Coming To Kindergarten in 2015

KINDERGARTEN IS SO MUCH MORE THAN READING, WRITING, AND MATH

Getting a Head Start Tips to help your child be successful in Kindergarten

NOW IS THE TIME FOR Summer Recommendations: INDEPENDENCE !

Dress self including tying shoes Be independent at lunch - Encourage good table manners and social skills -Allow opportunities to open milk, juice boxes, snack packages, etc

Be independent in the restroom – Know how to fasten and unfasten clothes – Flush and wash hands – Boys should know how to use a urinal

Children who ask questions, take initiative, and push through difficult tasks tend to excel in school. Have opportunities to be with other children Leave your child with someone else for short periods of time Allow your child to make some simple decisions for him/her self Allow your child to solve some problems alone ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INDEPENDENCE

GOOD LISTENING SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL For Listening Skills Practice: Have your child sit still and listen to a story Look at the pictures before reading the text and predict what the book is about

Ask questions during the story like “Why do you think that happened” or “What do you think will happen next? “ Have your child make predictions, explain pictures, look for details. What do you think the author wants us to learn from this story? GOOD LISTENING SKILLS continued

Listening Skills Practice, continued Take your child to story time at the public library Have high expectations! Following directions the first time given.

Recognizing Letters Saying ABCs (not singing song) Upper and lower case Letters have sounds Environmental print Recognize and write own name – capital letter first - rest is lower case Family names Play letter games Academic Readiness

Talk about colors and shapes Practice rote counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... Practice counting objects Academic Readiness

Academic Readiness Academic Readiness Use math vocabulary more, less, fewer, first, second, third, last, before, after, etc.

YEAR END EXPECTATIONS LANGUAGE ARTS  Reading at Level 6 (MINIMUM)  Accuracy - Fluency - Comprehension  Retelling a story with detail  Main idea, characters, setting, plot, sequencing events  Writing to communicate

Reading Level 6 Expectations by May

Others will read Level 10

And some will even read at a higher level...

YEAR END EXPECTATIONS MATH –  Recognizing numerals 1-20  Object counting through 20  Rote counting to 100  Reading a calendar (days of the week)  Creating a graph  Interpreting a graph  Creating Patterns  Addition  Subtraction  Math Vocabulary

Developing Fine Motor

IMPROVING FINE MOTOR SKILLS Playdough Cooking Craft projectsClimbing  Begin with gross motor activities

Cut out pictures – Fiskar safety scissor work best Glue pictures – Use glue sticks and – Glue bottles Draw and color pictures – Use regular size pencils and crayons GLUE

GOOD WEBSITE For fine motor:

Develop Routines Stop naps early in the summer Start living on the schedule you will have when school starts about two weeks before school begins. This allows your child to practice going to bed early and getting up early.

Routines when school begins If at all possible, stay on a schedule Choose clothes and lunch the night before Have folders and backpacks ready the night before

Good Websites (free)

We must be a team Parents, teachers, and administrators will all work together in order to give your child the very best education possible.

REMEMBER TO CHECK THE CURRENT DRESS CODE BEFORE YOU BUY SCHOOL CLOTHES.

THE KINDERGARTEN SUPPLY LIST WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FALL BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. SCHOOL SUPPLIES

You will receive information in August about bringing your child and school supplies to school before the first day.

REMEMBER School begins August 24 th The children will be ready... Will you?

QUESTIONS