Andrea Alvarez

As VPK teachers, one of our biggest responsibilities is preparing our students for kindergarten success. In Florida, one of the main tools used to measure school readiness is the Renaissance STAR Early Literacy assessment , also referred to as STAR FAST . If you’re a new teacher or simply looking to better understand this assessment and how to support your students, this post will break down what it is, what it measures, and how you can intentionally prepare your little learners throughout...

If you’re a VPK/Preschool teacher, you have probably heard about the CLASS assessment (Classroom Assessment Scoring System)  and may have even felt a little overwhelmed by it. The truth is, CLASS isn’t about adding extra work to your day—it’s about capturing the quality of the interactions you already have with your students. Let’s break it down into simple terms and show you how it naturally fits into a typical VPK day. What is CLASS? CLASS measures teacher-student interactions  in three...

VPK in the First Week The first week of VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is an exciting and critical time for both students and teachers....