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Schuylerville

At Schuylerville Public Library, there is no shushing from staff — at least not on Monday and Wednesday mornings. That's when a dozen or more preschoolers giggle, skip and scurry through the book stalls.

They and their parents are taking part in a new free preschool at the library, meant to fill an educational gap in the village.

"The school district does not have a (universal prekindergarten)," said teacher Jennifer Edwards. "People have to drive to Greenwich or Saratoga. But for people who don't have a car, there is no option for them."

And since the preschool has opened, children and their parents have come. Jennifer Zeh, whose 31/2 –year-old daughter Sydni attends, said her daughter loves it. And on a recent Wednesday, came early to play.

"She is learning her alphabet and numbers," said Zeh. "She will definitely be ready for kindergarten."

But Edwards, or Miss Jenny as she is known, said that preschool is less about academics and more about learning social, emotional and fine motor skills.

"I speak with kindergarten teachers to find out what kindergarten-readiness means," said Edwards. "Teachers feel it's important that students know how to negotiate socially — how to take turns, how to stand in line and how to sit in a circle. And hand dexterity. If the teachers have that, they can take care of the academics."

Certainly, rounding up 3- and 4-year-olds is harder than it sounds. When Edwards starts the morning class with a story circle, some children are popping up, running around and leaving the circle. Some interrupt her with questions. She handles it with aplomb – inviting one girl to sit on her lap and asking others about the boy in the book she reads to them.

After the story, students take turns at learning stations that change each week. This past week's theme was pizza. Children rotate through solving pizza puzzles, using tweezers to find and grab wooden toppings on a play pizza and kneading their own pizza dough with Edwards' homemade, and fragrant, Play-Doh.

"I use as much sensory learning as possible," said Edwards. "Touching, seeing and smelling are sensory exercises. They learn by feeling and exploring."

There is also co-operative play. During pizza week, that means role-playing in the miniature pizza parlor.

The parents were invited to come, initially for liability reasons. But as the program continues, Edwards said their presence not only helps her, but teaches parents and grandparents what to reinforce at home.

Caitlin Johnson, library director, came up with the idea for a library preschool after learning about the American Library Associations' "Counting Down to Kindergarten." The initiative aims to inspire libraries to fill the preschool gap because too many public school districts don't have the funding for UPK.

The National Education Association indicates that children who attend preschool are more likely to graduate high school, own homes, have longer marriages and have a higher income. They are also less likely to get in trouble with the law.

"High quality, full day pre-K is beneficial to children, their families and the entire community," said Jasmine Gripper, legislative director with the Alliance for Quality Education. "Students who attend a high quality pre-K program are more likely to read at grade level and achieve greater success during their entire academic career. Every dollar invested in early education saves taxpayers ... because students are less likely to need more expensive remedial instruction and special education. Providing quality pre-K is one of the best investments a community can make."

That's why the library effort is welcome, especially in rural areas where a car is essential.

"We wanted to help," said Johnson. "We have found a way to fit it into our schedule and help the community."

wliberatore@timesunion.com • 518-454-5445 • @wendyliberatore

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