In Kindergarten Your Student Will Practice Basic Concepts Of Math Reading Writing Shapes And Time Learn More About The Typical Kindergarten Curriculum And Find Out How To Help Your Child Reach Important Learning Milestones At Home
It’s your child’s first official year of school! The kindergarten curriculum focuses largely on mastering letters, sounds, and words. You’ll watch with delight as your child takes their first steps toward reading, expands their vocabulary, and writes the letters of the alphabet.
Your child will also learn key fundamentals of math. By the end of the year, they should count to 30, recognize common shapes, and complete basic single-digit addition.
It’s important to realize that educational standards vary across states, districts, and schoolsand no two children learn at exactly the same rate. You can help them succeed in kindergarten by building self-confidence, which will instill a love of learning that lasts throughout life.
Here are the important kindergarten learning milestones children will achieve this year, with tips for helping your student stay on track with the kindergarten curriculum at home.
Things About Kindergarten You Need To Know Now
Entering kindergarten can be an exciting and stressful time for both parents and children. Feelings of sadness, concerns about your childs readiness and fear of the unknown can make this transition difficult. However, this time is a great learning opportunity for parents and kids alike as you embark upon this new adventure together.
In todays world the demands that modern day living place upon the family unit often push thoughtful consideration of the young childs beginning educational experiences onto the back burner, says Liz Blek, MS and President of the National Kindergarten Alliance. Parents and kindergarten teachers need to get to know each child so as to correctly assess needs, abilities, interests, and learning style in order to provide the optimum learning environment.”
Here are ten tips to help you, your child and your teacher get to know each other better and make the journey into kindergarten a little bit smoother for everyone involved.
Show You A Math Problem Between 1 And 10 Using Props
Heres a simple task you can try using building blocks of different colors:
Place several red, yellow, and blue building blocks in front of your child. Ask him to pretend that the red blocks are apples, the yellow are lemons, and the blue are blueberries. Then present several math problems using a fictional farmer who needs to add or subtract:
- The farmer needs to put together a basket with 8 fruits. Can you put 8 fruits in a pretend basket for me?
- Now he needs to make another basket, also with 8 fruits. Which fruits can he put in this basket?
- The farmer put all 5 apples in the basket, but he still needs 8 fruits in it. What other fruits can he put in there?
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Designing A Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum For Your Child
If youve made the choice to homeschool your child for their kindergarten year, you may be worried about hitting all of the above milestones.
Dont fret! There are lots of homeschooling resources to help you educate your child. Plus, you have the benefit of your child being able to learn at their own pace.
On particularly rough days, just remember: kids learn best through play! Relax and enjoy this learning adventure together.
Answer A Question About The Story
Just as your child should be able to summarize a story, so too should she recall enough to answer questions.
Read a book together, then ask a question about the story. You can ask open ended questions like, Why do you think he doesnt want to give up the tail? or fact-based questions like, Why couldnt they put the tail back on the dog?
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There Will Be Many Different Types Of Adults And Kids At School
When your child understands the many different types of personnel at schools such as the Principal, Teachers, lunch staff and guidance counselor along with what role they play will help your child understand how school works and in turn will boost their confidence. Also, prepare your child by explaining that there will be many different types of children at school too. Some kids will act differently and not follow the rules , some kids will be different in other ways such as they might have a disability or speak a different language and some will be their lifelong childhood friends down the road. The more your child is prepared for what they might see, hear or experience both good and bad during school will ultimately better prepare them for the amazing experience they call Kindergarten.
Is My Child Ready For Kindergarten
Kindergarten is where most children learn to read and write. Though some kids can do this before entering kindergarten, it is not required or expected. Being ready for kindergarten means having well-developed preschool skills, and being academically, socially, and physically ready for the transition. Here are some signs that your child is ready for kindergarten.
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Every Skill Your Kindergartner Needs To Know By The End Of The Year Direct From Teachers
Kindergarten matters! This first year of formal schooling sets the stage for academic success by providing a strong foundation, whether its in a classroom or virtual this year.
Kindergarten is a time when kids learn basic academic skills like how to write their letters or what one hundred really means. Foundational concepts like this ensure that children are able to move on to the next level. For example, a child may be a wonderful storyteller but they need to master handwriting before they can put their creativity into words.
