Young Five

Young Five
Bridge to Kindergarten

Teacher at a table with kids doing puzzels

Is Young Five Right for My Child?

Young Five serves as a bridge to Kindergarten by providing students time and support to develop core academic and social skills under the care and guidance of professional educators.

Young Five is designed for students who:

  • Will turn 5 years old between May 1st and Sept. 1st
  • Are developmentally young
  • Will benefit from an extra year of school prior to Kindergarten

Young Five provides younger students with a strong foundation for school success by offering:

  • Guided growth by professional educators certified and experienced in Early Childhood
  • Early exposure to Kindergarten curriculum
  • A learning environment tailored to meet developing academic and/or social needs
  • An opportunity to start school with same age children

What will my child learn in Young Five?

LCSD Young Five program is based on the Kindergarten curriculum with focus placed on math and literacy instruction and the development of social and motor skills. Classroom instruction is designed to provide children an opportunity to learn in a hands-on, interactive environment that supports their development on maintaining the rigor and high standards of Kindergarten.

Literacy

  • Share and listen for information
  • Answer questions about stories
  • Identify upper and lowercase letters
  • Identify all letter sounds
  • Increase vocabulary

Math

  • Count aloud to 25
  • Identify numbers 0-10
  • Write numbers 0-10
  • Copy and create simple patterns
  • Add and subtract small quantities using concrete objects

Motor Skills

  • Strengthen hand and muscles through cutting, coloring, drawing, and painting
  • Develop hand-eye coordination
  • Grip writing utensils correctly

Social Skills

  • Work and play cooperatively with others
  • Participate in individual, small group, and large group classroom activities
  • Ask for help when needed
  • Take responsibility for personal belongings
  • Attend to self-care bathroom hand washing and dressing

Locations

Elementary Schools with Young Five Program:

  • Cape Elementary
  • Colonial Elementary
  • Edgewood Academy
  • J. Colin English Elementary
  • Lehigh Elementary
  • Orangewood Elementary
  • Patriot Elementary
  • River Hall Elementary
  • San Carlos Elementary
  • Spring Creek Elementary
  • Sunshine Elementary
  • Tropic Isles Elementary

How can I enroll my child in a Young Five Program?

  • Contact the school offering the program.
  • Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Young Five different from Kindergarten?

The Young Five curriculum is based on kindergarten standards modified to meet the academic social and emotional needs of younger children. The Young Five environment includes more opportunities for social and emotional language development and communication through small group instruction and intentional teaching through hands-on activities.

Does Young Five support children who do not speak English?

Yes, English learners are welcome in the Young Five program and will have the same level of services as those in Kindergarten.

What grade will children go into after Young Five?

Young Five is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten experience. Children will go to Kindergarten after completing Young Five. Families and schools will also work together to determine if Young Five students are ready to progress to 1st grade.