[ourdreamcametru]

Okay, it's been several years since I've had to get a child ready for kindergarten and I need help with what we need to work on. Castle has one more year before she starts and I plan to work on a kindergarten program that I have ordered with her to help get her ready. What do your schools require kids to know when they start?

[inhiswill]

DS is going to K this year. Some of the things they would like them to know here are: Writing first name the correct way (meaning Capital as the first letter and lowercase for the rest of the name, not all caps) phone number, address, at least half of the letters in the alphabet, counting from 1-20,

I know there are a couple more things, but I can not think of them. I think every state, school district, etc...is different too. And this is all just things that they would "like" them to know. I am sure there are some kids who know way more, and then there are those that struggle and will not know anything.

You are taking the right steps for you DD. And spending that QT with her in the learning process will be FUN!!!

[startedover]

I remember the Kindergarden screening (but you know I am in the same boat as you alot has changed in 13 years) counting 1-10 and body parts. J didn't know his heel. It's funny when I went to k in the stone age it was to get kids ready socially to start learning. 21 years later with my daughter it was to get them reading, 6 years later they needed to know even more than that. I am sure by the time S starts school they will expect her to be able to resite the states in abc order. C will be fine mainly because she has a mommy on top of things.

[lovemy2boys]

My son just finished KG, and upon entering, they had to be able to recognize most of their capital letters and some lower case letters, know colors and shapes, count to 20, recognize 1 to 10 and write their first name.

At the time, my son (who is really only an average learner) could recognize 90 percent of his caps, and only about 25 percent of lower case...He could count to 20, but only recognize 1-9)...He could write his first name, but only in caps, and very sloppily at that.

By the end of the year, he could write and recognize all of his letters as well as numbers up to 100, and is writing and reading chapter books, plus tell time, count by 10's, 5's and 2's, and add money! I can't believe how much he's grown in this past year, but I really did do alot of work with him at home too.

[aclee]

My sister is a 1st grade teacher in a state with NO mandated KG. Imagine it. She gets children who can't recognize their names, never mind write them. No letter or number recognition. Might be able to count to 10 or 15. No colors or shapes. It's a rough job. Then some kids come in reading...try balancing that as a teacher

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by aclee

My sister is a 1st grade teacher in a state with NO mandated KG. Imagine it. She gets children who can't recognize their names, never mind write them. No letter or number recognition. Might be able to count to 10 or 15. No colors or shapes. It's a rough job. Then some kids come in reading...try balancing that as a teacher

We were just talking about this! I can't imagine how tough it must be to try to balance a class, or how tough it is for a child who is so far behind the rest...

[DPline]

My son just turned 5 and is eligible to go to kindergarten but we are holding him back for maturity reasons. The list we were given by our school district to ***** kindergarten readiness from an academic standpoint includes:

Knows first and last name
Recognizes printed name
Writes first name
Names colors
Names shapes - square, triangle, rectangle, circle
Has ability to copy letters
Colors instead of scribbles
Shows interest in letters
Sings ABC song
Names some upper and lower case letters (at least 20 combined)
Makes sounds of letters (at least 6)
Can count to at least 10
Can count at least 10 items
Recognizes numbers 0-10
Grips pencil with 2 or 3 fingers
Experience cutting shapes

[Tigger2]

DPline~ Great list. The only thing that I might add is beginning to recognize rhyming words.

Aclee~ I was a kindergarten teacher and my sister currently is... we have often had the discussion about the range of abilities/experiences that little ones enter school with.

One recommendation I always have is READ to your child and then talk about the story. Have him/her retell the story. Whatever you do, make it fun. Short time periods are also preferrable to long extended ones.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

As a teacher........send child to school with velcro or teach them to tie their own shoes. Make sure they can go to potty themselves and wipe well (and for God's sake...even if the overalls are SO cute....do not send them to school in clothes they can't seem to undo or redo on their own....or else they come out with their clothes around their ankles in front of all their new friends) HeeHee

The other lists are great......but don't freak out if your child cannot do them all perfectly or some at all. Many learn best from adults who are NOT mommy and daddy and will pick these up quickly when around other children who can do it.

Kim

[ourdreamcametru]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions It's been 9 year since our middle son went to kindergarten and although I know Castle is going to be a brain I feel like she is behind right now and I would like for her to be somewhat up to par before starting. Sometimes I feel like children who stay home instead of going to daycare have a disadvantage in early learning. Castle does go to a two day a week program and hopefully they will pump up the learning this year in prek!
Has anybody used the Hooked on Kindergarten program at home before?

[lovemy2boys]

We didn't use Hooked on Kindergarden, but we do use Hooked on Phonics...My boys are doing great with it. AJ's kg teacher even approached me and said "What exactly are you doing at home with him?" When I told her, she said "Well, I could tell you were doing something because he is doing so well".

I think I am going to pick up Hooked on KG though - I have a little guy ready to enter 4 year old preschool, and I'd love to use it with him.