Typically, half of the kindergartners who end up in Shanna La'a's class at Makaha Elementary School have little to no exposure to preschool or early learning.

They often lack basic skills, such as knowing how to interact with a room full of peers or even how to hold a book.

"Something as simple as a pencil can be brand new to them," La'a said.

That's where the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture's Keiki Steps to Kindergarten program comes in. For the past five years, INPEACE has offered the free summer learning program to assist incoming kindergartners and their families in adjusting to the school setting.

This year, the three-week program is being offered at more than 30 public schools statewide. Students enroll in the transition program through their respective elementary schools.

At Makaha Elementary, nearly all of the children who will be in La'a's Keiki Steps class will also end up in her kindergarten class at the start of the school year.

So she sees this time as an opportunity to get students familiar with one another and with her. It's also about learning the protocols and "rituals" of the classroom. "Many of these kids are not accustomed to being in a room with 20 students and one teacher," La'a said.

Likewise, many of the students have never been without their parents for an extended period of time during the day.

During the Keiki Steps program, parents are integrated into the learning and are taught ways to reinforce what their children will be doing in the classroom.

"For me, this is more about building a relationship not only with the children, but with the parents, too," La'a said.

More than 40 classes are set for 8 to 11 a.m. on weekdays, starting about three weeks before the school year begins at public schools on O'ahu, the Big Island, Maui, Moloka'i and Kaua'i.

To learn more about the program, visit http://inpeace-hawaii.org or call 690-8097.