November post 5

Hello everyone,

Here is the link to the Ontario Curriculum Document for Kindergarten:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/kindercurrb.pdf Pages 37-39 in particular discuss Reading and Writing Expected Outcomes (by the end of the Kindergarten Years).


Below is another useful article regarding Kindergarten basics now that we are going to be starting our Reading Club 
Many parents are worried that their children should be able to read in kindergarten. This of course is a wonderful goal and many children accomplish it, however it is not a requirement. The most important thing is that your child experiment with reading and writing during the kindergarten year. More than likely your child will learn to read basic stories by the end of the year if he/she did not read before entering kindergarten. Of course, if your child reads before entering kindergarten then he/she will learn even more and read even better.
Preparing Your Child
If you are interested in preparing your child to read before kindergarten or at least helping him understand the basics of reading then there are a few things you can do. The first thing is to teach the alphabet and vowels. Once your child knows the alphabet then you can start working on recognizing the alphabet and the sounds of the different letters. If your child enters kindergarten with this basic knowledge then he will have no problem whatsoever learning to read during the year.
The best way to start is to introduce your child to the alphabet through books. Kids love to have their parents or others read books to them and they will sit quietly and pay attention. If you are going over the alphabet and having your child read the letters after you then you will see him learning and having fun at the same time. Then, make a game out of tracing the letters and coloring them with different colors. Also have your child write his name and teach him the letters in his name. This will all prepare your child for kindergarten and help him understand the basic letters and sounds which in turn will help him learn to read.
There are also lots of educational DVDs that are fun to watch and teach kids all about the alphabet, phonics, reading, and more. Reader Rabbit is a good example. It will keep him occupied and he will have lots of fun learning about reading and having fun.
You can find other ways to teach your child the alphabet and basics of reading. Whatever seems to work for you and your child will be the best thing to focus on.


Here is another excellent summary:


• What is the real purpose of kindergarten?
• Developing Self-esteem
• Emphasis on cooperation
• Fostering children's natural love of learning by building on curiosity
• How is kindergarten different from preschool?
• Socialization and play are still key elements but kindergartners are also introduced to more “formal learning” and work in a more organized independent manner.

• What makes a good kindergarten program?
• Expands a child’s ability to learn about the world, organize information and problem solve; in turn this increases feelings of self-worth
• Children should feel free to express themselves through talk and through use of blocks, paint, clay and other creative materials.
• A balanced program should also include a combination of formal and informal activities and projects—storytelling, music and dramatic play—which allow children to work in groups or on their own
• Active hands-on learning

• Are all five-year-olds “ready” for kindergarten, and what do I do if my child is not quite ready?
• No two children develop in the same way or at the same time.
• Educators describe the child’s development as having four dimensions:
• Intellectual
• Social
• Emotional
• Physical

All four do not progress or develop at the same rate
• The best schools and teachers understand this and adapt their classroom plans to accommodate the differences among children.
• If your child’s fifth birthday falls near the cutoff date for school admission—and he or
• she seems unusually immature compared with others her age, or doesn’t seem quite ready to learn in a classroom setting—you might consider postponing kindergarten. Experts recommend waiting a year if you have serious doubts—older children generally do better in school than younger ones.
• Do what is best for your child!

• What kinds of challenges might come up as my child adjusts to kindergarten, and what’s the best way to handle these?
• Many parents often tend to talk up kindergarten as “real school,” and emphasize discipline issues. This can add fear for a child. It is important to talk about what might be familiar and safe, and not just new, big and important.
• The fact that your child may have to spend more time sitting down may cause anxiety.

• What is the role of play in kindergarten?
• When you are five, play is your most important life’s work
• There should be plenty of time of every day for children to choose and direct their own play.
• There should be sensory tables and blocks, and dramatic play areas to encourage youngsters to use their imaginations in positive, thought-provoking ways.

