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Home visits put new kids at ease Bob Pennell photo Delaney Swink, 5, greets her kindergarten teacher, Debby Kalmakav, at the door of her Ashland home recently. Ashland kindergarten teachers visit students before the school year begins to get acquainted, casually assess their skills and allay any fears. The program has been so successful that the Phoenix-Talent district last year began sending their teachers on home visits. Kindergarten teachers ensure familiar face on kids� first day By Wendy Siporen ASHLAND � Big kids, a big school and the big unknown: It�s the stuff of nightmares for some 5-year-olds on the first day of school. But 187 Ashland kindergartners will see a familiar face on their first venture into the classroom Wednesday: their teacher. For the past two weeks, kindergarten teachers have been visiting students on their home turf, meeting a favorite stuffed animal and reading a favorite book on the child�s very own couch. Bursting at the seams Ashland kindergarten enrollment Bellview � 21 in one class Briscoe � 34 in two classes Helman � 36 in two classes Lincoln � 57 in three classes Walker � 39 in two classes So many new kindergartners registered at Lincoln Elementary this fall that district officials decided to add a third class, using a teacher from Bellview Elementary. District officials were expecting about 36 students, but 64 registered. Some were placed in other schools, and five Bellview students will attend class at Lincoln to keep the one class remaining at Bellview at 21 students. The extra class means Lincoln will have to forgo a planned multi-purpose computer, art, dance and choir room. Teachers will be sharing space with the computers in an upstairs staff room. "She already feels like they�re best pals," said Jana Carole of her daughter Delaney Swink�s visit with teacher Debby Kalmakav. "It�s like she had a play date with a friend." Meeting children in their homes rather than the chaos of the classroom gives teachers time to focus on getting to know each child and the tools to make the children feel comfortable in school. Parents and children learn what to expect the first day, how close the bathrooms are and if the children will be able to visit their best friend in the other kindergarten class. Kalmakav tells her students about the baby rat in the classroom, takes their picture for an attendance card and shares special counting stones from a treasured black velvet bag. The visit also gives teachers the opportunity to casually assess their students� counting, writing and problem-solving skills so they can better plan classroom activities. "It�s a chance to see what they are like in their own environment," said Kalmakav. "Children can be very different at home and at school." Ashland�s been doing home visits for as long as there�s been a kindergarten program � about 25 years. Last year, the Phoenix-Talent district started sending kindergarten teachers on home visits after hearing Ashland educators rave about the benefits. While participation rates were only about 50 percent for the first year, curriculum director Tim Mobley says the reviews were positive and he�s confident the program will grow as more parents become comfortable with the idea. "Everybody involved said the kids settled in quicker and took off quicker," said Mobley. "In order for students to have a good start, there needs to be a connection between the parents, teachers, students and the school." Home visits aren�t just for the teachers and children. Parents often have anxiety about their child�s first experience in public school. A one-on-one with a teacher gives parents the opportunity to ask questions they might not be comfortable asking in front of others at school. "It�s reassuring for parents to see the teacher and child interacting," said Kalmakav. "It builds trust that the relationship will be a good one." In a culture where house calls are a thing of the past, educators say it�s even more important to make that personal connection between parent, teacher and child. "Things are just easier when there�s open communication and you know the families rather than just seeing (the children) dropped off at the door," said Kalmakav. When Kalmakav visited Delaney last week, the 5-year-old had a terrible case of the giggles. "She was elated about being the center of attention," said Carole. "Those two hours are so well worth the two weeks that they don�t have in the classroom." "I do not think you can allay all a child�s fears," she added. "But so much has been (allayed) and been replaced with excitement." Ashland expands class time for kindergartners ASHLAND � Kindergartners at three Ashland elementary schools will be seeing more of their teachers this year because of a pilot four-day-per-week schedule. It�s a schedule Phoenix-Talent schools have been following for at least seven years. Helman, Lincoln and Walker kindergarten students will spend 3 hours and 15 minutes in the classroom four days a week rather than the traditional 2 hours and 30 minutes five days a week. An extra 45 minutes a day means that over the entire year, students will spend more than 40 more hours learning and playing than in previous years. More important, say the program�s proponents, the extra 45 minutes every day will allow for a slower pace and longer field-trip opportunities. "This will provide longer periods of reflective time and instruction so the children won�t have such a fragmented time," said Walker Principal Michelle Zundel. Many children are coming from a preschool experience where they have already spent three hours a day in class, she said. "All the research shows that the most effective kindergarten programs are full-day," said Phoenix-Talent Curriculum Director Tim Mobley. "But the state doesn�t fund full-day kindergarten." In addition to improving learning, Mobley said, the schedule gives teachers half a day to prepare for the coming week. Teachers believe they will feel less rushed and will be able to give students the time they need to eat a snack, clean up or talk about how the day went. "We�re not going to cram more stuff in," said Walker teacher Debbie Kalmakav. "I think it will just slow the pace down. Our lives are rushed enough as it is." After the first year, the program will be evaluated for possible expansion to Briscoe and Bellview schools. The program will not cost the district any more for teachers� salaries. 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