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Kindergarten Boot Camp

K-Prep instructor Tricia Hribar asks Olivia Morton her recollections of fun class activities at Lyles-Crouch. (By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)

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"All right, does anybody know how the fish breathes?" asked Hribar.

A few children started yelling out answers, but Hribar reminded them to listen as Claire Hazzard, 6, announced that fish breathe through gills.

"That's very good," Hribar said, turning to the class. "I like how you're taking turns talking and listening to each other talk."

She also praised them for quickly learning the "Five Little Fishes" song. "That's the second day of school, and you knew that song, and we only did it a few times." They beamed.

Hribar said the program is helpful to her as well. "I get to see what they already know and what they already can do, and that's really good for planning for me."

Later, as the children threaded their arms into backpacks and lined up to leave the room, Claire said school was a little bit different than she thought it would be -- "like different tables," she said. "And, like, one teacher desk," at the front.

Did she like what it had turned out to be, with more than one teacher and everyone sitting on the floor talking about jellyfish and octopuses?

Claire paused. Then she smiled and said, "Yeah."

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Kindergarten Boot Camp

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