WaKIDS
The Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a transition process that helps ensure a successful start to the K-12 experience and connect the key adults in a child's life.
Kindergarten teachers observe children during everyday classroom activities. This helps teachers find out what each child knows and can do at the beginning of the school year. Knowing more about children's entering skills and strengths helps teachers and parents work together to support student growth in the kindergarten year.
WaKIDS is Three Components
- Family Connection welcomes families into the Washington K-12 system as partners in their child's education.
- Whole-Child Assessment helps kindergarten teachers learn about the skills and strengths of the children in their classrooms so they can meet the needs of each child.
- Early Learning Collaboration aligns practices of early learning professionals and kindergarten teachers to support smooth transitions for children.
Before October 31st, teachers take an inventory of each child's developing skills in six areas:
- Social-emotional
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Language
- Literacy
- Mathematics
Our teachers use an observation tool called GOLD™ by Teaching Strategies.
Parents who wish to excuse their children from participating in this inventory should notify their student's Lodge Leader in writing during the first week of school, or as soon as possible thereafter.