United Way Introduces Skills Inventory - News and Weather For The Quad Cities -

United Way Introduces Skills Inventory

Updated: Aug 28, 2012 05:09 PM CDT
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It's a first for the Quad Cities. United Way is joining hands with some of the brightest minds in local education. A task force has developed a list of the top ten skills children should have as they begin kindergarten. It is called the Kindergarten Skills Inventory

Kindergarten teachers in Quad City school districts will fill out the inventory to determine if children are below, meet, or are above certain educational and social expectations. When the results come back, United Way will determine what services the agency can offer so that children are better prepared to begin kindergarten.

Anna Lorenz is a teacher at Rock Island Academy. She has some students in her kindergarten class who have never held a crayon or pencil before walking in the door. 

So, along with reading, students in her class are learning letters and sounds while exercising to music. They are using markers to draw triangles and other shapes. She is also observing to find out how well children can follow directions and respect other students in class.

The results of the inventory should be known sometime later this year. Lorenz says it's very important to Live United. She says kids are our future, and people in the community need to do what they can to make it possible for children to be as successful as possible, especially in school.