Ready, Set, Grow: Exploring the Readiness and Preparation of Kindergarten Students within a Title 1 School

Abstract

This article discusses a research study conducted to evaluate whether young students’ educational experiences prior to entering kindergarten affects their accomplishments within the content of English language arts and social development. Data from the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS) and Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) were analyzed in one high-poverty elementary school over the course of a full academic year. Learning more about students’ early literacy and development can allow teachers to have a much greater understanding of their students’ needs. This, in turn, can benefit all students as they begin their formal educational experiences and as they learn and grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively.