As I'm preparing for another year of Kinders, I've been searching for some new things. I came across this little list for parents and as I'm going to copy it to give to my students' parents, I thought I'd share it here too....just in case any of my readers have school-age children. ;) It isn't just for Kindergarteners!
Kindergarten
is an exciting and critical time in your child’s development and growth. You
can play an important role in this wonderful journey. Here’s what kindergarten
teachers want parents to know:
1.
Your job isn’t over when you drop your little one off at school; it has only
just begun. Your child’s teacher wants to be your
partner. Keep them informed about what goes on at home that might affect your
child’s behavior or academic performance. Share with them how what they do at
school affects your child at home.
2.
This is not your grandfather’s kindergarten. Sadly, much of
what happens in kindergarten is driven by high standards and preparation for
standardized tests. The expectations of what children need to know when they
enter kindergarten are closer to what used to be expected in 1st grade. To boost
your child’s academic skills:
Talk with her
about what interests her.
Encourage her to be curious and ask
questions.
Point out
letters and numbers when you see them in books and around town.
Support her
in solving everyday problems.
3.
The more self-control your child has, the more successful he will be in school.
Children need practice in deciding how and when to express their feelings and
needs, and when and if to act on impulses. Help him develop and practice these
skills at home before he tests them at school, where the consequences are a
loss of learning for him and for others.
4.
Make yourself known. Come in. Look around. Peruse the textbooks
and materials. Knowledge is power. When you know about the subjects your child
is studying, you will be able to help her better and have a common
understanding for discussion. Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn about
what goes on at school and to show your child how much you care about what she
is doing.
5.
Your child needs lots of opportunities for play outside of school.
Play is the way in which he learns about himself and the people and world
around him. But more often than not, play has been squeezed out of the school
day. Playing both alone and in small groups helps facilitate learning and
allows your child to practice skills and concepts.
6.
Reading to your child once a day is not enough.
Try to read together at least three times a day. Books are the gateway to
building vocabulary, learning about print, and developing listening and early
literacy skills. When you read, talk about the book. Discuss the characters and
setting, make predictions, and create new endings. Point out letters and words
in the text, and encourage him to recognize rhyming sounds and words and to
identify beginning and ending sounds.
7.
Writing exploration at home is critical. Your child needs to have
opportunities to use pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, and other
writing instruments as she attempts to express herself in written form. She
begins with scribbles and lines, moves on to letters and her name, and then to
words and sentences.
8.
Homework is an opportunity for talking, sharing, and listening.
Teachers give homework to extend the learning of the classroom. It is a chance
for you to find out what your child is studying and how well he is grasping the
skills and concepts being taught at school. Talk with your child about his
homework. It shows him that you care and value what he does at school.
9.
Television and video games use up valuable playtime.
Limit screen time. The hours spent with these electronic devices could
otherwise be spent talking, reading, or actively learning through play.
10.
First-hand experiences are another teacher for your child.
Take her to museums, the zoo, the aquarium, the library, parks, arts
performances, and geographic locations such as the mountains, beach, forests,
and deserts. And do it often. She’ll grasp concepts and skills better if she
has experiences with the real thing.
