Getting Ready for Kindergarten

[Blackcat31]

This thread was part of another one and started having a mind of it's own off topic from the OP's original intent, so I created a new thread about this topic to be respectful of original poster.

Blackcat, I've always valued your opinion on these boards. I'm sure you have posted this before, But I'll admit, I just don't remember. Do you work with teaching your kids colors, shapes, numbers, letters. worksheets and cutting etc, to have them ready for preschool?

My dck's learn those things through play. I do not have a specific curriculum that teaches them those skills. Those skills come naturally based on the experiences and opportunities I provide for them. In the words of Einstein "I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn."

I don't feel qualified to have them kindergarten ready. I tell my parents by 4, they should move to a preschool. They are qualified to get them ready for kindergarten. We basically play here. I will do shapes and colors, with they toys (shape sorters, blocks, etc). I don't teach them to write their names (I don't want to teach them the wrong way to make letters).

To me, being ready for Kindergarten means understanding how to take turns, wait in line, follow directions, empathize with your peers, think a bit from their perspective, being respectful, listen to the adult and know what your responsibilties are in specific situations. It doesn't mean knowing how to count or write your name or anything else academic. Those things come naturally. My job is to prepare them for kindergarten in a foundational way not an academic one.

I answered in bold

[daycare]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

[Blackcat31]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

That's where parents come in. If I am not paid to teach the children these things, I do not feel I should be required to do it...kwim? The state cannot require children to learn this stuff from a child care provider unless they are some how compensating you to do so.

May or may not be true, but that is my opinion on the subject. There are many providers from Cali on this forum and you all do things very differently so I can't see how your state could require the kids to know this stuff, at least not at the hands of a child care provider...not unless they are training you in how to do it.

FWIW~ 99.9% of my kiddos do that stuff before they head to school. I just do not teach it in a structured curriculum manner. I have the teaching degree and know "how" to teach the kids as a Kindy teacher would but I am licensed as a family child care provider so I provide care. Nothing more and nothing less. The care I provide however, offers many learning opportunities and experiences for the children.

Which further makes my point...if the environment is correct (or develomentally appropriate), the learning comes naturally.

[SandeeAR]

I answered in bold

Thanks, Blackcat. I do that too. However, our local Kindergartens require that they know the following before entering...(This is just part of the list).....The first few are no problem in my daycare. The rest, for those, how are they suppose to learn them without a preschool? Maybe, just having littles, I don't see them learning it through just play in our daycares. I just don't ever, want to hold a kid back from learning.



Use self help skills (button, zip etc.)
Listen to stories
Play with rhyme
Use materials, tools (lego, play-doh, scissors, crayons, etc.)
recognize some letters of the alphabet
Recognize their first name in print and write them
Make marks and pictures that look like writing
Count objects to 10
count aloud to 20
recognize numbers 0-10
Write number 0-5
Make set of objects (ex: 8 blocks)
Sort by color, size shape.
Identify colors
Identify shapes
use pairs of opposite words (big/little, hot/cold)
Follow simple directions
Use numbers that have personal meaning to them (phone number, address, birthday, age)
Identify patterns
Practice and understnadscience lab safety
Identify seasons, weather, temperature

Remember, this is only about half the list. My question is. If we aren't doing preschool (and I don't) How are we expect these kids to be ready for Kindergarten, straight from us? How do your kids "learn" all these things just through play? What am I not preparing for? (Right now, mine are all just learning to talk LOL).

[itlw8]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

before they let you attend kindergarten?????? or they earn that in kindergarten?


as far as the wrong way to teach a child to write their name... do not worry about that. just teach lower case letters and only one Capital. the method of hand writing is easily changed.

For active boys have safe things to do. lots of active play jump dance roll around

[Country Kids]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

Our state is the same way! The teachers at our elementary school know the children that come from my childcare because they are ready for kindergarten. They are very appreciative of the kids knowing this stuff because it then leaves time for the stuff they have to teach. There is little time to learn all the basics.

