1 00:00:06,455 --> 00:00:07,565 - Happy New Year everybody. 2 00:00:07,985 --> 00:00:09,605 I'm Connor, that's Doug 3 00:00:09,745 --> 00:00:12,445 and this is the Bethel School District Presents podcast. 4 00:00:12,905 --> 00:00:16,485 And Doug, today we are talking time travel. 5 00:00:16,555 --> 00:00:19,245 That is because over the break someone was nice enough 6 00:00:19,465 --> 00:00:22,765 to gift me a subscription to a genealogy website. 7 00:00:22,845 --> 00:00:24,085 I won't mention which one 8 00:00:24,245 --> 00:00:26,325 'cause I don't want to give 'em the free advertising, 9 00:00:26,465 --> 00:00:30,165 but I went and looked up the Christofferson lineage 10 00:00:30,425 --> 00:00:34,365 and I found something truly shocking, truly out 11 00:00:34,365 --> 00:00:38,125 of this world, truly breathtaking, truly impossible 12 00:00:38,505 --> 00:00:40,925 - And truly, I can't believe you're talking about time 13 00:00:40,925 --> 00:00:43,685 and wasting so much of our listener's time right now. 14 00:00:43,705 --> 00:00:45,885 But Connor, like Christine Aguilera, 15 00:00:45,905 --> 00:00:47,405 my genealogy is in a bottle. 16 00:00:47,785 --> 00:00:50,165 I'm glad yours is open. What did you find out? 17 00:00:50,445 --> 00:00:51,885 - I discovered that not one, 18 00:00:52,225 --> 00:00:55,405 but two of my great, great, great, 19 00:00:55,655 --> 00:00:57,805 great, great, great. 20 00:00:57,805 --> 00:00:58,965 Doug. How many greats was that? 21 00:00:58,985 --> 00:01:00,005 - That's, I have seven. 22 00:01:00,515 --> 00:01:04,285 - Okay, great, great, great grandfathers lived 23 00:01:04,865 --> 00:01:08,325 in little old Plymouth, Massachusetts at the time 24 00:01:08,425 --> 00:01:10,685 of the pilgrims. You know what they did for a living? 25 00:01:11,435 --> 00:01:13,765 - Well, given the time period, I've gotta go with farmers. 26 00:01:14,115 --> 00:01:15,405 - Well that's a great guess, Doug. 27 00:01:15,405 --> 00:01:19,925 But no, my distant, distant grandpa, James Cole, 28 00:01:20,345 --> 00:01:23,325 in the 1620s started the first 29 00:01:23,845 --> 00:01:26,445 tavern Cole's Tavern in Plymouth, Massachusetts, 30 00:01:27,285 --> 00:01:30,045 possibly the first tavern in all of the colonies. 31 00:01:30,465 --> 00:01:31,565 - That's actually pretty cool. 32 00:01:31,645 --> 00:01:32,885 I wasn't even thinking that far back. 33 00:01:32,925 --> 00:01:35,525 I thought with your dulcet tones we'd just trace you right 34 00:01:35,525 --> 00:01:37,125 back to Casey Cassim's lineage. 35 00:01:37,145 --> 00:01:38,765 But that's an even better story, 36 00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:41,565 which brings up a pretty interesting question for today. 37 00:01:41,745 --> 00:01:45,125 If you could travel back in time or forward in time 38 00:01:45,145 --> 00:01:46,645 and meet either your ancestors 39 00:01:46,905 --> 00:01:49,405 or your descendants, which would you do? 40 00:01:49,625 --> 00:01:51,165 I'm guessing you might just head on back 41 00:01:51,165 --> 00:01:52,245 to Massachusetts it sounds like. 42 00:01:52,515 --> 00:01:53,885 - Yeah, that's a great idea. Doug. 43 00:01:54,045 --> 00:01:56,925 I think I might get a cold one with old James Cole. 44 00:01:57,275 --> 00:01:58,805 - Cold one. I don't think they had 45 00:01:58,805 --> 00:02:00,285 refrigeration back then. Ugh, 46 00:02:00,635 --> 00:02:01,635 - Warm drinks. 47 00:02:01,665 --> 00:02:03,765 No thanks. Well what about you Doug? 48 00:02:03,765 --> 00:02:05,525 You go into the future, you go into the past. 49 00:02:05,905 --> 00:02:07,005 - I'm future bound Connor. 50 00:02:07,205 --> 00:02:10,045 I have to go a few generations down the line 51 00:02:10,505 --> 00:02:13,045 and see just what the years ahead look like 52 00:02:13,225 --> 00:02:15,285 and what those little punks are saying about me. 53 00:02:15,355 --> 00:02:17,725 - Well, I'm sure they'd have nothing but nice things to say, 54 00:02:17,745 --> 00:02:19,285 but if not, they better be keeping 55 00:02:19,425 --> 00:02:20,525 Doug's name out their mouth. 