Happy 1st Day of Kindergarten!!

Thank you for a WONDERFUL first day of school! We had such a marvelous time getting to know your child today! We hope he/she felt comfortable and had as much fun as we did!

Give your child a giant 'congratulations' hug and we'll see you in the morning! (Remember to send your child to the gym in the morning to wait for his/her teacher. The kindergarten children will all be sitting with their classmates and there will be teachers in the gym to assist the children in finding their correct place.)

Friendly Reminders

Here's is a little reminder of the things your child will need for the first day of school:

· Backpack - Please send a backpack to school everyday to help carry important kindergarten “stuff.” Please make sure these backpacks are not the long, roller type (since they do not fit well in our cubbies).

· Red Lakeside Folder – This folder should come to school everyday in your child’s backpack. If you have a note for your child’s teacher, place it in the folder and your child’s teacher will do the same. CHECK IT DAILY!

· Change of Clothes - Please send a change of clothes in a baggie just in case to keep at school. Please make sure it is labeled with your child’s name. Trade these out as seasons and sizes change! Even if your child is not having accidents, there are sometimes spills and messes that deserve a change of clothes.

· Resting Towel - We rest most days. Your child will need a labeled resting towel.

· Toys – A stuffed animal friend may come to school with your child the first week of school (IF he or she if feeling insecure). After that, no toys are allowed at school.

· Medications – If your child has medications, please take them to our school nurse, Mrs. Black.

· Transportation – Please notify your teacher in writing (or via email before 10:00 a.m.) if there is a change in after school transportation for your child.

We can't wait to have a WONDERFUL school year! Thank you!

Come on Over - Meet Your Teacher!

REMEMBER!

Tonight is Meet the Teacher and we can't wait to meet you!

Please come prepared to meet a teacher that is incredibly excited about having your child in her class and is looking forward to an AMAZING year together!

This evening you will go to your child's classroom and meet your child's teacher. Then you can take a look around the classroom and introduce yourself to the other families in the room. (Remember, these are the parents/children that your child will become close with over the next nine months, so feel free to say hello and extend a handshake.)

Then find your child's seat and cubby. If you pre-ordered your child's school supplies on-line, the supplies will already be delivered to your child's classroom. If you did not pre-order your supplies, please bring the supplies you have already bought to Meet the Teacher night. (This will give your child's teacher the opportunity to get everything put away and ready for the first day of school!) Your child's teacher will have directions for what to do with these supplies at your child's seat. Also at your child's table you will see a few VERY IMPORTANT papers from your child's teacher and the PTO. Please read these pages carefully and let your child's teacher know if you have any questions. Additionally, you will see essential postings on the chalkboard, so check it out and sign up where appropriate.

See you soon!!

The Kindergarten Teachers

What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew

We thought you might enjoy this article from Scholastic! It's a short list, but a very good one!

Happy Reading!

http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/what-kindergarten-teachers-wish-parents-knew

Lots of Papers!

During the first week of school, watch for many notes and school forms in your child’s red folder that need your signature! Please complete each form and send it back to school in your child’s red folder as soon as possible. Thank you!

Yes, please!

Social skills and manners are a big part of going to kindergarten. In the past we've modeled our instruction after The Essential 55. This article has many of these ideals. What are your beliefs on social expectations for your child?

Tuesday Tip - Home Visits

In order to make your child feel more comfortable on the first day of school, the kindergarten teachers would love to spend some special time with your child in your home. If you would like your child's teacher to come to your house and visit your child, please sign up (on the sheet) during Meet the Teacher Night. The sign up sheet will offer appointment times for the following Friday and/or Saturday.

Please remember that this is OPTIONAL!

This will be a VERY quick visit (only ten minutes) and a time for your child to show off something special (i.e. his/her room, a painting, etc.). Please remember this is a time for your child to get to know his/her teacher and help the first day and saying good-bye go more smoothly. If you personally have questions about school or our routines, please email your child's teacher and she will reply as soon as possible!

Snack Time

Each kindergarten class will have snack time in the afternoon. We eat lunch early in the day, so the children are very hungry by the afternoon! Some of the teachers have community snack time (meaning parents donate the snacks in bulk and the teachers will pass it out among the children) and other teachers ask students to bring their own from home. Your child's teacher will notify you of which she prefers when school begins. Either way, you are welcome to pack and send a singular snack for your child each day.

