PHOTO GALLERY: Program prepares children for kindergarten

Quan Jackson, 3, and Aniya Briscoe, 4, try to read the name their teacher, Vicki Brown, holds up during a game of bingo. Head Start and the Columbia Public School District work together to provide preschool education for students from low-income families in Columbia.   |  Bridget Murphy

Matthew Dai, 4, looks at the name on a notecard his teacher holds for the class of preschoolers to read. The school program attempts to prepare students emotionally, socially and academically for kindergarten.   |  Bridget Murphy

Ellie Buxton, 4, places a bead on a string during work time when the preschoolers choose from a few different activities to work on and play with their classmates.   |  Bridget Murphy

Zaria Howard, 4, and Judy Pauli, a teacher at a preschool program, smile when Zaria recognizes her name during name bingo. The preschoolers attempted to read their classmates' names and then put a figure on the classmate's picture during their small group time. Small group time is when the class breaks into two groups to work on an activity.   |  Bridget Murphy