56 00:02:20,835 --> 00:02:23,845 - Exactly. And that's why we need to teach the children well 57 00:02:23,865 --> 00:02:24,925 and teach 'em early. 58 00:02:25,175 --> 00:02:28,245 Today we are talking about transitional kindergarten. 59 00:02:28,835 --> 00:02:30,885 - Joining us today is Jennifer Kimball. 60 00:02:30,885 --> 00:02:32,725 She's a transitional kindergarten teacher 61 00:02:32,865 --> 00:02:34,005 at Thompson Elementary. 62 00:02:34,285 --> 00:02:35,405 Jennifer, thanks for joining us. 63 00:02:35,685 --> 00:02:36,925 I don't think everyone knows 64 00:02:36,925 --> 00:02:38,405 what transitional kindergarten is. 65 00:02:38,495 --> 00:02:41,365 Let's start off with just the basics. What is this program, 66 00:02:41,485 --> 00:02:44,685 - Transitional kindergarten or what we refer to it as is tk? 67 00:02:44,715 --> 00:02:45,805 This is the third year 68 00:02:46,235 --> 00:02:48,525 that it has been available to students. 69 00:02:49,265 --> 00:02:51,285 It is a program that fills the gap 70 00:02:51,315 --> 00:02:53,005 between preschool and kindergarten. 71 00:02:53,625 --> 00:02:56,565 It is designed for children that, um, have stayed home 72 00:02:56,665 --> 00:02:59,365 and maybe have not had formal preschool education. 73 00:02:59,745 --> 00:03:01,365 So it's to get them up to the standard 74 00:03:01,385 --> 00:03:02,485 of entering kindergarten. 75 00:03:02,825 --> 00:03:04,765 - Can we go over just a few of the things that differentiate 76 00:03:04,765 --> 00:03:07,285 between preschool and transitional kindergarten? 77 00:03:07,555 --> 00:03:10,365 - Sure. Preschool typically is half days 78 00:03:10,945 --> 00:03:12,085 and they're four days a week. 79 00:03:12,145 --> 00:03:13,645 We do have the exception of Elk Plain 80 00:03:13,645 --> 00:03:15,125 who has two full day ECAPs. 81 00:03:15,825 --> 00:03:18,285 TK is five full days a week. 82 00:03:18,665 --> 00:03:20,925 So it builds that stamina for the kids 83 00:03:20,925 --> 00:03:23,205 so when they go into kindergarten they can maintain that. 84 00:03:23,555 --> 00:03:26,125 Also, TK is much more academically focused. 85 00:03:26,745 --> 00:03:29,245 We spend a lot of time with social emotional skills as well, 86 00:03:29,385 --> 00:03:31,885 but getting those academics up to par for kindergarten, 87 00:03:31,885 --> 00:03:33,245 that's really what the focus is. 88 00:03:33,905 --> 00:03:36,685 We have personal specialists that comes in 89 00:03:36,985 --> 00:03:39,365 and teaches enrichment activities with the kids. 90 00:03:39,375 --> 00:03:40,405 She's here every day. 91 00:03:40,705 --> 00:03:43,925 She teaches STEM activities, art, music, 92 00:03:44,075 --> 00:03:45,565 multicultural activities. 93 00:03:46,105 --> 00:03:49,565 And lastly, and I think a very important part is that we try 94 00:03:49,565 --> 00:03:51,805 to include our families in all of our family events. 95 00:03:52,425 --> 00:03:54,885 - I'm really glad you mentioned the academics of it all 96 00:03:54,885 --> 00:03:56,965 because I think a lot of people have the misconception 97 00:03:57,035 --> 00:03:59,565 with preschool and with TK that it's kind 98 00:03:59,565 --> 00:04:01,085 of glorified babysitting. 99 00:04:01,085 --> 00:04:02,165 That is not the case. 100 00:04:02,225 --> 00:04:04,445 Can you talk a little bit more about the academic aspects 101 00:04:04,445 --> 00:04:05,485 that we offer our students? 102 00:04:05,515 --> 00:04:06,805 - Preschool and tk, 103 00:04:06,805 --> 00:04:09,205 we do early childhood education assessment three times a 104 00:04:09,205 --> 00:04:12,285 year focusing on social emotional literacy and math. 105 00:04:12,435 --> 00:04:15,445 With tk, these kids here, they're learning things 106 00:04:15,445 --> 00:04:17,005 that they would be learning in kindergarten. 