Fall 2013
Learn
I.J. Holton Intermediate School
Austin, Minnesota
The NEW
Kindergarten
Movement
Congratulations
Austin Public Schools &
Rochester Catholic Schools
PLANNERS / ARCHITECTS / ENGINEERS
THE NEW KINDERGARTEN MOVEMENT
Are Yo u Re a dy F o r A l l D a y K i n d ergarten?
Yes, those little kindergartners become our
future leaders! Yesterday they were entering
kindergarten; now as college graduates, they
are technically and artistically trained and
creating new solutions for the world.
Kindergarten learning is changing;
classrooms must support this movement.
Many state agency guidelines for spaces
were developed over ten years ago and need
revision. This new movement demands a
new kind of learning space. Kindergarten
curriculum has advanced through the
expanded development of early childhood
programs as well as All-Day Every-Day
(ADED) Kindergarten.
In Minnesota, the legislature passed full
funding for ADED Kindergarten for every
child, which goes into effect fall 2014. How is
the rest of the country positioned? Enrollment
in all-day kindergarten has grown over the
past 25 years with nearly two-thirds of all
U.S. children attending an ADED program.
Twenty-nine states (including Wisconsin,
Iowa, and South Dakota) provide all-day
kindergarten. Numerous Minnesota school
districts already have ADED Kindergarten
programs, but many parents pay partial-tofull tuition as part of the formula. That’s all
about to change.
As school districts plan for ADED
implementation, they are analyzing their
facilities to accommodate for additional
space. A facility assessment identifies if
existing space may be available for inserting
kindergarten and/or if additions are needed
—an architect provides great value in this
planning effort. As districts dialogue with
their site administrators, other space needs
arise such as special education and staffing
areas. Also, core spaces such as gyms,
cafeterias, administrative areas, and restroom
facilities may need expansion.
The standard classroom guideline of 1,200
square feet is being challenged. Years of
school budget reductions and “doing with
what you have” have placed kindergarten
programs into regular-sized classrooms
with surprising success. In fact, during
a space planning meeting with teachers
and administrators, they said anything
larger than a regular classroom is a waste
of space. The educators said they provide
ADED Kindergarten in elementary schools,
operating effectively in typical standardsized classrooms.
Needed space may be addressed by relocating
district-based programs such as DCD, early
childhood, and/or other specialty programs
to other sites; thereby eliminating the need to
construct additions. If an addition is needed,
keeping kindergarten classrooms together is
important. Simply adding kindergarten space
“at the end of the hallway” is not a solution if
the other kindergarten rooms are not close by.
Reconfiguration of existing space may need
to occur; additions should be strategically
placed for grade level clustering. The
solution may be to convert existing rooms to
kindergarten classrooms, thus placing those
relocated programs in the building addition.
The teachers noted that in the past, large
rooms were needed for separate “play
centers” with play areas, kitchen sets, sleeping
areas, cots, etc. Today, the curriculum is
such that space needs “mirror” a typical
classroom. Learning activities and space
needs are different from the past. Pre-school
and kindergarten readiness should be in a
1,200 square foot room. Ten years from now,
there will be strong conversations regarding
space needs for four-year-olds. Kindergarten
rooms have been converted to music and art
rooms since they are larger and have storage
and plumbing.
Integrated
technology
Sink
Storage
Soft
surfaces
Individual
restrooms
Varied instruction
& activities
(child height
fixtures)
Daylight
Easy to clean
surfaces
In the design meetings, educators embraced
the concept of a team learning area adjacent
to kindergarten classrooms, serving as a
classroom extension for activities. Central
toilet areas for kindergarten boys and girls
provide better efficiency. Storage units in the
classroom or in a combined area for sharing
are also desired. Providing 900 square foot
classrooms with a shared teaming area,
clustered toilets, and combined storage
enhances curriculum delivery for students,
while the space efficiency allows room for
other desperately-needed programs that
serve all students.
As districts address needed kindergarten
space with limited construction funding,
consider the following steps:
• Assess the existing space for possible
relocation of other functions and districtbased programs to avoid additions
• Determine how to cluster grades/
classrooms together
• If an addition is needed, strategically locate
the expansion to fit with grade clustering
• Determine the space needed for an
effective program, using square footage
as effectively and efficiently as possible
• Determine if core spaces such as gyms,
cafeterias, and/or administrative areas
need to be expanded
Coat cubbies
With the increased rigor in English Language Arts and Math standards,
instructional time has shifted to whole group and small group instruction.
Individual-to-large group activities, storytelling and listening, reading, social
studies, science and environmental education, arts and crafts, music, and
creative and active play occur inside and outside the classroom. Activities occur
in the media center, gymnasium, computer lab, art room, music space, and large
group rooms; it’s virtually what happens with the 1st grade students, according to
educators in one district.
One school district’s typical 5½ hour day for a kindergartner (similar to 1st grade)
includes:
Literacy block
Math block
Physical education / music block
Prep / Paraprofessional follow-up
Lunch
Recess
Opening/closing/transitions
(academic classroom)
(academic classroom)
(gym / music / academic classroom)
(media center / art classroom / gym)
(cafeteria)
(playground)
(academic classroom)
PLANNERS / ARCHITECTS / ENGINEERS
8501 Golden Valley Road, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55427
T 763.545.3731 F 763.525.3289
www.atsr.com [email protected]
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Lourdes High School
Rochester Catholic Schools
Congratulations on your new facilities
I.J. Holton Intermediate School
Austin Public Schools