• What will my child learn about reading and writing in kindergarten?
• The kindergarten reading and writing program should be an extension of reading and writing that begin at home!
• Most kindergarten teachers don’t necessarily “teach” reading, in a good program children are immersed in a language-rich environment which helps them to identify words that have meaning to them.
• Wide range of reading abilities in any one kindergarten class—some children may be fluent readers while others can’t read at all. Parents of non-readers need not worry, as research clearly indicates that children who are formally taught to read in kindergarten have no significant advantage over their peers by the end of second grade.
• In terms of writing, the school program should help children explore ways in which writing is useful and meaningful.
• Writing may take the form of random controlled scribbling or invented spelling
• Children experiment with different forms of writing to meet their needs and interests. The classroom should provide a variety of writing tools. Opportunity to explore different forms of writing such as notes, poems and journals.

• What will my child learn about math?
• Children begin to understand numbers through measuring, comparing counting and matching quantities. These concepts are reinforced through motor-skills activities such as coloring, pasting, drawing, and the use of special hands on math materials known as “manipulatives.”
• “table” blocks in a variety of shapes and colors
• puzzles
• small objects for counting, sorting and classifying
• Regular building blocks are great for early –math material for exploring geometry, parts-and-wholes, patterns and measurement.

• How will science and social studies be introduced?
• No strict curriculum—but children will learn about these subjects through daily experiences.
• As children explore, they experiment, they invent, they think about cause and effect, and they predict results.
• As they use blocks, they discover properties of balance; as they use art materials, they are inventing.
• Children explore social studies in much the same way. Children learn by looking at pictures, hearing stories, watching videos and going on field trips. A teacher does not dump information on children, but rather teaches through a process of self-discovery.

• What about art, music, and physical education?
• The arts help build coordination (fine motor skills) and develop literacy, and math and science skills
• Art supplies should be accessible for children’s daily use
• The room will also have a tape recorder or cd player where children can sing songs, and play simple instruments
• Physical education, active play helps children learn about the value of exercise as they build their physical strength and muscular coordination.

• What will my child learn about getting along with others?
• The teacher is instrumental in showing kids how to resolve their disagreements in a peaceful positive way. Providing children with the ability to problem-solve—together in a group and independently is a key piece of kindergarten.
• Children learn important social skills and behaviors by interacting with one another in formal and informal activities. Developing these social skills is one of the most important missions of any kindergarten program.

• When should I talk to my child’s teacher? When should I talk to the director?
• When parents and teachers work together as partners, everyone benefits—especially the children.
• The teacher needs to understand how the child interacts at home—and vice versa.
• Parents need to know what and how their child is doing at school.
• To establish an early, positive link with your child’s teacher, have a telephone conference or in-person meeting before the school year begins to introduce yourself and set up a partnership.
• Keep communication going all year through regular conferences, school visits and written notes.
• If there are issues to clear up about school policy, if you are seeking ways to get involved in the classroom, or if your communications with the teacher have become difficult for some reason, then you should not hesitate to see the director.

• What can I do at home to support what my child is doing in school?
• Incorporate reading into your daily routine. You should also make sure your child sees you reading.
• Show interest in and support of your child’s school activities.
• Get involved in your child’s play.
• Make use of a variety of language experiences through everyday family life
• Mostly, just take time to talk with your children, and get engaged in their play.

• How do I know if my child is getting a good education and how do I evaluate that?
• Listening to your child, asking questions, and observing behavior is the best way to assess the quality of education. Does your child find school fun and satisfying—or is it boring and stressful? Is your child feeling confident and competent?
• Are their strengths as an individual learner being recognized?
• Is he or she being supported with patience and compassion in areas that need to develop?
• DO NOT rely on test scores or worksheets coming home as a tool for evaluating your kindergarten program. At the kindergarten level, test scores are neither valid nor reliable, and may give you a misleading picture of how your child is learning and how well the school stacks up against others.

• What kind of special training do kindergarten teachers have?
• Are trained for their work in early childhood courses at either the undergraduate college or graduate school level. Many are trained to teach other grades as well.
• There is one characteristic that most kindergarten teachers share: a real love of children.
• It is the combination of professional skills, experience and real love that typically turns the kindergarten experience into a joyous one for children.

• Are all kids ready for first grade after a year in kindergarten? How can I tell if my child is ready?
• Emphasize once more that there is a very wide range of abilities and normal developmental differences among children ages five and six.
• Not all kids will be equally ready for first grade after one year of kindergarten.
• Do not assume that your child is not ready just because he or she seems less mature in some areas than other kids.