Beavercreek City Schools
Kindergarten Today
Kindergarten today is:
Not the kindergarten from our childhood
Expectations for social and academic progress are high
Attendance is criticalParents play a huge role
How to help your child
Establish sleep routines two-three weeks before school begins and continue on the days when your child is not in school
Encourage self-help skills: dressing, independent bathroom skills
Expose children to play with other children-not structured play
Show your child where kindergarten is and talk about how school-age children are different
Establish excellent attendance routines
Social Skills
By the time school starts, your child should be able to:
Listen without interruptingPay attention to adult-directed tasksBe able to attend to personal bathroom needsPractice buttoning and zippingBounce a ballKnow name, address, phone number, mother and
father’s names
Social Skills
Use words instead of being physical when angry
Speak clearlyPlay well with othersFollow simple directionsManage bathroom tasksShow good mannersSpend time away from parents
Fine Motor
Put a puzzle togetherUse scissors correctlyHold a pencil and crayons correctly
Gross Motor
Run, jump and skipWalk backwardsWalk up and down stairs
Citizenship
Cooperate with othersLearn how to solve arguments by using
words to work out problemsPractice making choices
Economics and Government
Express wants and needsShare, take turns, trade items fairlyIdentify adults who help: teachers,
firefighter, police officers, parentsRecognize the flagUnderstand rules and consequences
What Your Child Should Know
◦Read first name◦Recognize at least half upper and lower case
letters ◦Recognize letters in first name◦Recognize rhymes in familiar stories◦Have an awareness of initial sounds
like B in bird
Reading Process
Hold a book right-side-up and turn pages; pretend to read words left to right
Know the difference between pictures and print
Be able to answer questions about what has been read aloud
Writing
Be aware that writing conveys meaningExpress ideas to an adult who writes them
downDraw a picture of familiar objects Print letters of own name
Communication
Tell others about experiences and creations
Join others in reciting poems, nursery rhymes, and singing songs
Communicate with other childrenSpeak clearly to be understood
Math
Count to 10 by touching each object or while looking at number books
Tell how many objects in groups of 5 or fewer
Work on concepts: more/less, heavy/light, bigger/smaller, taller/shorter
Geometry and Patterns
Identify, match, sort by shape and sizeDescribe position: up/down, over/under,
top/bottom, inside/outside, front/behind/between
Sort by size, color, shape, or how it is used (cooking, art supplies, etc.)
Copy and add on to simple patterns
Science
Begin to use science words: night, day, sun, moon, stars, cold, hot…to describe what they see
Notice seasonal changeKnow that living things need food, water, and
airLearn that stories such as cartoons and
movies show plants and animals doing things that are not real (flowers talking, animals singing)
Science and Technology
Use the five senses
Recognize familiar tools: hammer, scissors, paintbrush, etc.
Ask “what if?” questions; experimentAsk “alike” and “different” questions
Social Studies
Understand events that happened in the pastDiscuss what is happening: weekdays are
schooldays, etc.Share personal family stories, “When I was
little…”Identify the way we belong to groups: boys, girls,
preschool class, family, friends, neighborhoods
Resources
For some good ideas to help your child to be ready for kindergarten, visit:
Ohio Department of Education: www.ode.state.oh.us
Summer Home Learning Recipes:www2.ed.gov/pubs/Recipes/reck-3.htmlKindergarten Readiness Checklist:http://school.familyeducation.com/kinderg
arten/school-readiness/38491.htmlwww.starfall.com
Half Day vs. Full Day Kindergarten
Half Day Kindergarten Sample Full Day Kindergarten Schedule
30 min. - Special20 min. - Reading35 min. - Centers30 min. - Calendar and Writing15 min. - Math
30 min. - Arrival/morning work
30 min. - Calendar 20 min. - Read aloud and
shared reading 40 min. - Reading (Daily Five) 30 min. - Snack/Recess 30 min. - Writing Process 30 min. - Math 60 min. - Centers 60 min. - Lunch/Recess/Quiet
Time 30 min. - Specials 20 min. - Science/Social
Studies
New Schedule
Full-Day Alternate Day Schedule
Monday and Thursday Or
Tuesday and Friday With Added Wednesday on Alternating Weeks
First Week of School
During the first week of school, you will bring your child in for a 30 minute appointment with your child’s teacher. During this time, you will have a chance to ask questions and share information. The teacher will then assess your child to determine his/her readiness for reading. Because teachers will be meeting with all parents and students, kindergarten classes will not be in session Aug. 23rd to Aug. 26th.
Gradual Start adapted from Perrysburg Schools
Your teacher will send you a post card informing you of your appointment date and time in August.
Students report for their first full week of kindergarten on either:
August 29th (Group A) or August 30th (Group B).