Meet Jill Leshin of Pre-K Academy in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Leshin.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Pre-K Academy began in 2010 with one little reading readiness class called Alphabet Action Adventures at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale. The class was such a huge hit with the children and parents that our program quickly grew into a 5 Day enrichment program that now includes more classes such as A to Z Yoga, A to Z Art, ABC Chefs, Reading Rock Stars, Letter Enfineeers and More! The children love our whole-body learning approach, and the parents love that their children are getting extra academic enrichment before they enter elementary school. Children who leave our program are better prepared for reading and writing, which is critical for school success.

Pre-K Academy is primarily located in the Valley of the Sun JCC in Scottsdale. However, we now have classes at several other preschools in the Scottsdale area, and we are looking to bring our classes to more preschools so that we can reach more children.

We offer a variety of playful movement and music classes that teach children the letters and sounds of the alphabet, along with other important pre-reading and school readiness skills.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My passion for helping children succeed in elementary school stemmed from my experience with my own child. My son Ben was diagnosed with Dyslexia in second grade. I learned that children with Dyslexia struggle to hear and identify the letter sounds, syllable beats, and patterns in our language. This is called Phonological Awareness, and children begin acquiring these important pre-reading skills before they even enter Kindergarten.

I have made it my mission to help children strengthen their Phonological Awareness because research tells us that a strong foundation in phonological awareness can greatly improve a child’s reading ability in elementary school.

Phonological awareness is such a strong predictor of later literacy success, and for children who have a predisposition for reading disabilities such as Dyslexia, it is critical they get explicit instruction in this area before they are taught to read.

Research tells us that ninety percent of brain development happens before the age of five, so the formative years are the ideal time for developing phonological awareness.

We know that improving phonological awareness can greatly lessen the effects of Dyslexia, and it builds a strong foundation for reading success. So it just makes sense to teach kids these skills before they even enter Kindergarten.

My mission in developing the Pre-K Academy is to give every child a running start into elementary school.

Please tell us about Pre-K Academy.
We specialize in creating fun enrichment classes that further prepare children for Kindergarten. I am a Certified Reading Specialist and have over 25 years of teaching experience in the area of early childhood education. I also offer private reading tutoring for emergent readers in pre-k through third grade.

We are known for making learning incredibly engaging and fun for every type of learner. Our multi-sensory approach maximizes learning for every child. It lights up every part of the brain. The Pre-K Academy classes also strengthen Executive Function skills, which are the mental processes that help children with working memory, focus, impulse control, and following directions.

Is there anyone, in particular, you would like to recognize? Mentors, etc.?
My program manager, Leslie Benjamin M. Ed., has been a huge role in our success. Ms. Benjamin has taught Kindergarten for over 20 years and has a strong grasp of what skill sets children need before entering Kindergarten. Miss Leslie teaches many of our classes and is always helping us refine our curriculum to keep up with the latest research in early childhood education.

Pricing:

• Classes range form $15-$20 per class.
• The Pre-K Academy Enrichment Bundle at the JCC is $135/month for our 2 Day Program and $175 for our *5 Day Program. Children must be enrolled in the full day preschool program to take advantage of these prices.

Contact Info:

• Address: Jill Leshin
• Website: pre-kacademy.com
• Phone: 480 822 READ(7323)
• Email: jill@pre-kacademy.com
• Facebook: pre-kacademy

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