1. Welcome to WSES

2. Purpose
School is the formal setting that will introduce children to many thinking skills and educational ideas, but home is where the fundamental concepts must be nurtured. Children with such concepts in hand will be better prepared for the academic part of Kindergarten.

3. Spending quality teaching time each day with your child does not have to take place in a formal setting. *Park * Dinner table *Bathtub * Store *Driving in the car * In the backyard *Rooms in the house *In a book

4. Alphabet Knowledge
Upon beginning Kindergarten, being able to recognize “most” letters with sounds will help your child more easily transition to a young reader.

5. While driving, talk about letters seen around you
While driving, talk about letters seen around you. Give your child a dry erase marker to write on the glass window.
Make letters with Play-Doh or yarn
Write letters in a shallow pan of shaving
cream or sand.
Play a game using Magnetic Letters
Make an alphabet necklace with beads
Designate a letter day. Write the letter on his/her hand. Talk about it throughout the day. Find that letter in books and on containers around the house.
Decorate the bedroom with ABC art. Make letters with various materials- G (glitter) P (pasta) F (felt)

6. Familiar with Books *Recognize the title *Where does the story begin
By December, we expect students to pass at least a level B reading book. We begin the school year with learning about pre-reading skills. We call them Reading Behaviors. Here are some that can be practiced when reading with the child.
*Recognize the title
*Where does the story begin
*Read from left to right
*Familiar with when to turn the page
*One to one correspondence
*Recognize the front/back of the book
*Understanding the difference between letters and words
*Look for patterned text and repeated words.

7. Read Read Read
There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all.
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

8. Level B by January

17. Name Be able to say first and last name Recognize name by sight
Recognize the letters in his/her name
Writes his/her first name
Use a capital letter for the first letter and the additional letters are lowercase.

18. Handwriting
Upon beginning Kindergarten, being able to write "some” letters with correct letter formation will help your child more easily transition to a young writer. You can provide them with plain or lined paper.

19. Math Skills Count to ten or higher Count objects to 10
Recognize numbers 1-10
Write some numbers 1-10
Identify eight basic colors
Identify four basic shapes

20. Fine Motor Skills Grip a pencil, crayon or marker correctly
(with the thumb and forefinger supporting
the tip)
Use scissors correctly
(with the thumb pointing up and cutting away
from the body)

21. Self Help Skills Manage bathroom needs independently
including clothing, wiping and washing
hands
Put on, button and zip clothing
Clean up
Practice putting on shoes

22. Social Skills Practice being a good sport Taking Turns Sharing
Work Cooperatively

23. Learning with Technology
Starfall.com
abcmouse.com
Pbskids.com
Abcya.com
Brainpopjr.com
Betweenthelions.com
You can download apps too.
Watch Leapfrog Letter Factory on youtube.com
Watch Leapfrog Word Factory on youtube.com

24. Thank you for joining us today
Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to you becoming part of our Willow Springs family

25. tdickerson@wcpss.net rkillough@wcpss.net

26. Kindergarten Orientation
May 4
9:30-10:30
Please bring your child. They will be visiting a K classroom while you attend a brief presentation.