Picture a preschool classroom turned into a jungle, with decorations covering every wall. Parents are finding their seats. The kids who cried at the classroom door on the first day of school are now standing up and sharing what they’ve learned.
This is what preschool can look like in Spokane Public Schools, where 46 preschool classrooms are spread across 35 elementary schools. While each one is different, they all follow the same state and federal early learning standards, and all are built on the same idea that kids do better when their families are involved in their education.
What that looks like day to day depends on the classroom. It might mean parents coming in to watch their child present a project, regular check-ins between families and teachers, or just making sure every family feels welcome. While the details change, he goal does not.
For Matthew Pirro, being part of the process made a real difference for his daughter Emily, who has autism. There were regular meetings with her teacher and school staff to make sure she had what she needed. By the end of the year, Emily had given her first hug ever to someone outside her family - a classmate. She had found her place in the class, and every day her friends made sure to say goodbye to her.
What a year of preschool can do
Some people think of preschool as just a warm-up for "real" school. But the skills kids build in those early years go a long way. Learning to work together, get through problems, make a friend, and keep trying when something is hard are not small things. They are the building blocks for everything that comes after.
SPS preschool teachers work to meet each child where they are. Goals are personal. One child might be working on learning new words, while another might be learning what it feels like to have a friend for the first time.
That last goal is harder to measure, but easy to see. Mariko Roberts watched her daughter Ruby cry on the first day of school. By the last day, Ruby walked in wearing the biggest smile, barely stopping to say goodbye. Mariko hadn’t forgotten those early tears, and watching her daughter grow into that confidence was something she didn’t take for granted.
Who can join
SPS preschool is open to children who are 3 or 4 years old. Classes are held at elementary schools across the district and generally follow a similar schedule to the host school. The program is free for families who qualify. The focus is on helping kids grow socially and emotionally, get excited about learning, and feel ready for kindergarten.
Families can visit SPS Preschool Programs to find out if they qualify and how to apply.
Every spring, in 46 classrooms across this city, the school year comes to the same bittersweet close. Teachers watch children they have come to love walk out the door a little taller, a little surer of themselves, a little more ready for what comes next.
