General Information

The Rhea County School System established The Junior Primary Class at the beginning of the 1994-1995 school year. It is a transitional class between Kindergarten and First Grade that is an early intervention measure for students. The class is for children who have passed Kindergarten but need another year before entering First Grade in order to build a strong academic and social foundation. The class size is kept low in order to allow more individual teaching time, and is taught by experienced teachers.

The Language Arts curriculum concentrates on a phonics based, language experience approach to reading. "Beginning to Read, Write, and Listen", is the reading series that is taught. Activities that actively engage the learner are implemented in order to teach the students to read, to write in journals, and to participate in listening activities in order to learn. Students also begin to read from easy reader books and are taught reading strategies that guide their development as they increase their reading fluency. Art, Health, Science, and Social Studies lessons are incorporated into the Language Arts curriculum and are integrated as a meaningful component of reading.

Mathematics is taught through hands-on activities in order that the students may understand abstract mathematical concepts. The Junior Primary math curriculum is basically the same as the first grade math curriculum so that the students can obtain a firm grasp of the concepts in order to be successful when they are in the first grade classroom.

An emphasis is also placed on teaching hand-eye coordination activities, motor activities, and social skills. The class builds self-esteem, confidence, and leadership. The Junior Primary year is a gift of time that establishes a strong academic foundation in which students can gain readiness to be successful when they are in first grade.

The child's Kindergarten teacher refers students for placement into the Junior Primary Class. The teacher fills out a checklist that measures academic, social-emotional, and physical characteristics of the student. This screening helps the kindergarten teacher, the Junior Primary teacher, the school principals, and the child's parents to determine if the student will benefit by a year in the Junior Primary Class. Junior Primary placement and being held back are not the same. Junior Primary Class is a half step forward between Kindergarten and First Grade. As educators and parents we have the responsibility of providing the best for our children. The Junior Primary Class is expected to be a positive experience in the education of students in Rhea County.