If your child's teacher has a community-style snack time, your child’s teacher will let you know (via email or newsletter) when the snack supply is low and you can send in your donation with your child in the morning. Please be mindful of the snacks you donate. Cookies, chips and small desserts do not sustain the brain power needed to finish an afternoon at school. Your child’s teacher will elaborate on this when school begins, but in the meantime, think about sending snacks such as healthy crackers, popcorn, cheese sticks (we have a small refrigerator in the classroom), pretzels or cereal. Also, keep in mind that items involving a great deal of prep-work or foods that require cutlery are not conducive to nourishing a large group in a small amount of time.

If you’d like, you are welcome to bring a box of snacks to Meet the Teacher Night or the First Day of School so your child’s class will have something for snack time on the very first day. Please steer clear of foods that contain nuts (or are prepped in kitchens that use nut products) until food allergies among your child’s class are known. Thank you!

Thematic Days and Celebrations

We have a fews days during the school year we reserve for special celebrations; supporting a school program or dressing up as a culminating activity for a unit of study. Each of these are meant to be fun and should not involve purchasing costumes - it’s time to get creative and use what you have around your home!

Here are a few examples:

Nursery Rhyme Day

Scarecrow Day

Red Ribbon Week

Thanksgiving Feast

101 Dalmatians

(Please keep in mind that these are subject to change due to student needs and calendar changes. Your child's teacher will keep you well informed and always read the weekly newsletter for the most up-to-date information).

Tuesday Tip - Yum! Yum! Kindergarten Lunch!

Kindergarten students can choose either to buy a school lunch or bring a lunch from home. We strongly suggest a lunch from home in the first few months because the children have more time to eat if they are not standing in the line buying. However, a hot meal is available each day and the monthly menu can be found on the CISD Portal. A vegetarian option is always available, too!

Your child will be given an account in the cafeteria. On the days he/she buys a lunch, the amount will be subtracted from the account. You may send checks to school in your child's red Lakeside folder, personally take a check to the cafeteria before school or pay on-line. Make checks payable to: Lakeside Nutrition.

Parents, after the first three weeks of school, you are welcome to come eat lunch with your child if you think he/she can handle an extra goodbye in the day. We have a separate family table set up for you and your child to use. We ask that younger siblings be left in the care of a loved one while you eat lunch with your kindergartner.

Go! GO NOW!

If you haven't ordered your child's school supplies yet, GO NOW to the Lakeside PTO site and start shopping! Remember, ordering school supplies on-line helps you (no need to run all over town), your child (everything is packaged and delivered to the classroom) and your teacher! Sale ends on July 31st.

(Here's the link: http://www.lakesidepto.com/shop.aspx?Store=2)

Summer Top 5

As the warm days of summer are upon us, we want to enjoy the season with our children and engage them in activities that bring family members together and stimulate the mind. Check out our Top 5 Pick’s for the summer!

Book: ‘The Read-Aloud Handbook’ by Jim Trelease is a parent and teacher must-read! It offers insight on the process of learning to read, developing language skills, and strategies for helping your child foster a life-long love of reading. The second half of the book contains a priceless collection of book and poetry recommendations. It includes different genres, age suggestions and a synopsis of each book. Buy your own copy or borrow it from your local library!

Game: After an energetic day at the pool, you crave a game that can bring the entire family together; one that stimulates the mind while relaxing your sun-kissed and tired bodies. Try a game of dominoes! (Make sure you purchase double-nine dominoes.) This classic tile game gives children the opportunity to practice cooperation, good sportsmanship and matching quantities. Most important, when children play with these dot formations, number values become engrained in the mind. Children begin to recognize the patterns in our numeric system. (The 5 is simply 4 with 1 in the middle!) Ask family members to verbalize each domino they play and differentiate for the ages of your children. A toddler will say the colors he is matching, while a pre-schooler will say the number quantity of each side of a domino (nine and two). A school-age child can make a domino into an addition sentence (nine and two makes eleven), while an upper-elementary child will create a multiplication sentence (the nine is three rows of three).

Car Game: Mind Reader is a game modeled after ‘20 questions’, but challenges your child’s scientific thinking and language-building skills. A parent will say “I’m thinking of something that starts with mmmmmmm”. (Always say the beginning letter sound, instead of the letter name. This aids in the phonological development needed for learning to read.) Children will ask questions that can only be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Teach your child to begin with bigger questions (“Is the thing you’re thinking of living?” “Is it found in a house?” “Does it breathe underwater?”), then move on to guessing specifics. Most likely you will need to model this line of thinking for the first few games, but this thinking process (big ideas to small, asking questions to illuminate possibilities and matching guesses to the beginning sound) is exactly what your child needs to become successful in the areas of science, reading and creative problem-solving!

