Kindergarten Readiness

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  • midaycare
    Daycare.com Member
    • Jan 2014
    • 5658

    Kindergarten Readiness

    So... I automatically do a preschool curriculum with all enrolled kids here. I am only allowed 6 in my state.

    A mom here tonight who has the oldest child here (3 years, 4 months), starting asking me questions about being ready for kindergarten. All very kindly. She just wants to make sure dcg is prepared very well.

    Well ... I *think* I have everything covered, but being so new, I don't really know, since I've never sent any dck's to kindergarten yet.

    Would anyone care to share with me how you make sure the kids are "ready"? This could be any aspect of it ... Fine motor, gross motor, emotionally, speech, anything. I would appreciate some help from the pros!
  • nannyde
    All powerful, all knowing daycare whisperer
    • Mar 2010
    • 7320

    #2
    Ask her specifically what curriculum they use at home first. You need to make sure they are getting her ready. It's not your job to get a kid ready for kindy unless you are being paid for schooling in addition to her daycare tuition.
    http://www.amazon.com/Daycare-Whispe...=doing+daycare

    Comment

    • midaycare
      Daycare.com Member
      • Jan 2014
      • 5658

      #3
      Originally posted by nannyde
      Ask her specifically what curriculum they use at home first. You need to make sure they are getting her ready. It's not your job to get a kid ready for kindy unless you are being paid for schooling in addition to her daycare tuition.
      I understand this train of thought. I think I could charge more ... at age 4 - preschool age here. Right now parents pay to cover the cost of the curriculum I teach. Indirectly because I charge them more than others who don't use a curriculum.

      Comment

      • kendallina
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • Jul 2010
        • 1660

        #4
        You could check your state's department of education's website. They should have info on kinder readiness, Ohio's has a very detailed list.

        Of course these lists do not focus enough on the social and emotional factors that we all know are SOOO important, so don't forget those. I also have found out that FINE MOTOR skills are almost more important than anything they put on the list. Keeping those things in mind, check the list.

        BUT, at age 3-1/2 there really isn't much you could/should be doing except exposing her letters/numbers/etc. It isn't really appropriate to drill her on them or anything. Let her play, give her puzzles, read to her, rhyme with her. Give her playdough and other fine motor tasks. I don't start much with them until they're 4 AND ready.

        Comment

        • Thriftylady
          Daycare.com Member
          • Aug 2014
          • 5884

          #5
          Originally posted by nannyde
          Ask her specifically what curriculum they use at home first. You need to make sure they are getting her ready. It's not your job to get a kid ready for kindy unless you are being paid for schooling in addition to her daycare tuition.
          This. Sadly it is starting to seem to me that the parents who worry most about things are the ones that want someone else to do it all.

          Comment

          • Controlled Chaos
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jun 2014
            • 2108

            #6
            I charge enough extra to cover the expectation of kindergarten readiness I emailed a few local kindy teachers in my district last year and the school mailed me their kindergarten intake assessment packet they use for incoming kindergarteners. It's how they place them in different reading and math groups etc. if you want to pm me I can message you some of my curriculum info and skill goals

            Comment

            • spinnymarie
              mac n peas
              • May 2013
              • 890

              #7
              The common core standards for Kindergarten show what the kids should be doing by the END of that year. They include writing a paragraph, on topic, using correct punctuation, and reading at a level 3 (DRA score, there are different ways to score).
              To have a good start, I make sure kids can write first and last name, cut on a straight or curved line, know all colors and shapes. We also work towards: knowing all the letters in the alphabet, including upper, lower, and sounds. Can read several or more high frequency words: a, I, if, in, it, you, and, the (etc). Can count to 25 or more, can count backward from 5, can recognize numbers to 10, can write numbers to 10. Can count objects to 10 (1-1). Can point at words 1-1 while I read them. Know the parts of a book and how to look at the pictures to 'read' it. Reading very simple books with songs or with one word at the bottom of the page.
              Not to mention the social skills

              Comment

              • mommyneedsadayoff
                Daycare.com Member
                • Jan 2015
                • 1754

                #8
                Originally posted by spinnymarie
                The common core standards for Kindergarten show what the kids should be doing by the END of that year. They include writing a paragraph, on topic, using correct punctuation, and reading at a level 3 (DRA score, there are different ways to score).
                To have a good start, I make sure kids can write first and last name, cut on a straight or curved line, know all colors and shapes. We also work towards: knowing all the letters in the alphabet, including upper, lower, and sounds. Can read several or more high frequency words: a, I, if, in, it, you, and, the (etc). Can count to 25 or more, can count backward from 5, can recognize numbers to 10, can write numbers to 10. Can count objects to 10 (1-1). Can point at words 1-1 while I read them. Know the parts of a book and how to look at the pictures to 'read' it. Reading very simple books with songs or with one word at the bottom of the page.
                Not to mention the social skills
                I just dropped my kid off at his first day of kindergarten and after reading this list, I am so worried he will not do well! There are quite a few of those things he cannot do, so I hope he picks it up quickly. I guess I am just a worried mom I miss him already

                Comment

                • midaycare
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Jan 2014
                  • 5658

                  #9
                  Originally posted by spinnymarie
                  The common core standards for Kindergarten show what the kids should be doing by the END of that year. They include writing a paragraph, on topic, using correct punctuation, and reading at a level 3 (DRA score, there are different ways to score).
                  To have a good start, I make sure kids can write first and last name, cut on a straight or curved line, know all colors and shapes. We also work towards: knowing all the letters in the alphabet, including upper, lower, and sounds. Can read several or more high frequency words: a, I, if, in, it, you, and, the (etc). Can count to 25 or more, can count backward from 5, can recognize numbers to 10, can write numbers to 10. Can count objects to 10 (1-1). Can point at words 1-1 while I read them. Know the parts of a book and how to look at the pictures to 'read' it. Reading very simple books with songs or with one word at the bottom of the page.
                  Not to mention the social skills
                  That is very helpful, thank you!