The kindergarten year is not just about academics, however. It is also a time for developing basic social skills like cooperation and good sportsmanship. Social-emotional development gives kids the skill set they need to do well in first grade and beyond.
So what exactly should your kindergartner be able to do by the end of the school year? We talked to two teachers to find out.
What Your Child Will Learn And How Should They Prepare
If you are going to enroll your child in kindergarten, you may be curious about the typical kindergarten curriculum and what you need to do to prepare your child.
For example, should children be able to count to 100, recite the alphabet, or perform tasks that make use of fine motor skills? If they’re not expected to know these skills before kindergarten, will they learn them during this landmark school year? And what skills are children expected to have mastered by the end of the kindergarten year?
While the goals may vary nationally and by each individual school, most states have adopted the Common Core State Standards and follow their general guidelines for the kindergarten curriculum. Understanding these goals will help you determine if your child is ready for kindergarten, needs to do some prep work, or is maybe even too advanced for a regular kindergarten class.
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Hold A Writing Utensil Correctly
If your child is struggling to hold a pencil or crayon correctly it can make it difficult to write their name or start other work. Practice this with your child as soon as possible.
To help your little one hold the pencil correctly try the Trainer Posture Correction Finger Grip for Kids! Sending them off correctly to Kindergarten will make a world of difference.
Explain To Your Child In Detail What Kindergarten Or Going To School Will Be Like
Talk to them about what is expected of them and make sure they understand that mommy and daddy cant stay with them at school. When they understand what to expect their first day and yours will go much more smoothly.
To get them in the mood for Kindergarten, a great book to read to them before their first day of school is Kindergarten, Here I Come!
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Show You How To Add Or Subtract
Your kindergartener should be able to show you the math concepts of adding and subtracting. For instance, have her draw circles to illustrate a math problem like:
- Can you draw for me, using circles, what 3 + 2 looks like?
- If you had 7 circles and I took away 3, would you be able to draw that for me?
With addition, she should do something like draw 3 circles, then 2 more. With subtraction, she should be able to draw 7 circles then cross out or color 3 of them.
Learn how to create a math-rich environment at home.
Sounds Heard In Words
If your child is already recognizing their letters, start going over the sounds that letters make at the beginning middle and end of a word. However, its not necessary that they can match letters with their sounds yet. The more important thing is that they recognize that words are made up of different sounds found in the beginning, middle and end. Ask your child what sounds they hear in the word cat . Free Making Words Printables Here.
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Reasoning & Concept Development
- Matches or groups objects according to size, shape or color
- Groups objects that are the same
- Understands concepts of in/out,under/over, on/off, front/back, etc.
- Shows an understanding of the passing of time, including concepts of before and after, and today, yesterday and tomorrow
- Experiments enthusiastically with new games and toys, sometimes in a trial-and-error manner
- Describes how objects are the same or different
Vocabulary In The World Around Them
Give your child every opportunity to learn what the names of animals, people, places, or things are. Reading board books and picture books to your child helps them build their vocabulary. Talk to them about the many different objects in their world and ask them what sounds they make, what color they are, or how they taste, smell or feel.. For example, teach them all different ways to say big: gigantic, enormous, huge and compare it to something else. That bear is larger than 10 dogs put together. You will be amazed at all the words they can use to express the world around them.
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Social And Behavioral Skills
A child entering Kindergarten should know how to:
- Follow classroom and school rules
- Listen carefully and follow instructions
- Concentrate on an activity and complete it
- Demonstrate self-control
- Respect other people’s property, share, and take turns
- Take care of belongings, use the bathroom, wash hands, and put things away by himself
Find A Picture Referencing Something That Happened In The Story
After reading a picture book, ask your child to turn to the page where a particular scene happened in the story. This shows that hes able to recall a certain part of the story and match it to the part of the book using pictures.
Lets say you were reading The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch. You might say, Can you show me the page where Henrietta decides to make her own books?
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Use Notes And Props To Write And Draw The Main Body
Using the book and props in front of him, have your child write the main body of his paper.
Help him along by asking what step goes first. He can refer to the book or the props for help. Then, talk about all the following steps first before he commits to writing it down on paper.
