Hellobee Boards Topic: Kindergarten readiness

Hellobee Boards Topic: Kindergarten readiness https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 07:56:24 +0000 winniebee on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704572 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:29:54 +0000 winniebee 2704572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I actually don't think our town has any guidelines or suggestions. At least, I'm not aware of any and none were made aware to me at registration. They conduct an assessment of each child at the end of May in order to make sure all of the classes are evenly distributed amongst abilities. That's all I know! sarac on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704554 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:15:30 +0000 sarac 2704554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Wow, those are all pretty extreme. My daughter didn't quite make the cutoff, so we had to petition through the TAG department, which was successful, and she's thriving in kindergarten. And she STILL can't button her jacket, because her fine motor is a little lacking. And it's just fine. looch on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704309 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 10:23:38 +0000 looch 2704309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Bao: @Mrs. Pen: I can only go off of my very limited experience, my son was in a preschool program that was very part time, like less than 4 hours per day and a lot of it was spent outdoors. They would go on trail walks for at least an hour a day. The class also only had 11 kids with late in the year birthdays and two teachers. None of the kids were considered disadvantaged and everyone had a lot of resources at their disposal. So going to kindergarten, which had 20 kids, 1 full time teacher, 1 aide, kids ranging from 4 to 6 years old, some of them economically disadvantaged (free lunch, living in public housing, DCFS cases), from 9:05 to 3:15 is a different ball game. It's extremely academic, kids are expected to sit in learners position for long periods of time. The teachers do the best they can, providing time for them to get up and get their wiggles out, but the expectations are high. The way I looked at it was like this: I could send my child to school at the time when I decided it was good for him. I wanted his experience to be a good one, meaning, I wanted him to be able to do the work that was required with as little intervention as possible, as well as him not needing a lot of assistance or causing interruptions to other students. That was really my measure of readiness. lamariniere on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704294 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 10:14:26 +0000 lamariniere 2704294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son is in private school and the only requirements were that the kid speaks/understands French and that they turn 6 before Dec. 31. 808love on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704071 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:47:37 +0000 808love 2704071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Their evaluation in kindergarten is different than readiness. Adira's list sounds like kinder eval. So anyway, this is on our state website for readiness BEFORE kinder: Ongoing health care, which includes prevention and treatment A safe, nurturing environment Appropriate rest, nourishment and clothing Opportunities for physical activity Consistent love, affection and care Positive self-concept Appropriate social behavior Autonomy Reading, writing and viewing as natural daily activity Language development Development of thinking Mamaof2 on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704045 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 18:29:42 +0000 Mamaof2 2704045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @travellingbee: if they don't meet them they are given additional help during the school year to get them on track matador84 on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704035 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 18:16:36 +0000 matador84 2704035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I work in a high poverty school so kids come to us with very limited academic readiness. Usually none are reading, a few can maybe write their name and count to 10 or maybe 20. I wouldn't worry at all about even what the district says they should be able to do by kinder because with a good teacher they will go so far! Andrea on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2704031 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 18:06:43 +0000 Andrea 2704031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ There are no requirements (private school). Kindergarten is played based. They aren't expected to sit and do work for extended periods of time until 1st grade. This is part of the reason why we picked the school. Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703974 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:56:52 +0000 Adira 2703974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @travellingbee: Our Kindergarten Readiness pamphlet addresses that in the FAQ: 1) How will we know if children are prepared for kindergarten? The only way to know if children are ready to begin the work of kindergarten is to assess their skills. The Department of Education recommends that children are assessed for kindergarten readiness by a highly qualified teacher, at the start of the school year, at their local elementary school. Children who demonstrate readiness begin the kindergarten curriculum. Children who need additional help receive support to prepare them for their kindergarten work. All children are welcome in public kindergarten programs. travellingbee on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703970 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:48:12 +0000 travellingbee 2703970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our district does not have any requirements for entering Kinder other than being 5 before the first day of school. How do your districts hold children to those requirements? They give them a test and don't let them in??? That's crazy! I'm in an urban school district and kids come to school with lots of skills and others come with almost nothing. Mrs. Pen on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703964 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:30:17 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2703964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Bao: absolutely! Especially for kids who didn't have daycare/preschool previously. Mine has been in daycare since 2.5 but the structure is so different. He is only in preschool 2.25 hours, three days a week. And even with that- his first month he was so exhausted and falling asleep at 5-6pm! So I definitely agree. Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703959 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:23:37 +0000 Bao 2703959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Pen: Going off your comment.... my concern is that K IS all day, every day, that is a LOT for any kid, in my opinion. So my LO will be going from 12 hours a week straight to 35 hours a week. That doesn't include bus rides. That's a huge adjustment. Mrs. Pen on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703957 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:18:48 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2703957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @looch: that's actually my main concern about starting all day kindergarten. I think it's totally normal, but my kid cannot sit still for more than 5, MAYBE 10 minutes at a time. He can't even sit through dinner without getting up! He also can't stay quiet- like when we went to kindergarten info night, he was singing or asking questions, etc during the entire presentation (less than 20 minutes). So I can definitely imagine that in a room of 18-25 kindergarteners- there's going to be a huge adjustment period as these kids learn how to sit, listen, focus, etc. I can absolutely see my child acting out or getting "in trouble" because he has energy needs. Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703912 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:29:39 +0000 Bao 2703912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: very interesting! I've never heard of that. Mamaof2 on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703904 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:24:01 +0000 Mamaof2 2703904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Bao: no - its a half day program - but full day for kids that need a little extra help Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703897 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:18:56 +0000 Bao 2703897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: Oh so not all kids go to all day K? Mamaof2 on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703888 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:15:13 +0000 Mamaof2 2703888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @looch: @Bao: our assessment takes place during the first 4 weeks of school to figure out where each child is doing well or needs help - from there are put into groups or put into all-day K which is what happened to my DD Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703887 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:14:40 +0000 Adira 2703887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Bao: haha, right?? I found the list and was just like "Geeze! This goes on forever!!" looch on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703882 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:10:48 +0000 looch 2703882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Bao: He did go to preschool, but it was a private preschool not affiliated with the school district. Preschool isn't offered universally in my state. I really wonder what would have happened if I sent him not being ready, especially considering this is an interdistrict magnet school. Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703881 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:08:54 +0000 Bao 2703881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: woah...that seems like, a lot? Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703880 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:08:03 +0000 Adira 2703880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Physical Development & Health A. Health Knowledge - Performs self care tasks independently - Follows basic health and safety rules - Practices healthy personal hygiene habits (washing hands and blowing nose) B. Balance and Control - Demonstrates fundamental motor skills and body and spatial awareness - Coordinates movements to perform simple tasks C. Demonstrates Fine-Motor Strength and Coordination - Uses small, prescise finger and hand movements - Shows beginning control of writing, drawing and art tools Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703879 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:07:54 +0000 Adira 2703879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Social & Emotional Development A. Establishes and Sustains Positive Relationships - Engages with trusted adults as resources and to share mutual interests - Responds to emotional cues; shows empathy - Accepts peers in the classroom - Initiates, joins and sustains positive interactions with individuals or groups of children - Seeks adult help when needed to resolve conflicts B. Self: Concept, Regulation and Confidence - Regulates own emotions and behaviors - Identifies personal characteristics and preferences - Demonstrates confidence in approaching new tasks and experiences - Solves problems without having to try every possibility - Complies with three verbal directions - Follows simple classroom rules, routines, and transitions with occasional reminders - Cares properly for materials, equipment and facilities Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703878 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:07:45 +0000 Adira 2703878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Approaches to Learning A. Creative Arts Expression and Music - Explores and recognizes beat, rhythm, and a variety of musical genres - Participates in creative movement and singing - Explores principles and elements of art on its most basic level - Responds to artistic creations or events - Uses a variety of art materials for tactile experience, exploration and expression - Engages in dramatic play B. Approaches to Learning - Sustains work on age-appropriate, interesting topic of studies - Approaches activities with flexibility and inventiveness - Plans and pursues a variety of challenging tasks - Seeks guidance to continue learning C. Cooperative Learning - Establishes and sustains positive interactions with peers in small and large groups - Participates cooperatively and constructively in group situations, shares and takes turns Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703877 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:07:35 +0000 Adira 2703877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Cognition & General Knowledge: Science & Social Studies A. Scientific Inquiry - Expresses a sense of wonder and curiosity through questioning - Uses simple tools, equipment and technology for investigation - Observes and explores materials and natural phenomena B. Conceptual Knowledge of the Natural and Physical World - Demonstrates content knowledge of the characteristics of living things - Demonstrates content knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials - Demonstrates content knowledge of Earth's environment C. Social Studies: Self, Family and Community - Demonstrates knowledge about self and others - Shows basic understanding of people and how they live - Shows emergent understanding of family, school and community - Describes some peoples' job and what is required to perform them - Demonstrates awareness of citizenship (e.g. contributes to a classroom community) D. Social Studies: Geography, History, Events - Describes the location of things in the environment - Understand that people can take care of the environment through activities - Explores past and present change related to familiar people or places Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703876 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:07:23 +0000 Adira 2703876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Cognition & General Knowledge: Logic & Reasoning/Mathmatics A. Demonstrates Curiosity in Approaches to Learning - Attempts trial and error responses - Uses technology skills (e.g. click and drag, scrolling, on/off, touch screen) B. Remembers and Connects Experiences - Tells about experiences in sequence, providing details, and evaluates the experience based on applied knowledge from memory C. Uses Classification Skills - Groups objects by one characteristic; then regroups them using a different attribute and indicates