Today, at MOPS we were joined by Heather Wong - a former Kindergarten teacher and ELL Specialist. She came to go over how to know if your child is ready for Kindergarten and give tips on how to get them ready. She was delightful to listen too and provided some very good resource websites & general information. We had a good time of asking questions and sharing advice from many other teachers in the room.
Below is some of her information and Jana did email out this handout.
Getting Ready for School
Characteristics of School Aged Children (from the Issaquah School District)
These are some characteristics of most five year old children entering kindergarten.
Share attention with others
Make short visits places without a parent
Accept limits set by an adult
Sit for short periods of time – work on project
Take care of personal property
Put on a coat without help
Share and put away toys when asked
Follow simple directions (1-3 steps)
Social/Emotional Growth Ideas for Calming the Butterflies:
Visit school before it begins
Show excitement about starting school
Listen to their thoughts about school
Play “School” at home
Help them feel good about what they can do
Focus on taking turns/waiting in line
Teach how to calm down/channel energy
Focus on describing feelings/needs
Role play making friends
Focus on taking turns speaking/listening
Health and Safety, Things to Practice:
Full name, address and phone number
Routine of how to get to and from school
Using the restroom alone
Good health care habits
Asking for things/help needed
Telling grown-ups how they are physically feeling
Fine Motor Skills
Gross Motor Skills
Start each day fed, well rested, and dressed for the weather!
Reading
Here are some skills to work on:
Print Awareness
Print Motivation
Vocabulary
Narrative Skills
Letter Awareness
Phonological Awareness
http://www.kcls.org/readytoread/
Math
Real World Contexts: Show how numbers are used in your child’s world
Ask questions – explain process
Sorting – identify categories
Shapes
Patterning
Calendar Skills
Estimation
Counting Games
Writing
Modeled Writing: Write for your child
Shared Writing: Write together about experiences you have had. Keep a daily journal or a vacation journal.
Writing Genres: Notice print everywhere, write lists, write a letter or a note, write directions, write a story
Create a Writing Center: Special paper, pencils, erasers, pens, note cards, stationary, letter stamps, alphabet cards, other ideas?
Parental Involvement – How Can I Help?
Establish a Daily Routine
Provide a place for things brought home from school
Provide a place for things to be taken to school
Check for homework every night
Look for classroom newsletters
Talk with your child about school : Subjects, friends, special events
Provide a home study environment/schedule
Help your child respect the work they are doing (vs. sibling)
Supporting Your Reader
Make a home book basket/reading center
Look for books that are:
Easy to read
Just right
Challenging
Read silently, read aloud, partner read
Check often for understanding
Use questioning techniques
Encourage choosing different genres
Encourage fiction and non-fiction reading
Supporting Your Writer
A piece of writing needs: Audience and Purpose
6+1 Traits of Writing
1. Sound Ideas
2. Good Organization
3. Word Choice
4. Voice
5. Sentence Fluency
6. Conventions
(The “+1” is the Publishing)
Tip: Have your child read their writing piece out loud to find areas of improvement
Supporting Your Mathematician
Work together on math facts
Look for mathematical vocabulary in story problems
Explain procedures and thinking process
Look for real-world math applications:
Newspapers, Restaurant Menus, Recipes, Travel Brochures, Catalogs, Grocery Ads, Sports Schedules, Nutritional Labels, Advertisements, Sport Player Cards
Communicating With School
By: Email, Letters, Phone Calls, Pinning notes
Provide teacher with background information on your child
Ask questions when information from school is not clear
Support parent activities/school events
Attend parent-teacher conferences
Ways of Getting Involved
Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
Classroom or Library Helper
Art/Science Docent
Technology Support
Field Trips
Book Orders
Photocopying/Filing
Jobs from Home (cutting/prep/etc.)
Presentation Resources: Issaquah School District, King County Library, Mem Fox, Getting School Ready
Websites to Check Out:
Getting School Ready: www.gettingschoolready.org
King County Library Early Literacy: http://www.kcls.org/readytoread/
Mem Fox’s Website: http://www.memfox.net/
WA State Office of Public Instruction: http://www.k12.wa.us/parents.aspx
Reading Level Comparison Chart (ATOS Scale is the Accelerated Reader Level)
http://library.springbranchisd.com/sbisd_library/reading_levels_comparison_chart.htm
Leveled Books Search and Benchmarks
http://registration.beavton.k12.or.us/lbdb/
Accelerated Reader (search for titles of books to find out their approximate reading level)
http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp
Book: Slow & Ready Get me Ready - June Oberlander
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