VKRP: A Pathway to Understanding Student Readiness Skills Statewide
Beginning kindergarten is an exciting and momentous time for students and families! We share in that excitement and we are thrilled that the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will continue its partnership with the University of Virginia and expand the Virginia Readiness Program (VKRP) throughout the Commonwealth this fall. The VKRP provides teachers, parents, and […]
READY, SET, SUMMER!
As kindergarten teachers, you are the first contact that many families have with their child’s educational career—they are so lucky to have you! Taking advantage of every opportunity to connect with families helps them to stay positively engaged in their child’s education, which has long-term positive impacts for children. As you reflect on children’s progress […]
Supporting Self-Regulation with our “Featured Teacher”, Shannon Gillikin!
We are thrilled to feature our first guest blog by a kindergarten teacher! In her post below, Shannon shares about a specific framework and product that has helped her foster students’ self-regulation in her classroom. We are so happy that Shannon has found a strategy that works for her and her students, and we encourage […]
The positive impacts of our Kindergarten teachers: A guest blog by Virginia’s Chief School Readiness Officer, Jenna Conway!
Teaching kindergarten is a most important job. As the mother of a kindergartener in public school, I know how his teacher means the world to him. During spring break this week, he talked about missing her every day! But that’s not all. With the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP), kindergarten teachers extend their impact beyond […]
VKRP is launching into spring growth assessments!
Over the past four years, more than two-thirds of Virginia’s public school divisions (almost 2000 teachers, over 30,000 students) have used the VKRP system. We have listened to numerous teachers through observations, focus groups, and feedback surveys and while we can’t meet every individual preference, the team at VKRP is pressing forward with goals that […]
A Vision for Early Education in Virginia: Guest Post by First Lady Pamela Northam
Since January of 2018, I have had the honor and privilege of serving as the First Lady of Virginia when my husband, Ralph Northam, became the 73rd Governor of Virginia. I began my professional career in San Antonio, Texas as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, where I met Ralph during his pediatric neurology residency. I later […]