                  Comment

                  • midaycare
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Jan 2014
                    • 5658

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Controlled Chaos
                    I charge enough extra to cover the expectation of kindergarten readiness I emailed a few local kindy teachers in my district last year and the school mailed me their kindergarten intake assessment packet they use for incoming kindergarteners. It's how they place them in different reading and math groups etc. if you want to pm me I can message you some of my curriculum info and skill goals
                    Great idea! I know several Young 5 and Kindergarten teachers here

                    Comment

                    • midaycare
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • Jan 2014
                      • 5658

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Thriftylady
                      This. Sadly it is starting to seem to me that the parents who worry most about things are the ones that want someone else to do it all.
                      I wouldn't have thought to ask ds's dcp to do anything other than provide a safe place. But now...and in this town... It is expected

                      Comment

                      • midaycare
                        Daycare.com Member
                        • Jan 2014
                        • 5658

                        #12
                        Originally posted by kendallina
                        You could check your state's department of education's website. They should have info on kinder readiness, Ohio's has a very detailed list.

                        Of course these lists do not focus enough on the social and emotional factors that we all know are SOOO important, so don't forget those. I also have found out that FINE MOTOR skills are almost more important than anything they put on the list. Keeping those things in mind, check the list.

                        BUT, at age 3-1/2 there really isn't much you could/should be doing except exposing her letters/numbers/etc. It isn't really appropriate to drill her on them or anything. Let her play, give her puzzles, read to her, rhyme with her. Give her playdough and other fine motor tasks. I don't start much with them until they're 4 AND ready.
                        Good to know. So I shouldn't feel "behind" then since I haven't started much teaching towards kindy yet. Just what the curriculum I have calls for, and lots and lots of play!

                        Comment

                        • Blackcat31
                          • Oct 2010
                          • 36124

                          #13
                          Being prepared for Kindy means different things to different people.

                          I teach and focus on self help skills, independence, patience, positive social skills, conflict management, verbal communication, honesty, dependability and responsibility.

                          If a child knows, understands and practices those skills, they ARE ready for Kindy in my opinion. The academic stuff can't come before that or there will be issues.

                          I do teach/use a curriculum but I don't force it, advertise it or require additional payment for it.

                          Parents all know, understand and usually have the same philosophies as I do in this area.

                          Comment

                          • Annalee
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Jul 2012
                            • 5864

                            #14
                            Originally posted by kendallina
                            You could check your state's department of education's website. They should have info on kinder readiness, Ohio's has a very detailed list.

                            Of course these lists do not focus enough on the social and emotional factors that we all know are SOOO important, so don't forget those. I also have found out that FINE MOTOR skills are almost more important than anything they put on the list. Keeping those things in mind, check the list.

                            BUT, at age 3-1/2 there really isn't much you could/should be doing except exposing her letters/numbers/etc. It isn't really appropriate to drill her on them or anything. Let her play, give her puzzles, read to her, rhyme with her. Give her playdough and other fine motor tasks. I don't start much with them until they're 4 AND ready.
                            My state has a kindergarten readiness flyer on the education website also. At the beginning of school the kindys will take a "brigance test"....It is overwhelming to a new child and they are being told they can go outside when they finish Of course it is letters, numbers, shapes, etc...but it is also body parts like heel, jaw, etc....so we work particularly on the parts that are not so much talked about....Also, if they get all 26 letters but miss one, they are discredited alot. And when they draw their little person, it has to have all body parts....neck, heel, jaw, etc or they get discounted there as well....not fair and I prepare my clients emotionally for this test because we, as parents, want our kids to excel....their child may score well or not, but it will still be ok.......my own sons teachers told me when they entered kindy the teachers never look at the test again after the first initial confrerence with parents....the test just gives a baseline for them to go on.:confused:

                            Comment

                            • midaycare
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Jan 2014
                              • 5658

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Annalee
                              My state has a kindergarten readiness flyer on the education website also. At the beginning of school the kindys will take a "brigance test"....It is overwhelming to a new child and they are being told they can go outside when they finish Of course it is letters, numbers, shapes, etc...but it is also body parts like heel, jaw, etc....so we work particularly on the parts that are not so much talked about....Also, if they get all 26 letters but miss one, they are discredited alot. And when they draw their little person, it has to have all body parts....neck, heel, jaw, etc or they get discounted there as well....not fair and I prepare my clients emotionally for this test because we, as parents, want our kids to excel....their child may score well or not, but it will still be ok.......my own sons teachers told me when they entered kindy the teachers never look at the test again after the first initial confrerence with parents....the test just gives a baseline for them to go on.:confused:
                              Heel and jaw? Oh my word!

                              Comment

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