A dozen kindergarten students shouted "brown" when teacher Sherri Patterson pointed to a page in a book and asked, "What color is this?" The students were correct, but Patterson was more interested in how her students answered than what they said.

"Listen to your friends, please," and "Remember to raise your hands," she reminded as they fired off answers. The children, each sitting in a square on a rainbow-colored rug, responded immediately, shooting hands up so Patterson could call them by name.

Patterson's students were among more than 60 who attended a kindergarten readiness program at Temecula Elementary School this summer. Children learn how to behave in kindergarten, such as raising hands and taking turns, along with kindergarten basics such as identifying shapes, proper pencil-holding and safe cutting with scissors.

The classes emphasize preparing socially and academically to enter public school. The hope is children feel more comfortable when classes start, reducing fear and tears, educators say. The more quickly students adjust to school, the more quickly they can begin learning.

That's important at a time when kindergarten rigor is on the rise and academic standards are increasing.

"Preschool is the new kindergarten and kindergarten is the new first grade," said Pat Krizek, coordinator for state preschool and school readiness programs in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. "We went from hoping children could write their names and learn to read some words to having children write full sentences by the time they finish kindergarten."

Not all districts offer kindergarten readiness programs, but they are gaining popularity. Schools in Hemet, Perris and San Bernardino offer the opportunity for students in their districts, while Temecula Elementary and Mountain View Elementary in Riverside developed programs specifically for their schools.

Typically, the classes run two to four hours a day for about two weeks in the summer before a child starts kindergarten. San Bernardino offers a longer program; children can attend as many as three 20-day sessions the year before they start school. Some of the programs are targeted specifically at children who have not attended preschool.

"Children, when they first come to school, if they haven't had any group experiences at all, they are totally lost," said Carol Jimenez, director of the child development program for the Perris Elementary School District, which holds "kindergarten transition classes" each summer.

If children are scared, worried or confused, "there's not going to be any learning that takes place," she said. "The child who goes to a transition class is already ahead of the game and can focus on what the teacher is saying."

Christopher Mead, 5, is ready with an answer, but just as importantly, he raises his hand to await his turn.

It's been 15 years since Jimenez taught kindergarten, but she still remembers one girl who came to her class the first day and hid under a table because she was so scared.

Perris Union's program served 120 children at four schools during their two-week program this summer. During the class, children get used to going to school, and they learn quite a bit, too.

"We do pre-tests and post-tests on which letters they know. Usually there's a dramatic increase of at least eight letters," Jimenez said. "If they hadn't had this program, they would go in blank."

Melissa Zschokke found out about Perris' kindergarten camp when she went to register her son Thomas, 5, for kindergarten at Good Hope Elementary School.

"I figured that way he could meet other children and get used to the teacher," Zschokke said of her son, who did not attend preschool and hadn't been around a lot of other children.

By the time kindergarten started Aug. 19, Thomas was eager to go. He ran to get in line with his classmates and asked his mother if she was going to leave.
"He's all, 'You can go now,' " Zschokke said. "He was just ready to go."

"He's such a mama's boy, I thought he would be scared. He was so excited."

The transition to kindergarten can also be difficult for parents. At Mountain View Elementary School in Riverside, parents attend workshops on kindergarten standards and expectations, how to assist their children, setting good homework habits and more while their children attend "kindergarten academy."

During the academy, held for the first time this summer, parents were given flash cards and other tools to use at home. Translation was provided for parents who speak Spanish.

"We looked for things that would be of interest to first-time parents of school-age children," Principal Paula Allbeck said. "Our parents were absolutely committed to coming to kindergarten academy."

At the same time, the students practiced identifying colors, writing their names and mastering school routines. Teacher and kindergarten team leader Diana Lewin said she noticed the impact of the program on her students on the first day of classes.

"We noticed a decline in behavior problems we typically see in the first few days, like crying," Lewin said.

And when some of her students struggled to find purple crayons, children who had attended kindergarten academy showed them which one it was, she said. The change has allowed Lewin to pick up the pace of instruction.

"Today I was able to jump into a lot of academic areas it usually takes me a week to get to," Lewin said on the second day of school. "I got to so many more things."

Reach Michelle L. Klampe at 951-375-3740 or mklampe@PE.com