As far as parents teaching them, many parents are unaware that they need to learn all these things before entering. Many think it is a social place of learning, with basic academics. There was a big shift between my first three and my last one in kindergarten. My first ones had tubs of stuff they brought home over the year (art work, special projects, special day things). My last one may had a fourth of a file box of things they did. It was very sad-

[BigMama]

Somehow "Kindergarten preparation" has become a huge deal in early childhood. Somehow our country has been led to believe that the children must be made ready for Kindergarten when in fact Kindergarten should be made ready for the children.
Even if we accept the status quo, it is still impossible to make sense of long lists of "readiness skills." If an eligible 5 year old does not have these skills should he or she be deemed unready and not be allowed to enroll? If the answer to that is yes, then what happens to this child? They spend another year in preschool/child care/sitting at home and show up again the next year. What if he or she still doesn't have those skills? A public school cannot turn away a child once they reach the mandatory enrollment age. In NY for example, the mandatory enrollment age is 6 though most children attend Kindergarten at age 5. If a six year old "fails" the readiness test, they still must be enrolled by law. All teachers must teach a wide range of abilities, so why bother determining who is "ready." All children should enroll, be screened, and then taught based on their skills and abilities. Some children are lucky enough to have parents/caregivers/teachers as young children who read to them, talk to them, and engage them in stimulating experiences thus allowing them to gain necessary skills. Not all children are this lucky. Should they then be further hurt by being deemed unready for PUBLIC school?
Ok, sorry. This topic just makes my blood boil!

[bice99]

My kids are like Blackcats. If a parent wants me to "prepare" their child for school, I charge $30 per hour for tutoring. I'd be more than happy to do that for that rate. LOL

[AmyLeigh]

I agree with you about the kinder thing, but every state has different requirements. In CA you need to be able to write your first middle and last name. Count to 20, count 10 objects, know site and sound all letters of the alphabet both upper and lower case.

Math. Children need to know very basic algebra. For example if there is a pie cut into 4, one piece is missing, they need to know 1/4 of the pie is missing.

There's a lot more. Here I don't think a child could go straight to kinder without proper preparation.

In CA they say that the new kinder is the old first grade.

Daycare, do you have a source for this? I have looked for CA's K requirements, but have not seen anything like this. I would like to have the Dept of Ed's list if it is available.

[melskids]

That's where parents come in. If I am not paid to teach the children these things, I do not feel I should be required to do it...kwim? The state cannot require children to learn this stuff from a child care provider unless they are some how compensating you to do so.

May or may not be true, but that is my opinion on the subject. There are many providers from Cali on this forum and you all do things very differently so I can't see how your state could require the kids to know this stuff, at least not at the hands of a child care provider...not unless they are training you in how to do it.

FWIW~ 99.9% of my kiddos do that stuff before they head to school. I just do not teach it in a structured curriculum manner. I have the teaching degree and know "how" to teach the kids as a Kindy teacher would but I am licensed as a family child care provider so I provide care. Nothing more and nothing less. The care I provide however, offers many learning opportunities and experiences for the children.

Which further makes my point...if the environment is correct (or develomentally appropriate), the learning comes naturally.

I agree 100%

I looked up my states pre-k standards, and showed my parents (on my blog) how we meet each and every one of them through PLAY.

You'd be amazed by what they are learning by just offering meaningful, relevant, and purposeful experiences everyday.

[nannyde]

Thanks, Blackcat. I do that too. However, our local Kindergartens require that they know the following before entering...(This is just part of the list).....The first few are no problem in my daycare. The rest, for those, how are they suppose to learn them without a preschool? Maybe, just having littles, I don't see them learning it through just play in our daycares. I just don't ever, want to hold a kid back from learning.



Use self help skills (button, zip etc.)
Listen to stories
Play with rhyme
Use materials, tools (lego, play-doh, scissors, crayons, etc.)
recognize some letters of the alphabet
Recognize their first name in print and write them
Make marks and pictures that look like writing
Count objects to 10
count aloud to 20
recognize numbers 0-10
Write number 0-5
Make set of objects (ex: 8 blocks)
Sort by color, size shape.
Identify colors
Identify shapes
use pairs of opposite words (big/little, hot/cold)
Follow simple directions
Use numbers that have personal meaning to them (phone number, address, birthday, age)
Identify patterns
Practice and understnadscience lab safety
Identify seasons, weather, temperature

Remember, this is only about half the list. My question is. If we aren't doing preschool (and I don't) How are we expect these kids to be ready for Kindergarten, straight from us? How do your kids "learn" all these things just through play? What am I not preparing for? (Right now, mine are all just learning to talk LOL).

