My last several articles have focused on reading and aspects that go along with reading. I have focused some many articles on this topic because reading is so crucial to a child’s success in life. While many parents work with their child on reading aspects at home, the early years in school is vital to a child’s reading success.
So how does a parent know when his or her child is or is not receiving adequate reading instruction at school? My next few articles will help parents determine what skills children should be learning at particular grade levels.
The following discusses some things to look for in a kindergarten classroom.
Teachers should be providing opportunities for the children to develop talking and listening skills. Children should be interacting with the teacher and classmates by telling stories, recalling events, and even in pretend play.
At the kindergarten level, teachers should be introducing the children to books and print. Teachers should be modeling how to properly handle and read a book. The teacher will also introduce students to other types of print. The children should see many different types of print in their classroom. They should be curious about what print says and means.
Also in kindergarten, children should be learning about the alphabet. The children should be learning the names and identity of the letters.
A proper kindergarten program with have an explicit phonics program that teaches the sounds of the letters and that teaches phonological and phonemic awareness.
Kindergarten children will begin developing spelling and writing skills through centers and writing activities.
Kindergarten teachers should begin strengthening the vocabulary, worldly knowledge, and reading comprehension of the children. Much talk about words and word meanings should take place. Children should be read aloud to using many different types of media.
Should Kindergarten Children Learn to Read and Write?