Kindergarten Readiness For the Class of 2031 Brookville Elementary School 2019-2020

Important Dates Monday, August 12th Kindergarten Open House & Bus Ride 6:00pm-6:30 Open House 6:30-7:00pm Bus Ride Food Service will be there to answer any questions as well! Thursday, August 15th First Day of School

Important Information You must be a resident of Brookville in order for your child to attend Brookville Elementary School. August 1st Birthday cut-off to enter Kindergarten **Must be 5 on or before this date**

Names to Remember Shawn Thomas, Principal Kathy Dafler, School Nurse Becky Gruber, School Counselor Julie Caylor & Laura Staggs, Secretaries Chelsea Hoelzle – Director of Student Services Emma Stowers – School Psychologist Jeff Requarth – Transportation Director

Start/End Times 8:45 – Doors Open 9:00 – Classes Begin 3:15 – Walkers/Car-Riders Dismissed (Kindergarteners will need to be accompanied if they are going to be walkers) 3:30 – Bus-Riders Dismissed

Each teacher varies their schedule, but they all include: Daily Schedule Each teacher varies their schedule, but they all include: Opening Meeting – Calendar & Message Math/Math Centers Literacy/Literacy Centers Writers’ Workshop Science Social Studies Read Aloud Recess Lunch Specials – Music, Gym, Art, Library, Computer Lab

Get Involved! Volunteer at BES Watch D.O.G.S. PTA - meetings and events

School Readiness Skills Reading Writing Math Communicating Recognize name/letters Colors and shapes Sorting into categories Cutting Rhyming Learning Games

Read, Read, Read (then read some more!) Children are more likely to be good readers if they come to kindergarten having been read to at home. If a child struggles to read, everything about school can be difficult.

Keep Reading! Read at least 15 minutes every day with your child Become Active Readers: -  Let your child hold the book and turn the pages. -  Move your finger along under the words. -  Point to and talk about the pictures that go with the words. -  Pause while you read and ask your child what he or she thinks might happen next. - Encourage him or her to ask questions about what is being read. - Talk about a word that is new to your child. - At the end of the story, talk about your child’s favorite parts. - Encourage your child to tell you their own story

Don’t Stop Reading! Point out words that are a part of everyday life, such as words on billboards (McDonald’s, Pizza Hut), cereal boxes (Wheaties, Cheerios) and street signs (STOP, SCHOOL), recipes, instructions, etc..

Reading & Writing Your child should be able to: Recognize letters of the alphabet (at least the letters in his or her first name) Recognize and write his or her name (first letter as a capital and the others as lower case) Recognize and say simple rhymes Tell the difference between print and pictures

Some Suggested Books The Night Before Kindergarten - by Natash Wing Tiptoe Into Kindergarten - by Jacqueline Rogers Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! - by Nancy L. Carson Welcome to Kindergarten - by Anne Rockwell Timothy Goes to School - by Rosemary Wells Will I have a Friend? - by Miriam Cohen Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten - by Joseph Slate Kindergarten A, B, C – by Jacqueline Rogers

Numbers/Counting Your child should be able to: Recognize numbers 1-10 Count items at home by touching objects one at a time and saying the numbers in order Know that a number represents that many objects (3 bears, 2 sisters, 5 fingers) Recognize and identify written numbers in books, on cereal boxes, and signs Play counting games

Shapes/Sorting Your child should be able to: Sort objects by attribute such as color, size, or shape (tell how they are different or how they are alike) Make simple patterns using common objects Name basic 2 dimensional shapes: circle, rectangle, square, triangle, hexagon Recognize and name basic colors

General Knowledge Talk with your child about days of the week and the months of the year Explore concept of today, yesterday, tomorrow Practice your child’s birth date Talk with your child about general times of the day (morning, afternoon, evening) Help your child find and state solutions to simple problems Encourage your child to play creatively (dress-up, make- believe, made up stories, etc.)

Developing Social Skills Follow simple rules, routines, and instructions Decision Making Fairness Getting Attention Problem Solving Persistence – trial & error Perseverance Good Manners Social Experiences Playgroups Go to the playground Library story time Group lessons and sports

Social/Emotional Play simple games with your child such as board games, card games, or matching games – this helps them learn to share and take turns and also to follow simple directions Encourage your child to express his or her own wants and needs – teach them to do so politely Your child should be able to separate from you without being upset - having a positive attitude about school and being excited for them to start school can help with this

Fostering Independence Practice dressing and tying shoes Work independently Use bathroom independently Button pants, zip jacket, put on shoes

Physical & Motor Skills Let your child use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to color and draw Show your child how to make basic shapes Show your child how to cut out those shapes Draw a line on a paper and have your child cut on the line Let your child practice using glue

Physical & Motor Skills Practice skipping, hopping, and jumping with your child Play catch with your child and bounce and throw balls back and forth

Begin Setting Routines Establish a good daily routine – start this a couple weeks before the start of school - Keep the same bedtime each day - Begin waking up earlier to be ready for the start of the school day - Begin practicing your before-school routine - Discuss what your child’s day will look like after school

You set the tone! (And we couldn’t do what we do without you) The important thing to remember is that you continue doing what you already do. Reading to your child(ren) is the most important thing you can do for them to get them ready for school. Make learning fun and exciting for them by being excited about it yourself. Our Open House/Bus Ride will help your child (and you) become familiar with our building and routines. We can’t wait to see you there!

Some Helpful Websites For You 5 to Thrive Family Education Reading Rockets Ohio Department of Education Brookville Schools

Some Helpful Websites For Your Child www.abcya.com www.starfall.com www.cookie.com www.abcmouse.com www.superteacherworksheets.com www.funbrain.com www.pbskids.org www.create-a-reader.com