How Kinder Bridge prepares young students for school

As Kindergarten begins this week, many children are embarking on an exciting new adventure, transitioning from home to the structured environment of a classroom. For some, particularly those from low-income or marginalized families, this journey can be especially meaningful if they haven’t had prior exposure to a formal learning environment.

That’s why we proudly fund Kinder Bridge, a program designed to empower young learners in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) with targeted summer support, helping them start their school experience with confidence.

In 2024, Kinder Bridge served over 270 incoming kindergarten students across four BVSD summer learning sites: Emerald Elementary, Creekside Elementary, Crest View Elementary, and Ryan Elementary. 

Over the course of four weeks, students engaged in full-day programming designed to prepare them for kindergarten. The program’s curriculum mirrored the first month of school, focusing on essential academic skills and social-emotional learning, including instruction in music, art, P.E., and STEM. In addition, students learn school readiness skills like classroom routines, following instructions, riding a bus, and attending school meals.

Results at-a-glance

• 4 out of 10 incoming Kinder Bridge students were not reaching the benchmark standards for kindergarten students when they started the program. By the final week of the program, 8 out of 10 students were reaching or exceeding standards.
• There was a 25% increase in the number of students who knew how to write their names.
• Per readiness standards, 62% of students were ready for kindergarten when they started Kinder Bridge and 83% were ready by the end of the program.

“Early intervention is crucial for setting young learners on a path to success,” says Cameo Rainaldo-DeDominces, BVSD Coordinator of Extended Learning & Network Support. “By partnering with community organizations, we were able to recruit and reach students who didn’t have any formal preschool experience and help prepare them for life as a kindergarten student.” Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Impact on Education funding provides these students with four weeks of crucial summer learning and targeted support, helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for learning.

Building academic skills

Kinder Bridge introduces students to many of the academic skills they will need in kindergarten. The program emphasizes letter recognition, counting, letter-sound formation, and name-writing.

Educators observed significant progress in students’ academic abilities over the course of the program. “Some kids didn’t know how to hold a pencil, and the expectation for kindergarten is to write their name,” one teacher shared. “We had kids who didn’t know how to use a glue stick, so we had to start at the beginning of everything.”

Fostering social-emotional development

In addition to academic skills, Kinder Bridge places a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning. The program provides students with opportunities to engage with their peers and develop essential social skills.

One teacher described how students were prompted to ask each other questions and share their ideas, helping them build the confidence to interact with new friends in kindergarten. “When they go to kindergarten, they are going to meet new friends, so having had the opportunity to meet others and have another teacher is important,” the teacher explained.

When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day.

Instilling confidence and a love for learning

Kinder Bridge also builds students’ confidence and fosters a love for learning. The program helps find and nurture each child’s unique strengths, building their confidence and their belief in their ability to succeed.

One teacher shared the story of a young girl who had never attended school before Kinder Bridge. When she started, she couldn’t write or spell her name, but by the end of the program, she was confidently writing and spelling it. She even made a bracelet with letter beads to help her practice, proudly showing it to her teacher each day. “She loved being in school, and seeing her progress was a huge success for the summer,” the teacher shared

Preparing for a successful kindergarten transition

Ultimately, the goal of Kinder Bridge is to prepare students for a smooth and successful transition into kindergarten. By providing a structured environment where students can learn and practice essential skills, Kinder Bridge helps ease the anxiety that children may feel as they approach this important milestone.

Educators reported that students showed noticeable improvements in the students’ ability to follow classroom routines, interact with peers, and engage in learning activities. “It’s really getting them ready to learn, learning how to learn and understanding classroom expectations,” one teacher shared.

We know that early intervention and targeted support can have a profound impact on young learners. For students who may not have had the opportunity to engage in preschool or other early learning experiences, Kinder Bridge provides a vital foundation that sets them up for success in kindergarten and beyond.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?