By Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D., & Marcia Kraft-Sayre, LCSW

A smooth transition to kindergarten is an essential part of a child’s early academic experience — and now there’s a how-to handbook with field-tested methods to help schools and programs make it happen. Perfect for preschool and kindergarten teachers, administrators, and family support specialists, this practical guide is built around a model that has been adopted in many diverse schools and communities. Step by step, the book helps professionals and caregivers

• Develop a solid transition plan. Readers will learn how to form a collaborative team; foster strong social connections among children, families, and professionals; create a “menu” of transition activities that can be tailored to each child’s needs; and establish a timeline for putting the transition plan into action.
  
  
• Implement the plan. Readers will discover how to anticipate barriers; keep families involved; and conduct ongoing assessment, evaluation, and revision of transition activities. Appendices include photocopiable forms such as brainstorming sheets, parent interview forms, timeline worksheets, and questionnaires for teachers, principals, and family workers.
  
  
• Stay motivated and inspired. Readers will learn from the experience of others with insight from real families, educators, and school personnel, plus sample menus of activities they can use in their own homes and classrooms.

A must-read for everyone involved in early education, this hands-on resource can help make the transition to kindergarten smoother — for young children and the professionals and families who care about them.

About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments

1. A Developmental Approach to Transition
   
   
2. Planning the Transition
   
   
3. Kindergarten Transition Practices
   
   
4. Assessing, Evaluating, and Revising the Transition Plan
   
   
5. Lessons from the Field
   
   
6. Three Keys to a Successful Transition

Appendix
Bibliography
Index