitional Kindergarten on California's Students. Both documents share data that indicates that TK classrooms are having a positive impact on student's kindergarten readiness.
UPDATE REGARDING THE CALIFORNIA TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN STIPEND PROGRAM (CTKS)
CTKS is a California Department of Education funded program that reimburses teachers in Transitional Kindergarten(TK) as well as teachers in the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) for professional development and educational stipends.CTKS is funded by the California Department of Education and is a reimbursement program for actual costs of tuition and books (ECE units only). It resulted from the passage of SB 876, which created additional requirements for TK teachers effective July 1, 2015.
Funding has been exhausted for the 2017-2018 program year.
Please check back after July 1st, 2018 for additional funding.
View the TK Network Slides from the recent meeting to see what other topics were covered.
The next TK Network meeting is November 14th from 4-7pm at SCOE.
May TK Network Meeting
Date: 05/23/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
The May TK Network meeting was an opportunity for teachers to learn more about different aspects of TK programs in our local area. Teachers shared and discussed daily classroom schedules and TK appropriate field trips. Teachers also left with report card examples from other districts. See the slides May 2017 TK Network.
The SRJC TK Committee presented TK Classroom examples from around the county. TK Teachers discussed their lessons and shared classroom practices with our group. To learn more about these classroom examples check out the slides SRJC TK Observations.
The 2017-18 TK Network dates have been set. Please plan to join us for a time of professional learning and collaboration on:
September 12, 2017
November 14, 2017
January 23, 2018
March 13, 2018
May 8, 2018
Early Childhood Education Certificate
Date: 05/19/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
Sonoma State University has extended the application deadline for the Early Childhood Education certificate program to May 23rd. For information regarding the admission process please go to http://www.sonoma.edu/exed/ece-certificate/admission
For information regarding the certificate program please visit http://www.sonoma.edu/exed/ece-certificate/
The Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County has raised the limit of their California Transitional Kindergarten Stipend (CTKS) Program from $3,000 to $10,000 per participant. This was done in an effort to make it more feasible for TK Teachers to enroll in the SSU ECE certificate program. Information regarding the CTKS can be found at http://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/stipend-program.html
March 2017 TK Network
Date: 03/23/2017
Author: Brulene Zanutto
At our recent TK Network meeting we participated in an Edcamp. This was an opportunity to gather in small groups to discuss topics that teachers wanted to dive into more deeply. Check out the session board in the slide deck to see what we talked about that evening. It was a great way to learn about what is happening in TK classrooms around the county! We look forward to engaging in this professional learning model again at future TK Network meetings.
In partnership with the Child Care Planning Council, SCOE has created a Parent Guide for families that outlines the similarities and differences of preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, Expanded TK, and Kindergarten. This document provides support to parents as they determine which educational setting will best meet the needs of their own child. Please feel free to share this guide with families. It is in both English and Spanish.
The final TK Network meeting for this school year is May 9th from 4-7pm at SCOE.