the reason D. Uses Symbols and Images to Represent Something not Present - Plans and then uses drawings, constructions, movements, and dramatization to represent ideas - Interacts with two or more children during pretend play, assigning and/or assuming roles and discussing actions; sustains play scenario for up to 10 minutes E. Uses Number Concepts and Operations - Verbally counts to 20; counts 10-20 objects accurately; understands the value of a whole number; tells what number (1-10) comes next in order by counting - Shows beginning understand of numbers and quantity; understands which set has more than, less than or equal to; counts to answer how many - Identifies numerals to 10 by name and connects each to counted objects (one to one correspondence) - Explores operations to solver mathematical problems F. Explores and Describes Spatial Relationships and Shapes - Begins to appropriately use positional words indicating location, direction, and distance - Describes basic two- and three-dimensional shapes by using match vocabulary; recognizes basic shapes when they are presented in a new orientation G. Demonstrates Knowledge of Patterns - Extends and creates simple repeating patterns - Sorts objects into subgroups that vary by one or two attributes - Recognizes and extends simple patterns and duplicates them H. Compares and Measures - Uses multiples of the same unit to measure; makes comparisons among objects - Creates pictograph for quantities up to 10 - Knows the purpose of standard measuring tools - Develops a sense of time (yesterday, today, tomorrow, days of the week and seasons) - Attempts to make quantifiable predictions Adira on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703875 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:07:03 +0000 Adira 2703875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Language Arts & Literacy A. Listens to and Understands Increasingly Complex Language - Comprehends language - Responds appropriately to complex statements, questions, vocabulary, and stories - Follows detailed, instructional, multi-step (2-3) directions B. Uses Language to Express Thoughts and Needs - Describes and tells the use of many familiar items - Speaks clearly enough to be understood without contextual clues - Uses complete, four- to six-word sentences - Tells about another time or place C. Uses Appropriate Conversational and Other Communication Skills - Engages in conversations with multiple exchanges - Uses acceptable language and social rules while communicating with others; may need reminders D. Demonstrates Knowledge of Print Concepts and Conventions - Uses and appreciates print - Has some knowledge of books (top, bottom, front, back, left to right) - Shows awareness of various features of print: letters, words, spaces, upper- and lower-case letters, some punctuation E. Comprehends and Responds to Books & Other Texts - During read-alouds and book conversations interacts in a way that relates to the story - Begins to identify and recall story-related problems, events, and resolutions with guidance from an adult - Pretends to read, reciting language that closely matches the text on each page and using read-line intonation - Retells a familiar story in proper sequence, including major events and characters F. Demonstrates Phonological Awareness - Notices and discriminates rhyme - Decides whether two words rhyme - Notices and discriminates alliteration - Hears and shows awareness of separate syllables in words G. Demonstrates Knowledge of the Alphabet - Names some letters - Matches some letters to their sounds - Identifies and names letters in own first name - Shows understanding that a sequence of letters represents a word H. Demonstrates Emergent Writing Skills - Writes own first name (some letters recognizable) - Uses letter-like shapes, symbols, and letters to convey meaning - Represents ideas and stories through pictures, dictation and play Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703874 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:05:53 +0000 Bao 2703874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @looch: Did he go to preschool? Just wondering if like my LO they did some sort of assessment there, maybe unofficially? looch on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703873 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:03:09 +0000 looch 2703873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was looking to see if I could find a list and I couldn't find anything on the district website, I wonder if that's because kinder isn't mandatory? I just registered my son, we didn't actually have an assessment of any kind, which worried me, but it's all worked out fine. I think the main thing that I have noticed, with a son currently in kindergarten (I visit the classroom on a regular basis) is that there are still a lot of disciplinary issues going on. The day is long, the kids are expected to be in control of their movements for long periods of time and not call out. I think that's where the big leaps happen, not so much academically. Bao on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703870 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 13:59:21 +0000 Bao 2703870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: @Mrs. Yoyo: @Mrs. Pen: wow! Very thorough lists, we didn't receive any sort of list yet but I'm sure we will. Mrs. Pen on "Kindergarten readiness" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-1#post-2703860 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 13:43:53 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2703860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ The list on our school district page is so long! Emotional and Social Skills Gets along with others, shares, plays, takes turns and participates in activities Takes care of toilet needs independently (flushes, washes hands) Demonstrates self-help skills (buttons, zips, snaps) Can dress for outside play independently Pays attention to a short story when it is read aloud (looks at speaker, listens quietly) Remembers directions and carries out 2 or 3 simple tasks after being told (pick up the book, bring me the pencil and close the door) Keeps track of and can be responsible for personal belongings Separates easily from parent Uses words to obtain attention appropriately Accepts limits and will change his or her behavior when provided with verbal directions Shows curiosity and interest in learning Motor Skills Can print name using a capital letter at beginning and the remainder in lower case letters Alternates feet walking down stairs Can run, jump and hop Can throw and catch a ball Draws and colors, beyond a simple scribble Uses scissors, pencils, crayons, glue and glue sticks carefully Can name and copy a square, circle, triangle and rectangle Can cut out simple shapes Cognitive Skills Can retell a story using pictures and answer simple questions about it Repeats simple rhymes (nursery rhymes, simple songs) Uses five-six word sentences Can express needs and be understood Can recognize name and letters in own name Recognizes some letters of the alphabet Can recognize numerals 0-10 in random order Can count out loud to 20 Can recognize eight basic colors Understands terms such as: Big and little Up and down Over and under Empty and full More and less Between and next to Long and short Front and back Hot and cold Fast and slow First and last Work Skills Keeps hands, arms and feet to self when working and playing with others Waits appropriately Uses materials and toys respectfully, purposefully and appropriately Stays on task