Ask:
My ds will be starting kindergarten next year and i was just wondering what he should know before he starts school. What will they expect of him?
Answer:
I taught kindergarten. While there are no actual "official" expectations, (children can enter kindergarten with absolutely no previous learning experience), there are things that will help your child succeed. These are things that would be beneficial for a child entering kindergarten to know:
1. Numbers to 10 - higher is great, too.
2. Counting to 20 - again, higher is good, too.
3. Letter names - They will learn the letter sounds in kdgn, so knowing the names is really helpful.
4. Writing their name - and anything else. Don't be afraid to teach your child more than you think they should know. Challenge is great!
5. Writing the letters and numbers- - Make sure you know what style (print, D'Nealian, etc.) is used by your school, so your child isn't "relearning" letter formation.
6. Listening skills are key. Children should be able to listen to stories, directions, etc.
7. Following directions - multistep. Give your child 3 small tasks to perform and see if he/she can do it. (Ex. Pick up your truck, put it in the box, and come to dinner.)
8. Waiting for his/her turn - delaying gratification.
9. Patterns - ex. green/blue/green/blue
10. Classification and sorting - See if your child can sort objects and tell you how he sorted them. (ex. blue legos, green legos, red legos)
11. Tying his/her own shoes (This was NOT in the curriculum when I taught kindergarten. This skill was expected to be taught at home. It is MUCH easier if a child enters kindergarten knowing how to do this.)
12. Zipping/buttoning, basically taking care of his/her own clothing. (Do not expect a teacher to touch your child's pants to snap or zip. I refused to. Teachers simply can no longer touch a child in what could be perceived as an inappropriate way. Some teachers still do, but I didn't risk it.)
13. Separation from parents. (This is particularly hard for children who have never had social interaction with other children, such as day care, church, etc. It amazed me how many children had spent 5 years with only their parents, then were expected to handle going to school all day long.)
14. Knowing his/her full name, parents' names, address, phone number. (This is a safety issue.)
15. Taking care of his/herself in the bathroom. (Yes, I was asked to wipe a child once! I had to politely tell the parent NO!)
16. Familiarity with how to hold a pencil and crayons. Also, knowing how to cut with a scissors and use glue is important. All those are needed for fine motor work.
Wow. That was quite a list, huh? I hope that helped. Don't be afraid to challenge your child. Some children are beginning to read when they enter kindergarten. Don't be afraid to teach more than you think they need.
Answer:
that's a great list, can't think of anything to add!
Answer:
If your child will be going to all day I would practice putting a straw in juice boxes, capri sun, etc. and anything else that little hands might be hard to open w/o practice. Those little ones get so hungry! Sometimes there might be a wait before someone can help with something like that.
Answer:
You should get the Hirsch book What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know: Preparing Your Child for a Lifetime of Learning (Core Knowledge Series)
It's a great book, they have one for every grade level
here's what it looks like you should be able to get it at your library
Answer:
I like bamemm's suggestion about learning how to open juice boxes, etc., along with food packets. By the time someone gets around to some of the kids, it's cleanup time!
Also, know that MOST teachers will assist with certain things if notified in advance and for good reason. My son has motor issues, and the teachers did have to help him with buttons, laces, etc. For the most part, we kept him in pants without snaps/buttons and velcro shoes. Even in first grade, his teachers will help him, if necessary. Those Levi jeans are tough! Even I have a hard time, sometimes, with the buttons!
I agree, the listening skills and following directions are key, and with my Asperger's child, that was and is a very tough area that we are all still working on. Any tools in that area would be appreciated. The school and I are working on social stories to attack it, along with role playing, and he's learned full body listening. But you know that ol' male hormone: my husband doesn't listen or follow directions, either, and I do see ds modelling him!
I love newlywed's tip#4. Challenge your child. I find that even with my 16 month old, I dumb down sometimes, then realize she picks things up so quickly that if I blink, I'll miss it. She'll make a sound and wait for my reaction, and I'll realize she's saying a word. She's been saying two syllable words for over a month and I just realized it last night. Kids are so smart! I wish our brains worked like theirs do as we aged!
Answer:
Originally Posted by desertmom
Also, know that MOST teachers will assist with certain things if notified in advance and for good reason. My son has motor issues, and the teachers did have to help him with buttons, laces, etc. For the most part, we kept him in pants without snaps/buttons and velcro shoes. Even in first grade, his teachers will help him, if necessary. Those Levi jeans are tough! Even I have a hard time, sometimes, with the buttons!
I am sorry if I sounded like a big ol' meanie in my original post. That wasn't my intention. In my experience, I have dealt worked with many parents who expect the teacher to take on the mommy role at school, so it is important to set boundaries on what I will and will not do. (Oh, but that's another thread altogether, so I'll stop there!
I should have mentioned that if a parent requests extra help for a particular child, I was happy to oblige if it was in the best interest of the child. Sometimes it is stated in the IEP, but even if it wasn't, some children do need extra help. There are always exceptions to the rules, and the kids do come first. Fear of lawsuit or losing our job because the wrong parent hears that we "touched" a child's pants is something that unfortunately teachers have to battle with. I also encouraged parents to help their children find clothes that they could successfully take care of themselves, to continue to help them become more and more independent.
Independence is a big thing in kindergarten. I like the above post about children learning how to take care of their own drinks, etc. Independence is key. That helps booster self-confidence, which can only help them in school.
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I'm glad I seen this post today, it's been on my mind the past 2 days. Thank you newlywed for that great list! Plus, the additionals posted. I was curious, does anyone know when they start to pick up the zipping, tying and snapping of the clothes? I'm always wondering if I'm being to pushy with my son(newly 2 years old). It just seems that when I read these guidelines for motor skill development stages, my son's skill level is usually all over the place. These books seem so concrete in which level your child should be in. That's why I like to talk to other mom's, because everyone has had different experiences.
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i would recommend you call the district in wich your child will be attending and ask them they should have some information to send you. also make sure if you don't have older children that they are aware he will be starting school in the fall so they can get you on the mailing list kindergarten round up is usually in the spring at this time they will also give you information and things to work on for the fall...
Answer:
Thanks for all of the responses! I've have got to work on getting him to tie his shoes, but I still have a few months. I am just worring about everything. I am going to be a wreck before he starts in Aug! He is going to preschool right now, but Kindergarten is a big change!