Ready, Set, Go

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Kindergarten Readiness

• Ready, Set, Go

Dr. Dona. Johnson-Beach School Psychologist
Source Fraser Public Schools and Macomb
Intermediate School District
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• If children could tell us what they need, heres
  what they might say

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• I need adults to work together to help me get
  ready for school.

Heres how you can help!
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• My Social and Emotional Skills
• I need to feel excited and comfortable about
  starting school
• Let me know that you are excited about me
  starting school
• Give me a chance to visit school before I start
• Talk about an experience you had at school
• I need to feel excited and comfortable about
  starting kindergarten

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• I need to feel good about myself
• Teach me to follow directions by giving me simple
  steps to follow
• Help me to learn how to share, stand in line,
  wait my turn, and how to sit in a circle
• Pay attention to me and listen to my ideas
• Praise me for my strengths
• Help me feel good about things I can do

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• How I Learn
• I need to be excited about learning
• Encourage me to explore with my senses-to see,
  touch, smell, hear and taste my world
• Help me learn step by step
• Teach me that making mistakes is part of learning
• Help me learn and try new activities
• Give me lots of time to figure things out

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• Beginning Reading
• I need to be familiar with words and books

• Read to me.
• Ask me questions about stories and help me
  understand their meaning
• Sing songs and teach me rhymes
• Teach me new words
• Help me hear the sounds that letters make

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Beginning Numbers
I need to count and understand number order

• Recognize numbers 1-10
• Let me count things at home
• Let me know that a number represents that many
  objects (3 bears, 2 sisters, 5 fingers)
• Play counting games

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A big step with big feelings

• I need to feel ready and eager, even if I also
  feel scared
• Help me practice saying good-bye to you
• Smile and show your enthusiasm
• Be delighted to see me after school
• Give me time to talk about my day and my new
  friends

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Kindergarten Readiness

• Ready?

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Transitioning pre-school to kindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness

• Ready, Set, Go

Melissa Sharp Director Assumption Nursery School
Toddler Center
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Preparing during the summer

• Be Positive
• Build confidence
• You influence your childs feelings
• Children follow your lead
• Read books
• Check out books from the Library

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Suggested Books
The Night Before Kindergarten, by Natash
Wing Tiptoe Into Kindergarten, by Jacqueline
Rogers Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!, by
Nancy L. Carson Welcome to Kindergarten, by Anne
Rockwell Timothy Goes to School, by Rosemary
Wells Will I have a Friend?, by Miriam Cohen Miss
Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by
Joseph Slate
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Eating lunch independently
Pack a lunch head to the playground Have your
child unwrap and eat independently Walk through
the steps whats first, second, etc.
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Developing Social Skills

• Decision Making
• Fairness
• Getting Attention
• Problem Solving
• Persistence trial error
• Good Manners
• Social Experiences
• Playgroups
• Go to the playground
• Library story time
• Group lessons and sports

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Developing Social Skills

• Sharing and taking turns
• Following the leader
• Resolving conflict
• Learning independence

• Visit the playground
• Establish familiarity
• Build confidence
• Master recess

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Preparing Academically Fun while Learning

• Read daily interactive
• Choose books of current interest
• Increase number in one sitting
• Ask questions

• What do signs say?
• Cut out words from ads
• Familiar word books

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Letters, Numbers, Writing, Fine Motor, Sounds
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Fostering Independence

• Practice dressing and tying shoes
• Work independently
• Use bathroom independently
• Button pants, zip jacket, put on shoes

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School Readiness Skills

• Recognize name/letters
• Print concepts
• Colors and shapes
• Body parts
• 2 step instructions
• Cutting
• Rhyming
• Learning Games

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Kindergarten Readiness

• Set?

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Kindergarten Readiness

• Ready, Set, Go

Pam Cronovich Kindergarten Teacher Grosse Pointe
Public Schools
Source Fraser Public Schools and Macomb
Intermediate School District
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The start of your childs formal education
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The start of your childs formal education

• Expectations parents children
• Positive talk about school
• Make the setting familiar
• Attend Spring round up
• Practice walking to school
• Give your child limited choices
• Dress for Success
• Establish Daily Routines

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The start of your childs formal education

• Practice Bedtime Routine
• Backpack by the door
• Choose clothes and lay out
• Read a bedtime story 1 ?
• Practice Morning Routines
• Photo chart morning routine
• Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast
• Brush teeth, look at books
• Plan a good-bye Ritual
• Loving but firm
• Help child connect to the day
• Tell when you will see them again

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The start of your childs formal education

• Organization Minimizes Frustration
• Choose a spot for coats, backpacks, lunchboxes
• Set up a file box for papers
• READ the information sent home
• Help your child connect home and school
• Connect homework to daily life/routine
• Build curriculum connections

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The start of your childs formal education

• Get Involved!
• School Events
• Conferences
• Volunteer
• Connect with Parents

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Kindergarten Readiness

• GO!

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Kindergarten Readiness