Welcome to Kindergarten in RSU 14
Dear Parent/Guardian of an Incoming Kindergarten Student:
Welcome to RSU 14! We are thrilled to welcome you and your child as we begin preparing for the 2023-2024 school year. It is our sincere hope that your family has a positive experience as your child begins their educational journey. We recognize that deciding to register a child for kindergarten is an important decision and one that is often accompanied by questions and anxious feelings. We want to partner with you throughout this transition period and provide as much information as possible to support you and your child. This site was designed to provide you with an overview of some of the knowledge and skills that you could practice as you work with your child to prepare for the fall.
RSU14 Day in K rev.mp4A Day in the Life of K
BEGINNING KINDERGARTEN SKILLS
Speak in clear sentences
Make positive choices
Show emotions
Share with others
Follow directions with more than one step
Throw and catch a large object (ball)
Cut with scissors
Write their first name
Draw shapes
Walk, skip, jump, hop, bounce
Say their name
Know their address
Know some numbers
Know some letters
Count to 10
Tell a story
Identify basic shapes
Acknowledge things that are the same and different
Match similar items
Listen to others
PREPARING FOR KINDERGARTEN
SUMMER LITERACY ACTIVITIES
Letters and Sounds
- Use toy letters for making words
- Sing the alphabet song
- Read picture books and point out letters of the alphabet
- At meals, see if your child can identify letters around the table
- "I spy" game with your child and when they identify (maybe with assistance) the object, see if they can think of a rhyming word (Ex- "I spy with my eye......a ball. What rhymes with ball?")
Reading and Writing
- Read with your child daily
- Use an indicator like a pen or finger to show words as they are read
- Ask prompting questions to see what they think of the story
- Favorite book? Read it again! Familiarity of words will be an asset for your child
- Visit your local library for story time or to browse books that your child chooses
- Use a picture book for imagining what the story is about
- Practice writing letters and numbers
- Teach your child to write their name with a capital letter
- Leave out crayons, pencils, pens and paper for your child to practice
COLORS, NUMBERS, AND SHAPES
Things to help get your child ready for Math
- Games that involve numbers (example- Go Fish, counting games)
- When putting things away, ask how many there are.
- Snack time, count goldfish or other snacks before they are eaten. (How many are left over? How many does that mean you ate?)
- Introduce time to them. (We have 15 minutes until 6 o'clock...then let them know when the time is up.)
- Ask for specific number of items. (Can you get me 3 spoons please?)
Things to help with colors and shapes
- Sort toys by colors
- Ask for an object that is a certain color or shape and have your student look for it in the house
- Sort items by shapes
- Talk about comparing and contrasting two like items. (Look at apples in the grocery store is what is the same and different)
- When prompting your child to get dressed or to make other choices, ask which color they prefer. (Would you rather have white socks or the red socks? Which socks would match these pants?)
MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills for writing, coloring, painting, cutting, etc.
- Leave writing tools available (pens, pencils, crayons, paper) for children to doodle
- Tactile toys like play-doh, kinetic sand, or clay
- Let your child help cut things out, like coupons or pictures
- Legos
- Building blocks
- Toys with zippers, buttons, latches, switches, or velcro to practice with
- Puzzles
- String some beads
Large motor skills for sports and other physical activities
- Play catch
- Jump rope
- Hopscotch
- Slack line
- Balance beam
- Skipping
- Running
- Kick a ball
- Dribble a ball
SOCIAL SKILLS
Things to help with Speaking/Listening
- Ask your student questions (What do you think about dinner? How do you think we can fix this?)
- Use big words that are not familiar to your student; ask them if they know what it means.
- Use multi step directions to see if they follow them (example- Time to get ready for bed, brush your teeth, wash your hands, get a book, and then call me to read with you).
- Ask about your child's day.
- When you visit a new place, ask about what your child thinks, or what it is that catches their eye.
- Read and ask questions
Social Interaction
- Play games at home; this will encourage communication, following instructions, and working together.
- "Use your words." Encourage your student to use words to let others know how they feel or what they are thinking.
- Play with other same age children
CHECKLIST FOR YOUR STUDENT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN
- I know my name
- I know my parent/guardian names
- I am able to use the restroom by myself and wash my hands when done
- I am able to get my boots/jacket on and off on my own (teachers will certainly help)
- I have visited my new school, completed screening, and taken a ride on the Big Yellow Bus!
- I know where my classroom is located at the school (teachers will help)