| "I started out as a kindergarten and preschool teacher. At that time, we didn't have the same kind of expectations that they have now. Now the expectation is that our kids go to kindergarten ready to read. They know their numbers. They know their alphabet. They know their rhyming sounds. All that is known and it is expected that they know that upon entering kindergarten. It's a lot of pressure." In order to help African American and other children meet that skill-development expectation, the AAEA launched its preschool program last January at 100 S. Hamilton off the capitol square. The program, held every Saturday morning, assisted children in developing their skills in a fun environment. "Research has told us over and over again that the preschool is more important than any other grade," Crear emphasized. "We have to get our kids ready. So we're meeting the needs of our children. As you can see at this age, they are little sponges. All of what we taught was a lot of fun, but it was getting them ready. It's all fun and it is all learning. And certainly being the African American Ethnic Academy, we're introducing the kids to Wilma Rudolph, Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth. We have African American History Day every day and not just in February." On June 9, at its last session of the school year, the AAEA held an open house for the families of the AAEA students. After a delicious breakfast, the students demonstrated the skills they learned during the past six months. They sang songs, danced and read poems, all with the aim of developing their basic skills. "We do a lot of letter and number recognition, name recognition and colors, writing of their names and learning through play," said Carlettra Stanford, the lead instructor for the program. "The skills are kindergarten preparedness skills to get them ready for school. We also focus on beginning reading skills." The parents of the students have certainly seen the value of sending their children o the AAEA preschool. ";On Saturdays, my daughter doesn't do much at home other than watch TV and snack," said Kimberly Robinson, an AAEA parent. "So anything educational for her that prepares her for more education, I'm with it. Vindia is very smart and intelligent for her age group. I just want her motivation to continue. She enjoys coming to school, so while she's enjoying it, I'm going to keep her in it." Shondra Smith, a single parent, sees the AAEA preschool as a vehicle to keep her son engaged in learning. "It's so hard being a single parent and raising an African American boy," Smith said. "We have to keep them active as much as possible. It's just a great thing. It expands his learning capacity." Wesley Sparkman, another parent, wants to reinforce his son's enjoyment and thirst for learning. "I've seen his appreciation for learning develop a little bit more," Sparkman said. "Hopefully, the skills are going to follow later on and he'll still have a joy for learning. That's what we're really interested in, trying to develop that love. His skills have developed somewhat and he's doing fine." It's never too early to prevent the academic achievement gap for African American children. The AAEA is already beginning to plan its fall semester program and hopes to enroll 30 children, up from the 21 children who participated this past spring. Stanford is currently developing a list of those parents who are interested in enrolling their children for the fall. She will be sending them enrollment materials later this summer. If you would like to place your preschool child on this list or to obtain more information, call Carlettra Stanford at 658-6227. |
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| African American Ethnic Academy's Preschool Graduation Preventing the gap By Jonathan Gramling |
| While many in the baby boom generation began their formal education learning how to read in the first grade, times have changed. What children are expected to know before they enter kindergarten has increased significantly. "I was in education for 40 years," said Diane Crear, a board member of the African American Ethnic Academy (AAEA). |
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