107 00:04:17,465 --> 00:04:20,205 So we have a pacing guide that we follow as well 108 00:04:20,205 --> 00:04:21,365 as preschool does as well. 109 00:04:21,585 --> 00:04:25,605 But we amplify that we're with being all day. 110 00:04:25,745 --> 00:04:29,245 It allows us the time to do other techniques of teaching. 111 00:04:29,985 --> 00:04:31,125 All children learn differently. 112 00:04:31,345 --> 00:04:34,245 So let's say we're teaching the letter s, we're doing it 113 00:04:34,245 --> 00:04:37,605 through music, through sensory, through writing, through 114 00:04:38,255 --> 00:04:41,965 worksheets, all different kinds of learning styles 115 00:04:42,305 --> 00:04:44,285 so it can connect with each child. 116 00:04:44,595 --> 00:04:46,405 Some of us will start doing sight words. 117 00:04:46,795 --> 00:04:49,965 Some of our students are learning how to read already. 118 00:04:50,595 --> 00:04:53,485 I've got kids that can tell us when we're doing colors, 119 00:04:53,715 --> 00:04:55,965 they tell us what color we need when we're coloring. 120 00:04:56,465 --> 00:04:58,405 - So there's a lot of research out there that shows 121 00:04:58,405 --> 00:05:01,045 that preschool and transitional kindergarten programs 122 00:05:01,195 --> 00:05:03,845 improve a kid's readiness for kindergarten and beyond. 123 00:05:04,195 --> 00:05:06,045 What are they getting that helps set that foundation? 124 00:05:06,345 --> 00:05:09,605 - So for me as a teacher, I am giving the foundation 125 00:05:09,705 --> 00:05:12,245 for my students of concepts 126 00:05:12,265 --> 00:05:14,925 and ideas that they will be taught in kindergarten. 127 00:05:15,475 --> 00:05:17,285 They may not understand it now, 128 00:05:17,665 --> 00:05:19,285 but when they are approached with 129 00:05:19,285 --> 00:05:22,325 that information in kindergarten, the light bulb will go off 130 00:05:22,785 --> 00:05:25,565 and the stuff that they learned here will come back. 131 00:05:26,105 --> 00:05:27,845 And so instead of being at the bottom 132 00:05:27,985 --> 00:05:30,325 and maybe not understanding what's going on, 133 00:05:30,395 --> 00:05:31,965 they're already gonna have an advantage. 134 00:05:32,705 --> 00:05:36,005 And that puts our kids at the top of the level instead 135 00:05:36,005 --> 00:05:37,285 of at the bottom. 136 00:05:37,825 --> 00:05:40,045 - That's really interesting. And what about you personally? 137 00:05:40,105 --> 00:05:41,845 Can you tell us a little bit about your teaching journey, 138 00:05:42,025 --> 00:05:43,165 how you got here and 139 00:05:43,165 --> 00:05:45,085 what you love about teaching this age group? 140 00:05:45,585 --> 00:05:46,685 - Oh wow. Okay. 141 00:05:46,865 --> 00:05:49,365 Um, , I started off teaching ECAP 142 00:05:49,365 --> 00:05:50,525 in Peninsula School District. 143 00:05:50,605 --> 00:05:52,845 I taught there for 17, 18 years 144 00:05:53,425 --> 00:05:55,325 and then, uh, we bought a house out here 145 00:05:55,665 --> 00:05:57,925 and I finished with my teaching certificate. 146 00:05:58,225 --> 00:05:59,965 And I've always wanted to do tk. 147 00:06:00,035 --> 00:06:01,525 I've done a lot of research about it 148 00:06:01,985 --> 00:06:04,805 and it's kind of my niche, you know, we all have our calling 149 00:06:05,385 --> 00:06:06,405 and so, uh, 150 00:06:06,405 --> 00:06:09,325 this is my third year teaching it here in Bethel and I absolutely love it. 151 00:06:09,715 --> 00:06:13,165 What I enjoy most about this is coming in 152 00:06:13,465 --> 00:06:16,085 and seeing my students and their smiles 153 00:06:16,465 --> 00:06:17,845 and they're also excited to be here. 154 00:06:18,105 --> 00:06:19,485 And also those aha moments, 155 00:06:19,795 --> 00:06:21,565 like we've been working on something forever 156 00:06:21,835 --> 00:06:22,925 with a certain student 157 00:06:23,505 --> 00:06:25,525 and it all of a sudden the light bulb goes off 158 00:06:25,525 --> 00:06:26,725 and it's like we did it. 159 00:06:26,865 --> 00:06:28,965 You know, those baby steps no matter how minor 160 00:06:28,985 --> 00:06:30,085 or how significant they are, 161 00:06:30,435 --> 00:06:31,965 it's amazing to watch that happen. 