Website: StorylineOnline.net has a collection of books read by actors from The Screen Actor’s Guild. Hollywood’s Finest bring the stories to life and viewers can read along or just listen. You’ll see an excitement percolate when your children see the same books in the library and want to read the stories again and again!

Conversation: Your children have great ideas waiting to be unearthed and depend on you to stimulate their thinking and communication skills. During your summertime adventures, ask your children open-ended questions about your surroundings. This gives you insight into their thinking, which can drive further questioning and reasoning. Start with “What do you notice?” Take note of their observations and focus their attention to details that create new learning opportunities. Afterwards, ask “What does it make you think of/remind you of?” This elevates your child’s thinking to a higher-level and allows the brain to make connections with prior knowledge.

Wherever your summer plans take your family, powerful and practical activities are always at your fingertips!

Tuesday Tip - What Your Child Will Need

Here are a few things your child will need on the first day of kindergarten!

· Backpack - Please send a backpack to school everyday to help carry important kindergarten “stuff.” Please make sure these backpacks are not the long, roller type (since they do not fit in our cubbies).

· Red Lakeside Folder – This folder should come to school everyday in your child’s backpack. If you have a note for your child’s teacher, place it in the folder and your child’s teacher will do the same. CHECK IT DAILY!

· Change of Clothes - Please send a change of clothes in a baggie just in case to keep at school. Please make sure it is labeled with your child’s name. Trade these out as seasons and sizes change! Even if your child is not having accidents, there are sometimes spills and messes that deserve a change of clothes.

· Resting Towel - We rest most days. Your child will need a labeled resting towel.

· Supplies - Kindergarten supplies can be purchased on-line from our PTO. These school supplies are shared among the class. Please bring all supplies on Meet the Teacher Night.

· Toys – A stuffed animal friend may come to school with your child the first week of school. After that, no toys are allowed at school.

· Medications – If your child has medications, please take them to our school nurse, Mrs. Black.

· Transportation – Please notify your teacher in writing (or via email before 10:00 a.m.) if there is a change in after school transportation for your child.

Tuesday Tip - Hello and Goodbye

Students will have an opportunity to meet their new teacher a few days before the school year begins (in August - check the school website for date/time). This will allow your child to become accustomed to his/her classroom and teacher. On the first day of school, parents are welcome to bring their child to the classroom. (It is a huge moment!) For the rest of the week, please say your good-byes in the gym before school. Students are to be in the gym by 7:45. The gym is supervised in the morning and your child’s teacher will pick up her class from the gym at 7:45. Please do not send your child directly to class. After the first week, please help us begin to foster your child’s independence by saying goodbye in the parent loop and allowing him/her to walk in independently.

Here are the general things you'll need to know about our arrival and dismissal procedures:

Morning Arrival

- Morning drop-off time: 7:30-7:49

- All parent loops and inside waiting areas are supervised and your kindergartner will not have to walk in or wait alone in the morning.

Afternoon Dismissal

- Afternoon pick-up: 3:05

- All parent loops and inside waiting areas are supervised and your kindergartner will not have to walk out or wait alone in the afternoon.

- Children riding a bus or daycare van will be escorted outside and to their bus in the afternoon.

- Children that have a siblings in K–2nd grade (or no siblings), will be picked up from the front office loop. All students with an older sibling in grades 3rd-5th grade, will wait for his/her sibling in the hall (by the office) and be dismissed to the cafeteria loop.

- If you are driving through the parent loop to pick up your child, please be sure to have the yellow sign in your dashboard and pull all the way up the curb. DO NOT get out of your car. (This yellow sign will be given to you at the beginning of the school year).

- Walkers, please respect our safety system and use the crosswalks (from the parent parking lot). Please wait outside for your child and wait away from the doors so the sidewalks are left un-crowded.

• Both dismissal loops are supervised by adults who are available for help!

News! News! News!

Each Friday the Kindergarten teachers will send home a weekly newsletter via email or post it on her webpage. It will be in a PDF format and will inform you of events of the class and school. Be sure to read each week about the happenings and upcoming events!

