What Every Kindergarten Teacher Wishes You Knew

Kindergarten is not what it used to be. There is no housekeeping, blocks center, water play, etc. We don't play all day or take naps anymore (yeah, no naps). How do you make sure that your child is ready for kindergarten!? I'm about to tell you. But first, a disclaimer. If your child will be attending a public school there are some important things you need to know:

1. Some of the goals your child is expected to reach are developmentally inappropriate.

2. No child is perfect and all children learn at their own paces.

3. Your child is not perfect and each child learns at their own pace.

4. NOT ONE CHILD IS PERFECT AND EVERY CHILD LEARNS AT THEIR OWN PACE!!

• With that being said, I am going to offer some developmentally appropriate strategies to help make sure your child will be ready for kindergarten.

Preparation for kindergarten doesn't begin when you're buying a new wardrobe and school supplies. It begins long before you get those new shoes, bookbag, and school supplies. You should begin preparing for kindergarten the moment your child is born. No, seriously. Here's how...

• Talk to them. For real! That's it. Communicate with them from the time they are born. If your are fixing their bottle, tell them what you are doing. If you are dressing them, communicate that to them. Ask them questions and wait for a response. In order for them to develop their vocabulary, you have to talk to them.
• Call them by their name.  I'm not being facetious here. Teach your child their full name! If I meet them at open house and ask them their name, they shouldn't say "baby girl" or "tink tink". Those names are fine, but they need to know their real names for school. Just practice, say "What's your name?" 
• Colors and shapes. They can learn colors at age 2. At the grocery store, in the car, at home, in a restaurant. You don't even need flash cards. Just point to a color, identify it, let them repeat, ask them again and again. Same with shapes. They learn 3D shapes in kindergarten, so knowing basic shapes is a must.
• Counting. By the end of kindergarten, they have to count 1-100 and write 1-30. Just practice counting! Count the cars on the road, count buttons, count steps, count anything. Also, it would be helpful if they at least recognize numbers 1-30 out of order.
• Writing. This is one of my favorite things to teach. Teach them how to hold a pencil. A kindergartener should know how to write their names with the first letter capitalized and the other letters lowercase. If they are using all capital letters, we can help, but start working on it now. 
• Reading. Letters. Identifying uppercase and lowercase letters. I suggest starting with lowercase. If they are singing the ABC song, that's great, but for Kindergarten they will need to know how to identify the letters out of order and say their sounds. Practice this by pointing to letters (on signs, in the store, in books, etc). Identify the letter, say what sound it makes, ask them to repeat, practice again and again and again. Point out words around them and read to them. Even if it's just in passing at the grocery store..."what are these? Bananas, this says /b/, bananas". If they already know their letter sounds, begin practicing simple words...cat, dog, mom, dad. We call them consonant vowel consonant (CVC) words. We read a lot in kindergarten and not just simple books, either! Get ready! 
• Put some learning apps and games on your phone/ iPad/ tablet. Let them play!

1. abcya.com
2. brainpopjr.com
3. pbskids.org

Now, go back to the top and read numbers 1-4. With all of that being said, the goals are attainable, but every child is different. If you start preparing early then it will make it less stressful. I'm a firm believer of letting a kid be a kid. They should enjoy learning! Start now! 

Questions? Leave a comment or ask on Facebook!