162 00:06:32,625 --> 00:06:34,965 - That's awesome. We love when teachers can see 163 00:06:34,965 --> 00:06:37,405 that in their kids and we're gonna make a hard left turn 164 00:06:37,405 --> 00:06:39,445 here for a kind of goofier segment. 165 00:06:39,905 --> 00:06:42,165 And I'm gonna ask you if you could time travel, 166 00:06:42,455 --> 00:06:45,205 would you rather go back in time to meet your ancestors 167 00:06:45,465 --> 00:06:47,605 or go to the future to meet your descendants? 168 00:06:47,605 --> 00:06:48,645 And more importantly, why? 169 00:06:49,785 --> 00:06:53,725 - Oh wow. Okay. When you first asked this question, 170 00:06:53,925 --> 00:06:56,245 I think I would've said my ancestors, 171 00:06:56,945 --> 00:06:58,205 but I know a lot about them. 172 00:06:58,985 --> 00:07:01,125 So I think it would be interesting to see 173 00:07:01,125 --> 00:07:02,965 what the future holds for my family, 174 00:07:03,615 --> 00:07:06,365 where my grandchildren end up and their children 175 00:07:06,625 --> 00:07:09,885 and what differences they can make in this world. 176 00:07:10,525 --> 00:07:12,245 I think that would be amazing to see. 177 00:07:12,765 --> 00:07:14,405 - I think so too. Thank you so much 178 00:07:14,405 --> 00:07:15,685 for joining us. We love talking to you. 179 00:07:15,815 --> 00:07:19,205 - Thank you very much. - Great interview Connor 180 00:07:19,205 --> 00:07:20,245 Transitional kindergarten. 181 00:07:20,355 --> 00:07:21,605 Such a cool program. 182 00:07:21,825 --> 00:07:23,405 We have so many programs for kids 183 00:07:23,405 --> 00:07:25,005 of all ages here in Bethel. 184 00:07:25,135 --> 00:07:27,005 Proud to work here, proud to talk about it. 185 00:07:27,105 --> 00:07:29,045 But little more interested right now in getting back 186 00:07:29,045 --> 00:07:30,685 to our opening question, Connor. 187 00:07:30,985 --> 00:07:32,605 And I think we need to hear from some more 188 00:07:32,605 --> 00:07:33,965 folks here in Bethel. 189 00:07:34,625 --> 00:07:36,005 - Hi, I'm Pam Paulson. 190 00:07:36,545 --> 00:07:40,325 You know, I would really like to go into, talk 191 00:07:40,505 --> 00:07:43,085 to my ancestors from the past, 192 00:07:43,865 --> 00:07:48,565 and then what I'm gonna do is convince them how great I am. 193 00:07:49,025 --> 00:07:51,085 So they'll share those wonderful 194 00:07:51,285 --> 00:07:52,405 comments about me in the future. 195 00:07:53,825 --> 00:07:56,325 - My name is Susie Lehman. I'm a payroll specialist. 196 00:07:56,605 --> 00:07:58,245 I think I'd rather go to the past 197 00:07:59,065 --> 00:08:01,965 and speak with my ancestors, um, the ones that came 198 00:08:01,965 --> 00:08:03,765 to this country and how they made their way 199 00:08:04,065 --> 00:08:05,365 and what decisions they made. 200 00:08:06,785 --> 00:08:10,405 - Hi, Danny Stanford, um, community Connections coordinator. 201 00:08:10,665 --> 00:08:14,525 And I think I would go into the future a couple generations 202 00:08:14,865 --> 00:08:17,045 so I could, um, meet my kids'. 203 00:08:17,745 --> 00:08:19,845 Great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. 204 00:08:20,245 --> 00:08:22,325 I think it'd be really interesting to see how 205 00:08:23,105 --> 00:08:26,205 future generations, how their similar, um, 206 00:08:26,625 --> 00:08:28,965 and different from, from how my kids are right now. 207 00:08:32,395 --> 00:08:33,405 - Very interesting answer 208 00:08:33,585 --> 00:08:36,805 and kudos to you, Doug, for coming up with such a great 209 00:08:37,045 --> 00:08:38,045 - Question. 210 00:08:38,045 --> 00:08:39,205 Well, thank you very much and I have another great one 211 00:08:39,265 --> 00:08:42,525 for next week, but everybody just gonna have to wait 212 00:08:42,585 --> 00:08:43,805 and see what that is. 213 00:08:44,105 --> 00:08:45,605 I'm Doug, that's Connor, 214 00:08:45,705 --> 00:08:48,565 and this was the Bethel School District Presents podcast.