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is a school-wide event. Students can invite their Grandparents or a special friend (Aunt, neighbor, or parent, etc.) to join them in the classroom for a small tour of their classroom and school work. Grandparents and Special Friends Day is usually for a portion of the school day, during a fall school day. Check the weekly newsletter for a specific date and time. If you have a grandparent that is unable to attend, your child may send a postcard or letter requesting that grandparent send a letter to your child at school. Your child’s teacher can read the letter to your child and the entire class, and then find where on the map the grand parent is living. This is a way everyone can see how much your child is loved by his/her grandparent.

The day’s festivities will begin when the teachers invite everyone into the classroom. The children will greet their grandparents or special friend and show them the many activities of his/her kindergarten classroom. Half-way through the celebration, an announcement will be made to indicate the time and grandparents/special friends may move on to another classroom to spend the last half of their time with a sibling.

Unfortunately, each year we have one or two students who do not have a Grandparent or Special Friend available to visit. As you can imagine, this can make a young child very upset to see “everyone has a visitor except me”. Please ask the Grandparent or Special Friend you send to include any children that are alone. Thank you!

Tuesday Tip - What Good Little Boys and Girls!

We have so many ways to reward all the amazing behavior and effort our students show us! Here are a few you may hear about:

Red Tickets - A child may receive a red ticket as a reward for great effort, wonderful behavior or when found exemplifying one of our citizenship qualities (see below). This child writes his/her name on the back of the ticket and returns it to the teacher. At the end of the week, the teachers takes all the red tickets and draws one red ticket. Whoever that red ticket belonged to becomes our Longhorn of the Week.

Longhorn of the Week - When you have been selected as the Longhorn of the Week, your name is announced on Friday’s morning announcements, your picture is taken and hung on the school bulletin board and you receive a Lakeside pencil and a Longhorn of the Week ribbon to wear. Our school’s parent-volunteer photographer also submits all the Longhorn of the Week photos to our local newspaper.

Citizen of the Month - The CISD Citizenship Program highlights a different quality each month district-wide. These qualities are integrity, respect, responsibility, cooperation, caring, self-control, patriotism, honesty, effort and patience. The focus of the elementary program is to introduce the concepts, model the behavior to demonstrate the concepts and identify the behavior in ourselves and others.

At the end of each month, a student is chosen to be recognized at the Citizen of the Month for his/her class. The student’s name is called during a spirit assembly, a sentence is read by our principal showing why the student was chosen and the student receives a ribbon that says ‘Citizen of the Month’ and has his/her picture taken for the school’s bulletin board.

The above are district and school-wide recognition programs. Your child’s kindergarten teacher will also have ways to reinforce positive behavior and reward gallant efforts. Here are a few examples:

Marble Jar - Each time the class works as a team to accomplish a common goal, a marble may be added to a class jar. When the jar is full, a team reward will be given. (Example: spend 15 minutes at the end of a day, playing on the ‘big kid’ playground).

Table Points - If a group of students that sit at one table are doing a remarkable job at following directions or working through a problem as a team, a table point can be earned. At the end of the week, a reward for the table with the most points will be given. (Example: On Friday, everyone at the blue table may take off his/her shoes when working at their table).

Smellies - A smelly is a flavored Chap-Stick. When a reward needs to be given, a child will hear the teacher say, “Susie, you may have a Smelly!” The child will then get a swipe of a delicious smelling stick on the back of her hand to smell and enjoy! (These Chap-Sticks never touch anyone’s lips!)

These are just a few examples of how we reinforce positive behavior in kindergarten. You will hear more from your child’s will teacher when the year begins.

Meet the K4 Teacher

Hello and welcome to Kindergarten!  My name is Robin Travis and I was born and raised in Texas.  I graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (elementary education).  I also hold my English as a Second Language (ESL) certification.

This is my first year with Lakeside and I am so excited to join the Longhorn family!  This is also my first year to teach Kindergarten and I just couldn’t be more thrilled!  I come from a long line of teachers at both the elementary and collegiate levels.  I live in Plano with my sweet 6 year-old yellow Lab, Emma, and we love to go for walks, chase tennis balls, and watch the Texas Rangers!  I love traveling, reading, cooking, going to the movies, and spending as much time as I can with my family and friends.

I look forward to sharing this amazing time with you and your child and welcome any questions you might have.  It’s going to be a great year of growing, discovering, and learning together! 

