Lunch is quick! Practice by setting a timer for about 20 minutes and having your student eat during that time period. 

Practice having your student open and close their lunchbox and open different food packaging. There are often very few adults and lots of students that need help in the cafeteria. 

Please make sure your student is able to use the bathroom independently. This means they are able to pull down and pull up their clothes on their own, can wipe themselves, and knows how to properly use the toilet as well as healthy handwashing habits. 

Routines are essential to kindergarten! You can make sure your student is prepared by having routines at home. Making sure an appropriate bedtime is part of the routine is important as well. 

Understanding how to use supplies properly is a big part of kindergarten that sets them up for success later in life. This includes holding both scissors and pencils properly, using small amounts of glue, and understanding how to glue paper together. Linked below are helpful videos for how to hold scissors and pencils correctly. 

Using Scissors and Pencils Correctly 

Kindergarten can be an emotional rollercoaster. Helping teach your student how to control their emotions is very helpful. This means that they also understand that they will not always get what they want. 

Practicing taking deep breaths and telling adults that they are frustrated or upset is very helpful in helping your student control their emotions. Also practicing having to wait for things they want is helpful for them to work on their patience. This also includes taking turns in games or waiting for a toy they want to play with.

Kindergarten is all about learning to be independent and gaining problem-solving skills. This means that students are able to solve small problems on their own such as needing a pencil, zipping up their jacket, or a friend not sharing.

Have your student practice zipping up jackets, putting items in backpacks, and buttoning pants and jackets.  Also practice tying shoes and if your student is not able to tie their shoes, having them wear shoes that do not tie to school is best!

Not only are listening and focusing important school skills, they are important life skills! You can help your student to listen by working with them on following 1 or 2 step directions at home. This would look like: "Clean up your toys, then wash your hands for dinner." You can also practice focusing by reading to them and doing other activities where they need to pay attention to a person talking. It is important that they work on focusing on people talking or activities they are working on in person. Focusing should not be practiced by using technology such as working on tablets or watching TV.

Kindergarten can be scary on the first day, especially if it is your student's first time away from home. Giving your student experiences before they go to school can help them feel more comfortable being away from home. This could be going to the park and playing with other kids, staying the night with a different family member, or going to other kid-centered places such as discovery centers. 

English Language Arts Standards 

Most Important:

• Change sounds in words to make new words. For example, replace 'c' in 'cat' with 'm' to make 'mat' (K.FL.PA.2).

• Sound out words to write them. In kindergarten, we do not focus on correct spelling, we focus on the sounds we hear. For example, in kindergarten, we spell 'phone' as 'fon' (K.FL.WC.4.). 

• After listening to a nonfiction book, say what the book was all about and what they learned about the topic of the book (K.RI.KID.2.).

• After listening to a fiction book, say who the characters are, what the setting was, and what happened in the story (K.RL.KID.3.).

Math Kindergarten Standards 

Most Important:

• Show numbers 0-20 by putting that many objects out. Write numbers 0-20 (K.CC.A.3.).

• Add and subtract numbers 0-10 using story problems to find what it equals or different parts that make up the equation. For example, '5 apples are on the table. 3 are green and the rest are red. How many are red?' (K.OA.A.2.).

• Break numbers apart to show the different parts that make the entire number. Then use the parts and whole to write an equation. For example, 3 and 5 make 8 which can be written as 3+5=8 (K.OA.A.3.).

• Find the numbers that make 10 with all numbers between 0 and 9. For example, 2+8=10 (K.OA.A.4.).

Science Kindergarten Standards 

Most Important:

• Describe and sort different materials and tell whether they are manmade. For example, doors and tables can be made out of wood which is natural but waterbottles and baggies are made out of plastic which is manmade (K.PS.1.1).

• Explain the five senses: touch, taste, feel, hear, and see (K.LS1.3).

• Look at and compare different weather conditions to determine patterns using graphs, symbols, and weather tools (K.ESS2.1).

• Look at ways people can reduce their impact on Earth (K.ESS3.3).

Social Studies  Standards

Most Important:

•  Tell how basic human needs are met including food, housing, and transportation (K.04).

• Give examples of authority, fairness, responsibility, and rules (K.11).

• Explain the purpose of rules and laws (K.16).