School Readiness

 

Listed below are some ideas that will help assist in the

transition to kindergarten. Many of the activities can be

done well before students enter school, and can continue

throughout the early grades.

 

LITERACY READINESS

 

• Read aloud to children

• Make time for children to look at and read books independently

• Provide a variety of books and other reading materials in the home

• Talk with children about books that they enjoy

• Ask children what they’re learning at school

• Provide the materials and opportunities for children to write at home

• Take children to the library to check out books and multimedia materials

• Give books and magazine subscriptions as gifts

• Monitor children as they complete homework assignments

• Emphasize the value of literacy and the importance of school success

 

MATHEMATICS READINESS

 

• Count food items at snack time (e.g., 5 crackers, 20 raisins, 10 baby carrots).

• Use a calendar to count down the days to a special holiday.

• Practice simple addition and subtraction using small toys and blocks.

• Play memory games by having students look at a row of 3 numerals then have them close their eyes and repeat the numbers they saw

• Play "guessing" games such as "I'm thinking of a number that greater than 2 but less than 5."

• Talk students through games and activities involving math.

• Ask questions and encourage them to learn to use terms like: more than/fewer, bigger/smaller, etc.

• Using some of their favorite manipulatives (such as plastic farm animals or toy cars) ask them "Are there more blue cars and fewer red cars?" or "What are there more of, cows or sheep?"

 

SOCIAL READINESS

 

• Model decision making and fairness.

• Allow/encourage your child to take risks, lose games and make mistakes.

• Provide social experiences for your child to be with other adults and children by joining play groups, going to story time at the library, playing on a team, and taking group lessons.

• Model how to share and take turns.

• Model how to get attention appropriately.

• Allow your child to become more independent.

• Model problem-solving behavior by “thinking out loud.”

• Model persistence through trial and error

• Model good manners by using such words as “please”, “thank you”, and “excuse me”.