A lot of learning happens in kindergarten to help kids hit the ground running when they go into first grade. Some of the skills kids need going into first grade are social skills , like listening and taking turns. Others are more academic — the skills kids need to develop as they do more work in reading, writing, and math. Literacy skills include both reading and writing. In kindergarten, kids practice breaking words into small chunks and identifying the sounds each letter makes.
This is known as decoding. These are all skills that help emerging readers learn new words and read simple books. When it comes to writing, incoming first graders are expected to be able to write and share information in a variety of ways. This includes drawing, writing letters and words, listening to others, and speaking out loud. To help build these skills for first grade, kids do activities like these:.
Match letters to sounds, make rhymes, and recognize some words without having to sound them out teachers refer to these as sight words , and some of the first ones kids pick are and, the, and it. Ask and answer questions about a story the teacher reads aloud, and talk about the characters, settings, and major events in the story.
Follow the rules of conversation by listening and taking turns talking. Participate in shared reading and writing activities for example, the teacher reads a big picture book aloud and students take turns sharing ideas about it.
Learn about ways to help kids connect letters and sounds. Get tips to help your child develop good reading habits. Use fun multisensory techniques to practice writing. Students in kindergarten should be able to ask and answer questions about unknown words without teacher prompting. With support, students should use illustrations and details to describe characters, settings and events within a story.
Kindergarteners are expected to engage in group reading activities for the purpose of understanding. In first grade, students must be able to ask and answer questions about a story, retell a story and describe the plot without teacher prompting. Students will also be able to explain the differences between types of texts and identify the speaker within a story.
First graders must use illustrations and details to describe the characters, setting and events in a story without teacher support. They must also be able to compare and contrast characters and events within a text. First graders are allowed support in one key area; they are expected to read prose and poetry appropriate for first grade with teacher support. Alicia Anthony is a seasoned educator with more than 10 years classroom experience in the K setting. She holds a Master of Education in literacy curriculum and instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in communications.
She adds that play is a vital part of language development in children—and it also establishes a foundation for reading and comprehension. So how can a kindergarten teacher successfully integrate play into his or her classroom? By embedding math, science, and literacy skills in a fun, meaningful context, says Golinkoff. However, children need the time and permission to do so. Teachers can facilitate play in all children by asking questions, using new vocabulary, and encouraging social cooperation with peers.
To encourage fantasy play, open-ended play materials work the best. Wooden blocks, pieces of cloth, and other basic construction materials allow children to imagine countless scenarios—and cost little to add to your classroom.
Middendorf suggests reading a story aloud, then having children paint their literary responses. Alternatively, the class can help act out a story—and learn important lessons about plot, characters, and sequencing—or play a game that involves math skills.
It needs to be balanced. It was a classic case: a five-year-old boy with a summer birthday. But was he socially and emotionally ready for kindergarten? To address the needs of these children, some districts are offering transitional kindergarten TK classes, which promote positive socialization, hands-on learning, and emergent literacy.
After a year of TK, children either go on to a year of regular kindergarten or on to first grade, depending on their readiness. CutOff Dates Across the U. This means that some children may start kindergarten before their fifth birthday. The challenges these kids face may not be just with their reading readiness and math skills. As any kindergarten teacher can tell you, kids may struggle with fine or gross motor movement, adequate social skills, or making it through a full day of school.
For these reasons, about 10 percent of U. The Gift of Time Elizabeth Lunday agonized about whether to enroll her son in a transitional kindergarten near their home in Fort Worth, Texas. Two years ago, she instituted the first developmental kindergarten program at her school, Topanga Elementary, in California. Both Everson and Weisberg estimate that about half of their students go on to first grade the following year, while the rest opt for another year of kindergarten.
As teachers, we might ask: Is it about making the child ready for school, or about making the school ready for the child? Cole was one of the youngest in his class; physically, he was tall and coordinated, but socially, it was a different story. But you know what?
0コメント