A typical answer might be: Put the seed in the soil. Give it water and sun. The roots will grow. Then the leaves grow out of the stem. Lastly, have him draw pictures that illustrate what he had just written about.
Once he can say a general sequence of the steps, now its time for him to write it down.
Check out these childrens books about writing.
What Does My Child Need To Know Before Kindergarten
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In todays post: Find a free kindergarten readiness checklist you can use to determine if your child is ready to start school.
If you have a child heading to kindergarten soon, you may wonder if he or she is ready. Does he know all the things the teacher will expect him to? She cant read yet will she be behind all the other kids? Is he ready to be away from home for a half or full day? Should we wait one more year before sending her? It can be very stressful!
The truth is, there are some things you probably think your kid needs to know that he doesnt, and there may be things you havent thought about that he should know! To help answer any questions you might have about school readiness, Ive created a free printable kindergarten readiness checklist. This school readiness checklist covers both academic skills AND other skills kids should have before starting school: things like standing in a line, being able to zip up a coat, and taking care of all bathroom needs independently. At the end of the post youll also find kindergarten teachers answers to the question: what is the one most important thing parents can do to prepare their child for kindergarten?
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Earth And Space Sciences
The Earth sciences involve the study of everything relating to the Earth, except for living things. These sciences include mainly geology and meteorology, and sometimes geography.
As they learn about the earth, children will learn about the characteristics of the earth’s environments and the four seasons. They’ll study the weather, daytime, nighttime, the different phases of the moon, and resources and conservation.
A classroom lesson might involve observing, exploring, describing, and comparing weather changes. Students also might chart patterns in the sky and changing seasons. The goal of a lesson like this one is to understand the natural world around them in greater depth by using scientific inquiry.
What Your Child Should Know By The End Of Kindergarten
Learning what your child should know by the end of kindergarten is just as important as learning what should my child know before kindergarten.
Its important you figure out if they are on track, behind or well advanced to the national standard.
Once you do you can make adjustments on their progress, spend more time in some areas or even begin to think about hiring tutors.
Learning what do kids need to know for kindergarten both before and after is the most comprehensive way to prepare your child both mentally and physically.
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Ready Or Not Here Comes Kindergarten
Kindergarten is all about learning how to be independent. Critical skills ranging from recognizing patterns and decoding symbols to making friends and navigating the library and are foundations that will set kids up to be successful for the rest of their educational years. Kindergarten is also a huge time of transition and anxiety for kids Here are six practical things you and your child can work on now to help them feel confident and ready to learn on their first day of kindergarten:
Learn About Letters And Numbers
Most kids will know their ABCs when they start kindergarten, but the tricky part is learning the sounds each letter makes. This is an important step in literacy, and getting a head start will make learning to read much easier. Practice with games like grocery store or backyard bingo finding something that starts with each letter of the alphabet and practicing the sounds the letters make. Find more ideas from Brain Building in Process: Recognizing Words and Letters.
Relatedly
Building number sense starts early, and accelerates when school begins, so its never too early to expose kids to math concepts. Think of a number between one and ten and tell them higher or lower when they try to guess. Count how many steps it takes to get from home to school. Explain how houses are numbered on your street. Infuse everyday situations with math concepts to build a solid foundation for the more complex lessons to follow. More number games.
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What Do I Do If My Child Doesn’t Have These Skills
If you don’t think your child has manyor anyof the skills associated with kindergarten readiness, don’t panic. In the same way that kids start walking, talking, and going diaperless at different ages, they also develop academically, psychologically, and socially at their own pace.
Dr. Bravo encourages families who have concerns to check in with their child’s pediatrician and utilize community resources. For instance, pediatricians can connect families to great early intervention programs, local public schools can aid in identifying growth and developmental deficits, and your local public library can offer resources for assessing kindergarten readiness and support needs.
I also encourage parents to remember that not every kid marches through this at the same pace, Dr. Bravo adds. Yet, with support and resources, the kid can get there.
If a child of any age has a developmental delay, Dr. Fradin says that it’s essential to get them an interdisciplinary evaluation. A pediatrician, along with speech, occupational, and physical therapists, can examine the child to make a plan suited to meet the child’s needs, she explains. If the child is under 3, typically this is through the early intervention program. At age 3 or 4, its typically in preschool special education programs, and subsequently in kindergarten and elementary school.