Teachers, we know you’re the real difference-makers. You’re in a unique position to help shape children’s long-term school and life success. We recognize kindergarten children’s developmental need to play and the pressure you face to develop academic skills. Tools kindergarten achieves both.
When you walk into a Tools kindergarten, you see curious explorers becoming independent, self-regulated learners. Tools kindergarteners master the skills they need to be successful in school and life. And they do this in the most age-appropriate way, through exploring ecosystems around the world.
Tools kindergarten helps children:
Tools focuses on more than standards. It also teaches children how to learn. It allows children to feel successful at their own pace while continuing to work toward grade level standards and expectations. Tools of the Mind is a powerful curriculum that allows children to learn and succeed in all areas through the joy of play-based learning.
I am so grateful to Tools for creating a kindergarten curriculum carefully based on the developmental ways children learn, and not based solely on what we WANT them to learn.
Tools allows us to use play as a way for children to learn. It encourages teachers to keep the whole child at the forefront of education. As teachers we're so quick to jump in and help instead of allowing children to make mistakes and solve problems. After five years teaching Tools, I've learned to give children real think time and a chance to solve problems without me.
My students love to come to school every day. I have never seen kids become such brave writers. They learn the writing process and just go for it! They say their message, make a line for each word and add sounds, then more sounds and word patterns. It truly amazes me each year to see how far my students come from the first to the last day of school.
The focus on self-regulation is what makes Tools of the Mind unique. Self-regulation is embedded throughout every component of the day. Students leave the program not only proficient in all the academic content, but more importantly with skills that enable them to be good learners!
Tools levels the playing field by providing equitable learning opportunities. Our pilot classrooms had great results with all but a few students making end-of-year benchmarks. These results were considerably higher than our other classrooms. We knew the impact was bigger than just reading scores, we were providing students with background knowledge and self-regulation skills to last a lifetime.
Kindergarten teachers, you’re in a unique situation. You have a classroom full of children who need and want to play. And you have the pressure to incorporate the academic rigor that will prepare them for first grade. You need a comprehensive curriculum that honors both needs, while empowering you to enable each learner to reach their full potential.
Tools empowers
teachers to...
Support each child’s development in a classroom with a wider range of skills than ever before
Cultivate a regulated, inclusive classroom culture that enables teachers to work 1:1 with each child
Be proactive in supporting self-regulation development to enable every child to better manage their emotions and behaviors while learning how to learn
Build standards-aligned academic foundations in literacy, math and science to support success in first grade and beyond
Sustain meaningful relationships with families, creating a partnership to support each child's development
Provide equitable access to learning for all children, no matter what their unique needs may be
Tools kindergarten evolves as children grow throughout the year. We scaffold every activity so all children can learn, grow and thrive. Check out these videos from our kindergarten classrooms and see the power of Tools in action.
What happens when teachers are empowered to empower their students? The impact is measurable. Check out the results of this groundbreaking education research that followed Tools in action. You’ll see forever-lasting benefits for both teachers and children.
Teachers, we know what you need because teachers helped us make Tools what it is today! Our comprehensive program includes a teacher-approved blend of curriculum, professional development and materials – everything you need to bring Tools to your classroom.
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
You’ll get a manual full of activities and a plan book designed to empower your teaching. This gives you a running start, then offers you the support and freedom to plan your own classroom activities and challenge levels. A kit full of kindergarten materials is also available so you can easily launch Tools activities and to set up your environment.
DIGITAL RESOURCES
Every classroom gets access to digital resources, including a Tools 'coach in your pocket.’ Plus you’ll get our app with video of activities, quick start guides and Interactive Read Alouds for each ecosystem and additional theme-related resources. You’ll also get our apps to track writing and reading development and support your individualized scaffolding of each child.
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
Teachers, here’s where it all comes together. As a Tools teacher, you’ll get a dedicated Tools partner to offer personalized, judgment-free coaching. We’ll meet with you and your colleagues to answer questions, talk about your unique classrooms and empower you to support your children’s development based on where they are.
Because we’re based on neuroscience and Vygotskian theory, Tools is designed to meet every child where they are, no matter what their unique abilities.
Tools invites kindergarteners into a science adventure through ecosystems around the world to build the self-regulation and academic skills they’ll need for school and life. Through high-interest, age-appropriate learning themes, children are intrinsically motivated to learn, grow and thrive. This closes the achievement gap and makes learning accessible to all, no matter what. Here’s an overview of the foundations that Tools kindergarten is building.
Tools is the comprehensive early childhood program that develops every child’s self-regulation in every activity. Research shows that self-regulation is the biggest predictor of success in school and life.