Free Wesbites!

Here are some of my favorite websites for Kindergarten kiddos:

www.starfall.com

www.abcya.com

www.pbskids.org

www.funbrain.com

www.ixl.com


We will check out these websites throughout the year in the computer lab. Check them out at home when you get a chance!

How Parents Can Help Prepare Their Child for Kindergarten

Parents and teachers recognize that each child grows at his or her own particular rate. Parents can help develop a happy inter-relationship between home and school by encouraging children in the following areas:

Putting On Clothes

• Knowing his or her own clothing (put name on coats, hats, scarves, mittens, and boots)
• Putting on clothes in logical order
• Buttoning  and/ or zipping coats                            
• Putting on outdoor clothing
• Tying shoes
  (Send your child in slip-on or Velcro shoes until this skill is learned.)
• Hanging up clothes in orderly fashion               

 

Using the Toilet

• To go to the toilet without help (have clothing which can be managed alone)
• To flush  the toilet
• To wash hands after flushing the toilet         

Healthy Habits

 

• Before school begins, establish a morning routine in your home.

• Sleep ten to twelve hours  each night
• Enjoy quiet time during the day
• Eat well- balanced and unhurried meals (hungry and tired children are not good candidates for a successful school day)
• Wash hands before eating
• Learn to turn the head or use a tissue when sneezing or coughing

Safety

• Teach your child his or her full address and phone number.
• Teach your child the way to school.
• Teach him or her to look both ways before crossing the street.

Developing Desirable Play Habits

• Play with brothers and sisters
• Play and share with other children
• Make new friends
• Feel the importance of taking turns and sharing  with others
• Reinforce helpful behaviors
• Help make decisions in family activities or recreation
• Provide opportunities for outdoor play.

Talking and Listening

• Encourage your child to speak in short sentences about things which interest him or her.
• Encourage your child to look at the speaker.
• Encourage your child to take turns speaking and listening in group conversations
• Help him or her to speak distinctly.
• Read books to your child each day, and reinforce good listening skills.
• Encourage your child to follow 3 step directions.
  
  
  

Gross (Large Muscle) Motor Skills

• Provide opportunities for outdoor play
• Encourage your child to run and skip
• Teach your child how to throw, catch, and kick a ball
  
  
  

Fine Motor Skills

• Give your child opportunities to work with crayons, pencils, and washable markers.
• Reinforce correct pencil grip (See the A-OK handout.)
• Provide opportunities for your child to cut paper with scissors.
• Encourage work with toys that will strengthen your child’s hands or hand-eye coordination – small building toys like legos, pegboards or Lite-Brite, puzzles, play- doh.

Getting Ready to Read                   

• Teach your child to write his or her name using correct form  (First letter only in uppercase.)
• Work on identifying colors.
• Sing the alphabet song and add an ABC Book to your daily read-aloud.
• Work on naming letters.
• Read to your child each day. On several pages, run your finger under the line of print as you read.
• Encourage your child to draw pictures and to tell you about the pictures. 

Getting Ready for Math

 

• Count aloud with your child to 30.
• Count up to 10 objects with 1 to 1 correspondence.
• Work on identifying numerals to 10.
• Begin to write numbers to 10.
• Add a number book to your read-aloud time.
• Work on naming shapes – circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval, diamond.
• Have your child help sort items – toys, socks, etc.

 

What else does a child need to know before entering kindergarten? 

Check out this wonderful article on Scholastic's website: Non-Academic Kindergarten Skills

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Welcome to Kindergarten!

I am very excited to meet you and your family. When you enter our classroom you will see your name, along with the names of your classmates, in many places around the room. When you walk into our classroom your cubby will be waiting for you! Everyone will have their own cubby and you are invited to bring a picture of you with your family to keep in your cubby.

I know you are going to love kindergarten. You will be learning many new and exciting things, doing lots of fun activities, and you will have the opportunity to make many new friends. I am so excited to get to know you.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and I will see you soon!