Tuesday Tip - Nursery Rhymes

Did you know reciting and singing nursery rhymes is a great way to help your child become a better reader? Hearing the rhythm of our language and identifying rhyming words helps your child become a more fluent and successful reader!

So dust off those nursery rhyme books and start reading!

(Here's a link if you'd like some free sing-a-long.)

Meet the K2 Teacher

Hello, my name is Teri Keith. The saying "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could" certainly applies to me. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and educated in Ohio (Miami University, B.S. and Xavier University, M. Ed.)  We came here to Coppell at the beginning of the new millennium and have loved every minute of it.

Kindergarten is my favorite grade level to teach because of the phenomenal growth students achieve. I like to call it the year of "developmental explosions". You can often see children's developmental changes from one day to the next. My classroom allows students to discover and learn using their imaginations and skills, and is mixed with a solid amount of discipline and love.

My twin sons, Bobby and AJ, spent their elementary years here at Lakeside, have moved through middle school at CMS North and are now at CHS. It's hard to believe they're in high school! My step-daughter, Caroline, just graduated from Texas Christian University, majoring in TV/Radio/Film. My wonderful husband, Tom, has spent his entire career at IBM. In our spare time, we enjoy playing a variety of sports, gardening, traveling and trying to teach our 9-year old lab, Austin, to stop chewing on shoes.

Tuesday Tip - Reading Tips

Tips for Parents of Kindergartners - www.readingrockets.org

Play with letters, words, and sounds! Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

■ Talk to your child.

Ask your child to talk about his day at school. Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.

■ Say silly tongue twisters.

Sing songs, read rhyming books, and say silly tongue twisters. These help kids become sensitive to the sounds in words.

■ Read it and experience it.

Connect what your child reads with what happens in life. If reading a book about animals, relate it to your last trip to the zoo.

■ Use your child’s name.

Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, “John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump. And they both begin with the same letter, J.”

■ Play with puppets.

Play language games with puppets. Have the puppet say, “My name is Mark. I like words that rhyme with my name. Does park rhyme with Mark? Does ball rhyme with Mark?”

■ Trace and say letters.

Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.

■ Write it down.

Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage your child to use the letters and sounds he or she is learning about in school.

■ Play sound games.

Practice blending sounds into words. Ask “Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p.” Hold each sound longer than normal.

■ Read it again and again.

Go ahead and read your child’s favorite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.

■ Talk about letters and sounds.

Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game! “I’m thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm.”

Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.

Meet the K1 Teacher!

Hi, my name is Katherine Horton and I am so happy to be teaching Kindergarten at Lakeside! This is my seventh year to teach Kindergarten and I'm loving it more and more every year!!!

I am from Arlington, Texas, where I lived with my mom, dad, and big sister. I went to Baylor University and graduated in 2006 with my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I currently live in Dallas with my roomates/best friends. I love spending time with my friends and family shopping, reading, traveling, watching movies and discovering new music!

Tuesday Tip - Questions from Round Up

Today we wanted to review a few questions that popped up from parents during Kindergarten Round Up. Since we value your thoughts and questions, we thought it would be good to review them again:

1. What if my child has food allergies?

If you child has severe food allergies, there are many things we do to protect your child. When you registered your child on the district's Portal, you should have noted in the system your child's allergy. If you did not do this, please log into your account and do so ASAP!! This notifies your child’s teacher and the office staff (nurse) of your child’s allergies. When you set up a lunch account for your child, please mark in the appropriate boxes your child's allergies. This will stop your child from being able to purchase any foods that he/she is restricted from eating. Your child's teacher will ask about allergies via paperwork that is sent home on Meet the Teacher night. This will allow your child's teacher to discuss your child's allergies with the class, fellow teachers that will be supervising your child (including substitute teachers and specials teachers) and will give your child's teacher a chance to post signs in the classroom for visitors. If your child has an epi-pen, please contact our school nurse about keeping one in the clinic, in case of emergencies. Lastly, be sure your child is able to say to an adult "I am allergic to ____." 

2. What is the maximum class size in kindergarten?

The maximum amount of children in one class is 22. However, CISD makes every effort to keep our class sizes as low as possible.

3. Is there an aide in the kindergarten classroom?

There is one aide at Lakeside (shared throughout the school). There are many other specialists within the building that will be working with your child to offer support in the classroom. Lakeside is committed to providing an excellent education to your child and arranges support staff to work with teachers/students often.

