Tag Archives: kindergarten

What Your Kindergartner Should Know: Science

Observation of everyday, familiar things Teaching Tip: Make a science journal with your child. First copy paper that is blank on top but has lines on the bottom. Secondly, have your child either draw a picture, take a picture with a camera, or use pictures from magazines, for the blank space. Underneath, have your child dictate (or write if he can), one or two sentences about the item. It doesn’t have to be perfect nor does your child have to think profoundly about each item. However, you will quickly discover that when you’ve found something that sparks your child’s interest, … Continue reading →

What Should Your Kindergartner Know Part 1: Social Studies

Here is a checklist for those of you who are teaching kindergarten. Remember that this is a guide, but of course you can use this to pull together your own curriculum. Not teaching kindergarten? Look soon for the rest of the sereis which will go through 12th grade. * Meanings of holidays, traditions, and customs Holidays.net has a HUGE archive of crafts, ideas, recipes, etc. to help celebrate. It’s also worth your effort to search the Yahooligans Holiday page. They have just about every conceivable holiday as well as links to crafts, activities, and lessons. * Understanding and appreciating other … Continue reading →

My Big Boy Kindergartener

I really didn’t think I’d do it, but the moment got the best of me as I snapped the last photo of my son as he was boarding the bus. I choked up. It wasn’t because he was growing up so fast or because I’d miss him while he was away; it was because I got to take part in another milestone in his life. Perhaps I shouldn’t be too over dramatic about this. I did get to see his first steps one week after he was placed with us. Maybe I shouldn’t weigh in so much on what I … Continue reading →

Off To Kindergarten

School is starting and many parents find themselves sending a child to school for the first time. For a parent this can be challenging. Up to this point you have been able to shelter your child. You have controlled the children and adults that he associates with. You have been there to praise, help, and discipline her. Now you are turning that control over to someone else. You wonder will my child behave? Will she be able to make friends? Will anyone pick on her? Will he be at the top or the bottom of his class? With all of … Continue reading →

He’s Ready For School—But Am I?

In a few weeks, my son will be starting Kindergarten. Oh, is he ever excited. We had to go buy uniforms last weekend. It was a surreal experience. Though he’s gotten so big the past year, putting on his little blue dress pants and white polo shirt made him look so small in the dressing room. He tucked in his shirt and tried on the belt that was too big for his thin waist (lucky kid) and then looked up at me and said, “Do you like it, Mommy?” I wanted to cry. Here’s what I said: “You look great!” … Continue reading →

What Kindergartners Need To Learn

Kindergarten is a wonderful time of discovery and learning. For many children this will be the first significant time away from their parents if they did not attend pre-school or were not in a childcare setting for their first four-five years. Self-discovery and heightened socialization are major milestones during this year of school. Some students will attend only ½ day of school and for others they will jump right in to a full day. The following is a very short list of some of the things your Kindergartner should learn by the end of the year. For a more in … Continue reading →

What Your Child Needs To Know

The school year is nearly upon us, and in some parts of the country, schools will be starting next week already! Parents may be excited and children may be groaning about the impending New Year. Whatever your feelings about the return to school, it is a great idea for parents to understand what their children should be learning during the school year. I have found a series of books titled: What Your (insert appropriate grade here) Grader Needs to know by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. and the Core Knowledge Foundation. This wonderful series utilizes a comprehensive view to hone in … Continue reading →

Kindergarten and Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is on the rise and teaching to the test is favored but now the Kindergarten grade has also been brought into this world of standards. Is it a good approach to begin standardized testing at a young age? My friend teaches in a school in Paterson, NJ and through a conversation, she mentioned that her class had testing this past week. It didn’t click right away till after I got off the phone call with her but my friend is a full time Kindergarten teacher! The age of a Kindergartener is around 5 years old. At this age, … Continue reading →