Middleton-Cross Plains School District spotlights 4K partnerships and launches full-day 4K pilot

Dr. Dana Monog, superintendent of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, visited Little Red Preschool in January to highlight the district's 4K partnerships and to introduce a new full-day 4K pilot program.

The update opened with students greeting Monog and describing what they like about school. One child said plainly, "We love 4 k." Monog used the visit to emphasize that partnerships with local child care and preschool centers let the district offer play-based early learning throughout the community.

Laura Linder, a teacher at Little Red Preschool, told Monog the district's play-based curriculum includes built-in extensions for children who are ready for more advanced activities. "I love the curriculum we use because it's all play based," Linder said, adding that the program supports both four- and five-year-olds and reduces extra planning workload for teachers.

Linder explained the classroom schedule and assessment approach. The 4K session is held for two and a half hours and typically begins with outdoor play followed by circle time, snack, a handwriting-focused period and free-choice interest areas where teachers observe and assess children as they play. Linder said, "We're able to break off into free choice'so then that's when they're able to go into the different interest areas, find where they want to play, and then the teachers are there to help support."

On early literacy, Linder described a literacy program the classroom introduced this year (the transcript contains inconsistent spellings of the program name). She said staff introduced the program slowly and are observing improvements in letter-sound recognition and blending syllables into words: "They're really understanding, like, when I have to put two syllables together and I blend it together, it makes the whole word."

Monog noted that Little Red is one of the district's 4K partner sites and thanked community partners and teachers for supporting early learning. She also announced the district is piloting a full-day 4K option and invited families to a Future Cardinals event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Early Learning Center on Clark Street in Middleton; childcare and snacks will be provided. "Whether families have just welcomed a new child or are preparing to send them to 4K, we are excited to share the many resources our community has to offer," Monog said.

Clarifying details mentioned during the visit: the Little Red classroom has 17 students this year and the district's 4K session described at this site lasts two and a half hours; the full-day 4K pilot was announced but enrollment details and program capacity were not specified.

The superintendent encouraged families to learn more about the district's 4K offerings at the Feb. 24 event and in the district newsletter.