Transition Interview

I’d like to talk to you about children’s transitions into kindergarten and your experiences with the kindergarten transition process.

1. First, think about children who may be at risk and children who have had successful transitions into kindergarten. When this transition goes smoothly, what factors are in place that make the process go well?

   • What characteristics of the child and the family help this process go well?
   • What characteristics of the preschool program help foster the transition into school?
   • What characteristics of the kindergarten program help this process move smoothly? Are there particular program characteristics that help?
   • Are there other contributing factors?

2. Are children’s transitions into kindergarten a problem at your school? If so, in what ways?

3. What are the challenges in helping children make the transition to kindergarten in your school? Are there any particular barriers?

4. Are there other things that schools could do to help children become familiar with school?

5. Now, I’d like to ask you about your impressions of the transition process and your experiences. In what aspects of the process did you participate? For example, did you participate in transition activities for preschoolers entering kindergarten or other activities to enhance relationships for children and families as they entered kindergarten?

   • What went well?
   • What changes might you make?

6. Is there anything more you wish to share about children’s transition into kindergarten?

Figure A1. An example of a Transition Interview. Transition coordinators use this form to interview school and community participants about the transition process. Successful Kindergarten Transition: Your Guide to Connecting Children, Families, and Schools by Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D., and Marcia Kraft-Sayre, L.C.S.W. © 2003 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Transition Practices Brainstorming Guide

Connections Barriers Transition practice fostered Priority Who When and solutions Linkages and notes

Figure A2. An example of a Transition Practices Brainstorming Guide. Successful Kindergarten Transition: Your Guide to Connecting Children, Families, and Schools by Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D., and Marcia Kraft-Sayre, L.C.S.W. © 2003 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Transition Timeline Worksheet

Month Date to be initiated Activity Who’s in charge Special needs Carryover?

Figure A3. An example of a Transition Timeline Worksheet. Successful Kindergarten Transition: Your Guide to Connecting Children, Families, and Schools by Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D., and Marcia Kraft-Sayre, L.C.S.W. © 2003 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Checklist for Transition Coordinators

• Assess family needs and link up with services
• Help organize back-to-school nights and transition
• Help teachers establish peer connections at school
• Introduce each child to the kindergarten teacher
• Help kindergarten generate class lists that pair friendly
• Foster inter-school discussions about programs and class-
• Encourage events cosponsored by the preschool and the

Checklist for Principals

• Participate in regular meetings with parents
• Schedule and coordinate transition activities
• Support teachers in promoting peer connections
• Encourage parents to promote peer connections outside of school

Checklist for Kindergarten Teachers

• Make contact in the first 2 weeks
• Encourage participation
• Participate in regular meetings with parents
• Attend back-to-school nights and transition orientations
• Promote peer connections at school
• Encourage parents to promote peer connections

Kindergarten Transition Contact Log

Directions: This form is for documenting contacts with elementary school personnel or family members of children experiencing kindergarten transition. Indicate the date, the person with whom you had contact, the setting, the topics discussed, and your general impressions of the meeting.

Person with Date Name/initials whom you had contact Type/Setting Topics discussed General impressions

Figure A9. An example of a Kindergarten Transition Contact Log. Successful Kindergarten Transition: Your Guide to Connecting Children, Families, and Schools by Robert C. Pianta, Ph.D., and Marcia Kraft-Sayre, L.C.S.W. © 2003 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Instructions for Kindergarten Transition Menu Checklist

Please complete the menu checklist at the end of each week to document transition activities. For every child listed, check the box or boxes that correspond with activities you have used to promote connections. Check as many boxes as apply for each activity.

FAMILY–SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

• Meetings about transition issues
• Meeting at preschool with the kindergarten teachers and/or parents of kindergartners
• Meeting at the elementary school before the onset of kindergarten
• A family, the preschool teacher, and the kindergarten teacher meeting to share information about a child
• Meetings to orient parents to programs after school starts

Your impressions of the effectiveness of activities can also be highlighted.