Kindergarten readiness topic of community forum

Have you adequately prepared your child for kindergarten?

Families with preschool age children are encouraged to attend an upcoming community forum entitled, "All About Your Child: Helping Your Child be Ready for Kindergarten," Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Landsbaum Center for Health Education (1433 N. 6th St.). The forum is sponsored by the steering committee for Project BEST (Building for Effective School Transitions) at Indiana State University.

As part of the forum, a panel of experts will share their experiences and answer questions from the audience. Panelists will include:

● Gail Gottschling, director of ISU's Early Childhood Education Center;

● Sabrina Herzog, an ISU elementary education graduate and parent of a preschool child entering kindergarten;

● Andrea Henderson, a preschool teacher at ISU's Early Childhood Education Center;

● Melissa Hancewicz, kindergarten teacher at Franklin Elementary School;

● Kathryn Bauserman, co-director of Project BEST and assistant professor in the department of elementary, early, and special education at ISU;

"One of our primary goals is to encourage collaborations between schools and child care settings and to support the effective transition of all children from child care environments to local schools," said Karen Liu, co-director of Project BEST, professor in ISU's elementary, early and special education department and moderator for the panel discussion. "The bottom line is we want to foster successful and enthusiastic learners."

Project BEST is funded by a state grant and involves partnerships with three school corporations (Vigo, Clay and Southwest Parke), five Title I elementary schools, Head Start programs in three counties, Community Alliance & Services for Young Children, Inc. (CASY), Vigo County Public Library, United Way of the Wabash Valley, ISU Early Childhood Education Center, Wabash Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (WV-AEYC), day care centers, faith based preschool programs, and family child care providers.

Admission is free, and no registration is required. For more information, contact ISU Project BEST co-directors, Karen Liu or Kathryn Bauserman at (812) 237-2856 or (812) 237-2853, respectively.

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CONTACT: Karen Liu, professor of early childhood education, at (812) 237-2856 or kliu@isugw.indstate.edu, or Kathryn Bauserman, assistant professor in the department of elementary, early and special education, at (812) 237-2853 or kbauserman@isugw.indstate.edu.

WRITER: Maria Greninger, associate director, Communications & Marketing, Indiana State University, (812) 237-4357 or 237-7972.