Can you post the law or where the state says this is a requirement to enter kindergarten?

Does anyone in any state that has Kindergarten educational standards REQUIREMENTS for entry please post a link to the actual law or regulation.

I am absolutely SHOCKED to hear there are states REQUIRING it meaning if the child does not have these skills they can't go into kindergarten. That's what I'm after... showing what the law is and the consequence for the child's enrollment into public school if they don't have it.

Not private... just public school please.

I wonder when I read these kinds of posts if there isn't a possiblity that the state is saying this is what they WANT the kids to have but not that they MUST in order to attend kindergarten. In my state the state law REQUIRES allowance into kindergarten at age five (by september 15th of that school year) with absolutely NO......... none........... zero qualifiers except being born by that day and being at least five. If the child is six by sept fifteenth and they haven't been enrolled in school you are breaking the law. You have to enroll them in the school by this age or prove you are homeschooling them.

I can't imagine the lawsuits in my state if one of the schools didn't allow a child into kindy because the didn't have these skills. Even ONE of them being required would start lawsuits to the point the district would be bankrupt in a couple of years.

We have kids entering out schools who don't speak a word of english, aren't potty tranined, and have serious behavioral and mental health issues and they can't refuse them entry into kindergarten. Now they may end up in special classes or get a treatment plan for whatever they have issues with but if they aren't causing a harm to themselves or others they are in with NO prerequisites.

[daycare]

Daycare, do you have a source for this? I have looked for CA's K requirements, but have not seen anything like this. I would like to have the Dept of Ed's list if it is available.

I got it from my school district website... BTW my school district is currently a PI school and is on state take over...Our requirements may be different than other counties because of this.

[Countrygal]

This topic just makes my blood boil!

You and me both!!!!

[Countrygal]

Can you post the law or where the state says this is a requirement to enter kindergarten?

Does anyone in any state that has Kindergarten educational standards REQUIREMENTS for entry please post a link to the actual law or regulation.

I am absolutely SHOCKED to hear there are states REQUIRING it meaning if the child does not have these skills they can't go into kindergarten. That's what I'm after... showing what the law is and the consequence for the child's enrollment into public school if they don't have it.

Not private... just public school please.

I wonder when I read these kinds of posts if there isn't a possiblity that the state is saying this is what they WANT the kids to have but not that they MUST in order to attend kindergarten. In my state the state law REQUIRES allowance into kindergarten at age five (by september 15th of that school year) with absolutely NO......... none........... zero qualifiers except being born by that day and being at least five. If the child is six by sept fifteenth and they haven't been enrolled in school you are breaking the law. You have to enroll them in the school by this age or prove you are homeschooling them.

I can't imagine the lawsuits in my state if one of the schools didn't allow a child into kindy because the didn't have these skills. Even ONE of them being required would start lawsuits to the point the district would be bankrupt in a couple of years.

We have kids entering out schools who don't speak a word of english, aren't potty tranined, and have serious behavioral and mental health issues and they can't refuse them entry into kindergarten. Now they may end up in special classes or get a treatment plan for whatever they have issues with but if they aren't causing a harm to themselves or others they are in with NO prerequisites.

Nannyde, I know that as of a couple of years ago the list here in our state was what was the children SHOULD accomplish before entering K. I don't believe any school can deny admission based upon the fact that a child doesn't, for example, know how to count to 20. Basically, it is just a way to attempt to make formal education start earlier, IMO. I tried to find some specifics about it online for my state but could not. I think the lists even vary by school district here.......

[SandeeAR]

Can you post the law or where the state says this is a requirement to enter kindergarten?

I do not have a "law" that states this. My kids are all grown. I'm getting this off of a sheet a parent had when her oldest DD was getting ready for kindergarten. (I had the younger sibling)

To me, Prerequisites and Requirements are the same thing.


The sheet states:

Prerequisites: Before entering kindergarten, students should be able to.......then goes on to list 4 pages of stuff, including the things they will learn "during" kindergarten.


This sheet does state "should". However, we all know the kid that comes in "not" knowing those things will be considered behind. I just wouldn't want any child from my daycare going in behind.

Since I do not consider myself a teacher. I feel they should move to a larger center at age 4. Since most have been with me since 6-8 weeks, by then I have taught them the basics of behavior and how to treat others etc. It is time for someone else to teach the numbers, letters etc.