4. Is there snack time?

We have snack time every day, in the afternoon. Since our lunchtime is 10:30, the children are quite hungry by the afternoon. When school begins, your child’s teacher will inform you on how she schedules snack time (i.e. community snack or children bringing individual snacks each day).

5. What is rest time like?

We have rest time in kindergarten for the first nine weeks of school. Each child brings a towel to school on Monday to lay uponand the towel is sent home on Friday for washing. Students are allowed to sleep, rest, read books or write in their journal during this time. 

6. How often do the children have specials classes?

Specials classes consist of P.E., art and music. The children go to P.E. at least twice a week, art once, and music once. On Fridays we have a rotating schedule (so your child will go to one of these classes again). You’ll receive a calendar at the beginning of the school year noting your child’s schedule. This will help you know when your child needs to wear tennis shoes for their P.E. days.

7. When does testing for the Gifted and Talented program begin?

There are many qualifications for becoming eligible for the Gifted and Talented program. One of these is the CogAT test. This test will be administered to every child in kindergarten, typically near the end of the calendar year. For more inquiries, please contact our Gifted and Talented teacher, Mrs. Timmerman (ltimmerman@coppellisd.com). 

8. Do the teachers offer home visits?

Yes! If you would like your child’s teacher to conduct a 10 minute home visit before the first day of school, please sign up for this at Meet the Teacher night. Home visits are an additional service the Lakeside teachers provide during their own personal time, so the availability for these visits depends on the teacher’s schedule. There will be more about this in a future post, so keep checking in!

We are happy to answer any questions! Please email a kindergarten teacher when they arise. Remember, if you have a question or concern, another parent probably is wondering the same thing - so ask! We can post Q/A on the blog for others to read!

Meet the Teachers!

Starting next week, we will introduce you to a kindergarten teacher each Friday. Keep watching to get to know each fabulous gal!

Tuesday Tip - Library Time

Be sure to check out the happenings at our local library this summer. It looks like they have some great activities planned and some awesome book lists!

Here's a link - Happy reading!

Tuesday Tip - Kindergarten Readiness

Each Tuesday during the summer, we will blog about a little something we want to share with you. These topics will range from kindergarten readiness to book recommendations to school events. You never know what will pop up - so keep watching!

HOW DOES KINDERGARTEN DIFFER FROM PRESCHOOL?

1. Kindergarten follows a more regulated schedule than most preschools. The child is not as free to do as he/she pleases.

2. Kindergartens may offer activities similar to preschools, but with structured expectations. Any result will be accepted in preschool schools; kindergarten is moving toward definite goals.

3. Kindergarten students are expected to conform more to a standard of school behavior. A child must be more self-disciplined.

4. Kindergarten begins, in earnest, the task of preparing children for reading, writing and arithmetic.

WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD START KINDERGARTEN? CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Can my child be alone in a strange place outside the home without crying or behaving overly fearful?

2. Can my child attend to his/her personal needs without difficulty?

3. Can my child follow spoken directions, particularly several at one time?

4. Can my child keep his/her attention on a task long enough to finish?

5. Can my child play with other children without being overly fearful or overly aggressive? Can my child take turns, share, follow the rules and play fairly?

6. Can my child tell people his/her needs with a loud enough voice, a clear voice, and using the correct words?

7. Does my child want to go to kindergarten?

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

1. Age cannot guarantee readiness for kindergarten; it is only one of many indicators.

2. Readiness for kindergarten does not simply mean the ability to recognize alphabet letters and numbers. Even a child who can read may not be ready emotionally and physically for the demands of a school environment.

3. The younger a child starts school, the more stress he/she will be under.

4. It is always better to be at the top of the class than struggling to keep up.

5. In many cases waiting a year gives a child a twelve month edge in both physical and mental growth.

HOW DO I PREPARE MY CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN?

1. Take your child to the school and discuss how he/she will get there when school begins.

2. Try to meet the teacher ahead of time or at least know her name.

3. Go to the kindergarten playground and let your child use the equipment there.

4. As with preschool, talk it up around others. Brag about your child being old enough to attend kindergarten.

5. Buy some special things “just for school”.

6. Get your child on a school schedule well before school starts.

7. The most important thing is to prepare your own attitude. Be cheerful, confident and fairly matter-of-fact about this new step.

REMEMBER: If you are questioning whether your child is ready for kindergarten, the best person to consult with is your child's preschool teacher. A preschool teacher knows your child best in an academic setting and can offer keen insight into kindergarten readiness.