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The Early Years

This series highlights the pivotal foundational years in education when students are first grasping their ABCs and 123s.

Coaches offer ongoing support for preschool teachers

Grandville Erin Albanese

Coaches work side-by-side with preschool teachers, helping them navigate educating Kent ISD’s youngest learners.

Preschool service project plants growing friendships

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Grandville preschoolers and Grand Village residents recently came together for a multigenerational spring project.

Grant turns puddles into learning potential

Northview Beth Heinen Bell

One DK classroom’s new wet-weather gear expands the opportunities for outdoor learning, rather than keeping kids indoors.

Honing their approach to new phonics lessons

Northview Beth Heinen Bell

Kindergarten teachers at East Oakview took part in a “learning lab” to observe how their colleagues teach new phonics lessons.

‘Mr. Melvin’ finds joy in the preschool classroom

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

After decades in tech, this substitute teacher’s second career is all about high-fives, laughter and helping kids believe in themselves.

After transformation, first year kicks off at early childhood center

Rockford Riley Kelley

Staff and students are loving the new Parkside Early Childhood Center.

Preschoolers move to brand-new classrooms as expansion work continues

East Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

The first phase of the Woodcliff Early Childhood Center expansion wrapped up with the opening of new classrooms for preschool students.

Growth continues in free-to-all preschool program

Kent ISD Erin Albanese

The Great Start Readiness Program continues to add classrooms in anticipation of future growth.

‘It looks like play, but it’s all purposeful’

Sparta Riley Kelley

Bright Beginnings playgroups help prepare young learners for the classroom.

Many hands put fine motor skills to work

Northview Beth Heinen Bell

DK and kindergarten teachers at West Oakview recently received new sets of fine motor tubs, full of sticky cubes, felt shapes and other hands-on manipulatives, thanks to a grant from the Northview Education Foundation.

Young fives practice social-emotional learning

Kenowa Hills Alexis Stark

Central Elementary young fives are learning how to cope with strong, uncomfortable emotions through self-regulating and showing empathy toward themselves and others.

Kindergarten STEM project uses simple materials to create worlds

Northview Beth Heinen Bell

A box is just a box — until the developmental kindergartners at North Oakview put their creative juices to work.

She nurtures them, and they bring her joy

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Preschool teacher Heidi Voetberg says “I still love teaching after 25 years. … It is what I was meant to do.”

Grant encourages learning through play

Northview Morgan Jarema

Students in Katie Shiffer’s developmental kindergarten class at West Oakview Elementary are honing spatial and fine motor skills through play, thanks to an NEF grant.

Goal: Bilingual by middle school

Godfrey-Lee Alexis Stark

In its first year at the Early Childhood Center, the dual language immersion program is preparing kindergartners for life-long learning in Spanish and English.

‘We’ve tried to create a place to find joy’

Caledonia Alexis Stark

Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center recently earned the highest rating from the state program Great Start to Quality for what it noted are its high-quality staff, learning environments and inclusive instruction.

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