--- title: School Readiness description: "Rethinking kindergarten readiness: When you picture a kindergartner, what do you see? At LENA, we see a vibrant young child made ready through early talk." ---     # **Picture This** # Early Talk = School Ready     #### **Stream the webinar:** ![portrait 3](https://info.lena.org/hs-fs/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/portrait%203.png?width=300&height=292&name=portrait%203.png)   ### When you picture a kindergartener, what do you see?  At LENA, we see a vibrant young child framed by confidence, curiosity, and the ability to communicate and connect. How did they get there? Early talk. Our work through the first five years – focused on positive interactions in early childhood – shapes a child's readiness for school and life. ![boat doodle](https://info.lena.org/hs-fs/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/boat%20doodle.png?width=100&height=80&name=boat%20doodle.png)   ## Webinar: Rethinking School Readiness Recorded October 30, 2024   ![portrait 1_2](https://info.lena.org/hs-fs/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/portrait%201_2.png?width=259&height=300&name=portrait%201_2.png)"School readiness" often gets tangled in a web of standards and divided responsibilities. So let's simplify it. We're rethinking school readiness by focusing on the essentials: early language skills that form the bedrock of future success.    In this webinar, we'll zoom out to a bigger picture, exploring how early talk leads to school readiness. We’ll also explore how early learning and K-12 systems can collaborate better on preparing children for kindergarten. Together, we'll uncover how fostering quality conversations and better collaboration creates a clear path to positive outcomes.   **What We’ll Explore:** - The many facets of school readiness: the landscape, the challenges, the opportunities. - The new data that shows LENA Grow is equipping children with the language and social skills to meet standards and thrive in school. - The road ahead, and how we can put all the pieces together to reimagine how early childhood educators prepare kids for school AND how schools prepare for the kids. ## Meet Our Panelists:   ![Scott_McConnell2](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/Scott_McConnell2.png) #### Scott McConnell ##### Professor & Early Education Researcher ![Jill G](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/Jill%20G.png) #### Jill Gilkerson ##### Chief Research and Evaluation Officer, LENA ![duggan_pic2](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/duggan_pic2.png) #### Jim Duggan ##### Assistant Superintendent, Bourbonnais School District (IL) ![kelsie copy3](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/kelsie%20copy3.png) #### Kelsie Todd ##### Early Childhood Community Liaison, Henderson County Schools (KY) ## Stories and Resources ![kindergarten readiness featured](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/kindergarten%20readiness%20featured.png) #### **Article: Understanding Kindergarten Readiness** Kindergarten readiness (sometimes called "school readiness") means a lot of things to a lot of people ... but what exactly does it mean? [![Read more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3975639/e1ef52eb-546c-4ca0-bf4f-d0fe2cfe9579.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3975639/e1ef52eb-546c-4ca0-bf4f-d0fe2cfe9579) ![K readiness resource graphic_2-1](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/04.%20Image%20Library/2.%20Graphics%20/Webinar%20and%20landing%20pages%20graphics/K%20readiness%20resource%20graphic_2-1.png) #### **Learning Resource: Early Talk = School Readiness** Prepare young minds for future success at school — by talking with them now! [![Download](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3975639/e3a2f067-c66d-48fe-a498-4509538e08de.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3975639/e3a2f067-c66d-48fe-a498-4509538e08de) ![Measuring-impact-graphic-02](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/Measuring-impact-graphic-02.png) #### **Article: Measuring LENA Grow’s Impact on Kindergarten Readiness** LENA Grow increases children’s kindergarten readiness assessment scores, according to data from school districts in South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. [![Read more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3975639/a7bdf6eb-c82f-4c72-a417-aa5594148f15.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3975639/a7bdf6eb-c82f-4c72-a417-aa5594148f15) ![Henderson-Case-study](https://info.lena.org/hubfs/Henderson-Case-study.png) #### **Case Study: Boosting Kindergarten Readiness in Rural Kentucky** Only about two-thirds of children in Kentucky enter kindergarten with the language skills they need to start school strong. LENA Grow has been helping Henderson County Schools improve that number. [![Read more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3975639/7dc37042-ccd9-4e4c-860f-47c53495d7a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3975639/7dc37042-ccd9-4e4c-860f-47c53495d7a6) ###### Share With Your Colleagues [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.lena.org%2Fschool-readiness) [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.lena.org%2Fschool-readiness&text=School+Readiness) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.lena.org%2Fschool-readiness)