Educators Resources

About Welcome to Kindergarten™

Welcome to Kindergarten™ (WTK), developed by Canadian Education Warehouse, is Canada’s original school readiness program. Designed to support families and educators, WTK helps children transition smoothly into kindergarten by building early learning skills through purposeful play, hands-on activities, and strong home-school connections.

WTK engages families as active participants in their child’s education from the very beginning. By introducing them to key literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development strategies, the program fosters a positive and confident start to school.

Since its inception, WTK has reached hundreds of thousands of families across Canada and continues to evolve to meet the diverse needs of learners in today’s classrooms.

Why WTK is Valuable for Schools & Educators

The WTK program provides schools and educators with a consistent, proven framework to:

Build Strong Home-School Relationships: Engage families early, establishing trust and collaborative partnerships that carry into the school years.
Support Equity in Readiness: Offer all children, regardless of background, a foundation in essential early learning skills.
Enhance Classroom Readiness: Help children enter kindergarten with greater confidence, better self-regulation, and familiarity with classroom routines.
Empower Educators: Provide tools, training, and resources that align with curriculum goals and enhance early years teaching practices.
Create Community Connections: Strengthen networks among local education partners, service providers, and families for greater long-term impact.

Mission & Vision

Mission
To ensure every child in Canada enters kindergarten equipped with the foundational skills and family support they need to thrive in school and in life.

Vision
A Canada where every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has an equitable start to their educational journey—empowered through meaningful play, parent engagement, and strong early learning foundations.

Kit Options May Include:

Early Literacy Tools: Alphabet books, letter tiles, crayons, and writing paper
Numeracy Tools: Counting games, number cards, shape sorters
Self-Regulation & Social Skills: Emotion wheels, activity prompts, fine motor skill tools
Family Engagement Materials: Parent handbooks, home activities, and access to online learning resources
Indigenous-Inclusive Content: Where applicable, kits include culturally relevant materials to reflect Indigenous languages and traditions

Additional Resources for Educators & Schools:

Professional learning sessions and workshops
Customizable event templates and promotional materials
Multilingual resources to support diverse communities
Digital tools for ongoing engagement and feedbac

Danielle Pellerin Excellent Award

The Danielle Pellerin Welcome to Kindergarten Recognition of Merit Award.

We will be accepting nominations to recognize either a teacher, a school or a school district who participated in the WTK program and who demonstrated throughout the school year, exceptional efforts in engaging new kindergarten families in their role as their child’s first and best teacher.

Nominate an Outstanding Educator, School, or District!

Danielle Pellerin Welcome to Kindergarten™ Recognition of Merit Award Do you know a teacher, school, or school district that goes above and beyond to welcome new kindergarten families? We’re now accepting nominations for the Danielle Pellerin Welcome to Kindergarten™ Recognition of Merit Award—a special honour created in memory of Danielle Pellerin, a passionate champion of early learning and family engagement. This award celebrates those who truly understand that families are a child’s first and best teacher, and who work tirelessly throughout the year to make sure every family feels supported, valued, and included in their child’s school journey.

Who Can Be Nominated?

A kindergarten teacher who shows exceptional dedication to family engagement
A school that fosters inclusive, creative, and consistent Welcome to Kindergarten™ experiences
A school district that makes family-first learning a central part of their early years strategy

What Are We Looking For?

Nominees should demonstrate: Meaningful, ongoing efforts to involve families in their child’s learning Creative ways to use the WTK program throughout the school year Commitment to equity, inclusion, and building strong school-home partnerships

How to Nominate

Email dniesing@cew-eec.com
Include a short write-up (300–500 words) about why your nominee deserves to be recognized
Feel free to include photos, quotes from parents, or examples of their WTK activities!

The winner will receive 30 Welcome to Kindergarten program registrations free (an approximate value of $750) for their school.