Transitional Kindergarten
Once again, Jewish Academy of Orlando is offering a Transitional Kindergarten to the community. TK is a grade that serves as a bridge between preschool and Kindergarten, providing students time to develop fundamental skills needed for success in an academic setting.
Instead of remaining in Pre-K for another year, students in the TK program are provided the opportunity to transition to a new school, Jewish Academy of Orlando. The program is housed, managed, and directed by our school with the cooperation of the JCC’s ECLC leadership team. The class is deliberately small, with an average 6:1 student to teacher ratio, to provide students with the individualized attention they need during this transitional period.
TK allows students to develop both social-emotional skills and fine and gross motor skills in a warm environment. The students are challenged academically in a developmentally appropriate manner. They participate in cooperative learning activities and unique learning experiences, including virtual field trips around the world using VR headsets.
The classes will be led by passionate teaching professionals with expertise in teaching young learners in both elementary and preschool.
Students have classes in creative spaces such as the Innovation Lab, perform on the WJAO news broadcast, participate in hands-on learning activities and purposeful play time. TK students have the benefits of being a JAO student, including classes in Hebrew, Judaic Studies, P.E., Art, and Music. They participate in regular classroom routines including individualized and small group learning opportunities with extra breaks built in to give these young learners time to move.
The program is designed to create lifelong learners. Our Transitional Kindergarten is a purposeful opportunity to foster each student’s curiosity, encourage a love of learning, and support an environment of positive social-emotional and academic growth.
“Social and emotional growth is key to a child’s success, long-term mental wellness and
healthy sense of self. The TK program will provide an intentional learning space for
children to develop the foundational skills necessary to be successful, happy, and
confident in the academic years that follow.”
-Danielle Glover, MSW
Families in our community voiced a need for a transitional year before their child enters Kindergarten. Jewish Academy’s TK program provides an experience for children to develop all of the skills necessary to be successful in Kindergarten and the rest of the elementary school years. Our program is designed around an age-appropriate curriculum that is differentiated for individual learners. We are happy to serve the community in this way and encourage and nourish our kids’ love of learning.
“We are finding more and more that an extra year of maturational growth has
long-term positive impacts on a child’s social, emotional, and academic success.
The gift of time is truly one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will provide parents with a developmentally
appropriate, research-based program which grants children that gift.
Every child develops as they are meant to develop, and our current educational
structure doesn’t always allow or support this process. Programs such
as TK are designed with the whole child in mind and not an arbitrary date
on a calendar. I feel fortunate to partner with JAO as they provide
a much needed option for families and for our children as we
prepare them for their best life.”
- Melissa Youngblood, Early Childhood Director
of the Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC).
More information about the TK program can be found in our list of frequently asked questions (FAQ).
To learn more about Transitional Kindergarten at Jewish Academy of Orlando, or to book a tour, please contact Amy Polacek, Admissions Coordinator at (407)647-0713 or email.
"The TK program at JAO has been a terrific experience for my son and our family. The
changes I noticed in him were immediate. Already my son is more confident,
well-mannered, and he loves to learn!"
- Evan R., JAO TK Parent
