Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Kindergarten is not the same as it was even just 15 years ago. After teaching Kindergarten for 22 years I have seen a big change. I often feel like I teach a half-year of Kindergarten and a half-year of the “old first grade”. I used to be happy if my students left Kindergarten knowing their letters and sounds. Now by the end of Kindergarten most students are reading.

My most successful Kindergarten students come into Kindergarten knowing many of their letters and a few sounds. I am so excited when I test kids before school and this is the case. They understand what letters are and they want to learn to read.

Remember not to push your children before school. Introduce what they are interested in. As you read it becomes natural for children to learn the concepts of print. I will discuss a few concepts.

First: Occasionally point to the words on the page. Show your children how you read from left to right with a return sweep. Many children don’t realize you are reading, they think you are making up the story. Don’t do this on every page just introduce it to them.

Second: As you read ask questions and make predictions. Good readers are engaged in the story. They know the characters and stop if they get lost in the story and re-read to find about a character. Poor readers just read words and are not engaged in the story.

Third: Help children listen to how language is formed and words are manipulated. Rhyming in poems or fairy tales is productive. Picture books and Dr. Seuss books are full of rhyming. After reading the story a few times, when you come to the end leave the last rhyming word off. See if your child can fill in the word.

Repetition books are great for teaching language development; books like Silly Sally, or The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood. When it comes to “Here is a house a napping house where everyone is sleeping”, your child will be able to repeat it with you.

ABC books are important to teach alphabetical order and what starts with the letter “c” etc. Point to letters and repeat them to your child. You can never read too many ABC books.

Fourth: Retelling the story is important. When you finish the book have your child retell the story. Ask questions about the story; ask them what their favorite part was, have them talk about the characters. Another fun activity is to make puppets with storybook characters. Have the children retell the story using puppets.

It all comes back to reading and talking to your children. Let your children see your love for literacy. Parents keep up the good work; enjoying and leaning to love literacy is for the whole family!