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PLAY-BASED LEARNING IN EUCALYPTUS HILLS TK CLASSES HELPS YOUNG STUDENTS GROW SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY

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PLAY-BASED LEARNING IN EUCALYPTUS HILLS TK CLASSES HELPS YOUNG STUDENTS GROW SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY

March 22
19:20 2019
PLAY-BASED LEARNING IN EUCALYPTUS HILLS TK CLASSES HELPS YOUNG STUDENTS GROW SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY

Eucalyptus Hills School (EH) is changing the way some of Lakeside’s youngest students learn, with play at the center of their curriculum. Eucalyptus Hills School is a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) school consisting of 5 classrooms of students. Transitional Kindergarten is a bridge class between preschool and Kindergarten, often for students whose birthdays fall after yearly cut-off dates, where fundamental skills needed for success in later grades are developed. The TK program throughout Eucalyptus Hills School has a simple motto: Play is the Way!

EH provides students with a rigorous, but age-appropriate, academic instruction that prepares the young minds for the demands of Kindergarten. Teachers and staff at Eucalyptus Hills are also equally dedicated to allowing their students the time to explore their environment and enhance their curiosity and imagination through play. The play-based learning model at EH supports student literacy, math and science cognition, and social-emotional well-being.

“At Eucalyptus Hills, we firmly believe play is an essential part of a child’s development… Decades of research shows using well-defined play-based learning will increase achievement and social-emotional well-being of TK through 2nd grade students. At EH, we provide every child the opportunity to grow through not only play but exploration, inquiry, language, and collaboration with peers,” says Steve Will, administrator for Eucalyptus Hill School who has a long history of teaching and administrating at Lakeside Union School District schools.

Eucalyptus Hill also has a 90/10 Spanish Immersion program in two of its five TK classes. The social-emotional wellbeing of students is provided for the School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) in which teachers and staff explicitly teach students the behavioral expectations they need to be safe, respectful and responsible. The school also utilizes the Sanford-Harmony Social Skills program to teach students cooperation, empathy and effective communication.

Mr. Will says, “I believe the play-based learning at Eucalyptus Hills provides the best opportunity for all students to grow academically and socially.” The school is dedicated to providing EH Coyotes with the foundational behavioral and academic skills that will help them succeed in TK and beyond. The goal is that every Eucalyptus Hills student will be enthusiastic, confident, cooperative learners, who are actively engaged in their own learning.

About Lakeside Union School District

The Lakeside Union School District (LUSD) is located in the East County area of San Diego, California and is comprised of seven elementary schools and two middle schools. LUSD is dedicated to providing a challenging environment that will instill a love of lifelong learning and promote academic, vocational and social skills necessary for fulfillment in students’ futures. LUSD strives to ensure every child has a quality education in a safe, accepting, and respectful environment where education is exciting.

Visit the district at www.lsusd.net and follow Lakeside Union School District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact
Company Name: Schools of Arts and Sciences | Lakeside Union School District
Contact Person: Lisa DeRosier
Email: Send Email
Phone: (619) 390-2606
Address:12335 Woodside Avenue
City: Lakeside
State: CA 92040
Country: United States
Website: www.lsusd.net

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