Kindergarden - Plumtree,NC

All you really need to do is read books to her that are appropriate for her age. If you're doing that, then she should know the colors, shapes, basic counting, and hopefully the letters and numbers. They go over all that in K anyway, but she ought to know it before hand. It's really not a big deal. If you think about it, there are plenty of parents out there who don't care at all, so you're going to be way ahead of that.

you can pre-register your daughter this spring. They will give you info on what is expected. My daughter started kindergarden this fall. She has kids in her class that could barely write there name and did not know how to stand in line. My daughter had 2 yrs of preschool and is way ahead of her peers. Site words are a big thing - they will give you some at the pre-registration. Numbers and letters (upper and lower case). Basic math like Which stick is greater that this one. I used the educational books you can find in Walmart in the kids dept. Thoses work books helps my daughter follow up on school work. I would start with preschool and work up as your daughter finds the books easy.

Hello S.,

This is the best grade it is so much fun. First thing read, read, and read this is the most important thing you can do with your child. Second, teach her to practice coloring and drawing. (Background objects and labeling objects) You might also teach her how to use scissors. (cut straight lines. curved lines/ ZigZag lines. Know her ABC's and be able to count to at least 20 and recognize the # not just say them.

A good place to start, would be to contact the school and ask them. If she already has been assigned to a specific 'class', you might try contacting the teacher privately and asking her these questions -If you ask a broadcast question like this on a site like this, you are likely to get so much conflicting advice you won't know where to begin - ultimately the teacher your daughter will have and the school district in which the school is located is probably your best resource.

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Look on your school's county website for the kindergarten state standards. This is what the teachers are required to teach. Your child should know how to sit still, stay focused, follow directions, and get along with other children. The best thing you can do is enroll them into some kind of structured preschool. It would help if they could identify all the letters of the alphabet capital and lowercase. Count to at least 20, name colors, shapes, state full name, address, phone number, birthday, and age.

S.,
I don't know what school system you will be starting in...but, it seems like they should know their primary colors, they should be able to count to 10, and they should be able to at least recognize some of the alphabet. Just look for some workbooks at Wal-mart or a bookstore that is for pre-k....She will be fine no matter what she knows before hand.

Good luck.
Jen

You have a lot of good answers here. Some of the things that will help you daughter are making sure she can get her coat on and off, zipping up her backpack and putting a straw in a juice box or opening her individual milk by herself. These sound like such tiny tasks but my daughter had to learn all (except the coat) in the first couple of days. The letters and numbers will happen.

Since you work a full time job - is your daughter in a preschool program? Mothers Day Out, daycare? If she is then she will be more than ready.

If not, I would have her working on her letters and numbers. Although the school will help get her up to speed once she starts kindergarten she would be a little behind.

I think kindergarten used to be about learning colors, shapes etc, but I was amazed at all my daughter learned in kindergarten. I would also contact the school to find out any specifics to get ready.

Good luck!

S.,
My little guy is going to K this year also, and I am a former teacher. The K teachers I've known in the past have wanted a wide variety of skills from incoming students. What seemed most important, though, was that the students could use the restroom themselves, which also meant they could get clothes on and off with little or no help in order to do so. Also high on the wish list was students who could follow 2-3 step directions and sit still long enough to complete a task or hear a story. Communications skills are a big plus. These are some skills parents tend to overlook as they prepare their little ones with color, shape, number and letter recognition (also helpful skills for new students). Good luck to you and your daughter! I know my son (and I) are looking forward to it!

When I took my daughter to take her pre-k test she had 17 objectives and got 16 of them. The thing she missed... skipping. Can you believe that is even something they ask them to do? One lady I knew was there with her daughter who had been in preschool. My daughter didn't go to preschool and did better than she did. I think as long as you work with your daughter on the alphabet, numbers and colors she will do fine.

name, numbers 1-10 and abc's are the ones i remember the most off the list our school system jcps sent us a letter telling us what all she needed to know

They will tell you when it is time. Work with her on making her a strong happy independent person, who can get along with others and can listen and follow directions. Enjoy her new independence because she can now function on her own a little.

I was pretty amazed at what my son did in Kindergarten! They were writing/spelling words, doing simple math, etc.
Google "kindergarten readiness" and you'll get lots of good info!