Intro: Optional is a term created by the Anchorage School District. Is used to teach in an optional classroom. Most of the families that I served in Kindergarten are not from the district and are not sure what optional means. This is not a term that describes the program and in most times it portrays an incorrect image to a parent.

If you are interested in watching a short movie and podcast that I created about Eagle River Open Optional and Kindergarten please see my webpage at
http://www.asd.k12.ak.us/staff/clements_amanda/pages/AmandaClementsk1Optional/Welcome.html

Having to describe the Kindergarten program forced me to think about my teaching and what the optional program does to help a child begin their path of learning. I went through many booklets we have provided parents over the years and watched the program evolve into what it is now. As I felt my teaching worked with the program I was having to evaluate myself and my own teaching style to determine if what I was doing was truly good for children and was an operational way to educate the future generation. I did find in past pamphlets ideas that I was glad to see were gone and some ideas that I wanted to bring back. Having to evaluate your own teaching and educational process is a good way to check if you are helping or hurting the future generation.