On January 30, 2026, the CSMP hosted our Universal Transitional Kindergarten conference, Playful Foundations. Held in San Diego in partnership with the CRLP’s SEL into Literature conference, the event was a huge success. With a sold-out crowd of TK educators filling the rooms, Playful Foundations affirmed a shared excitement and growing need for spaces where teachers can connect, learn, and exchange best practices in TK instruction.
The day opened with a keynote conversation between Professor Megan Franke (who also serves as chair of the CSMP Concurrence Committee) and Karen Recinos and Angela Chan-Torreau from the UCLA Mathematics Project. From there, twelve breakout sessions offered educators hands-on opportunities to explore play-based, interdisciplinary, and equity-centered instruction in TK classrooms. Sessions highlighted a wide range of topics, including social studies foundations through literature, counting collections and problem solving, spatial reasoning, and writing where play meets the pen. Educators also engaged in movement- and arts-based learning through sessions on creative music, classroom movement, and water and sensory exploration, alongside focused conversations on multilingual learners, SEL, inclusive practices for students with special needs, and intentional classroom setup. Throughout the day, built-in networking and conversation time allowed participants to reflect, collaborate, and connect with colleagues, reinforcing the strong sense of community among TK educators.
Playful Foundations reflects CSMP’s commitment to advancing equitable, high-quality transitional kindergarten across California. As TK continues to expand, we will continue to support teachers and inform policymakers by elevating research-based, play-centered practices that strengthen classrooms, systems, and outcomes for young learners.