kindergarten

  • Kindergarten Readiness

    Easy Kindergarten Readiness Activities

    The most popular question that I used to get asked as a preschool teacher was “How can I make sure that my child is ready for kindergarten?” Of course there is not one thing that parents can work on with their preschooler, but they usually ask me this question when they don’t actually have time for a long conversation.  So I created this workbook to share with parents.  It includes simple activities that are easy for families to do and don’t require a ton of materials. This set includes 10 weeks worth of daily activities, one activity for each week day, which can be completed during the weeks between the end of…

  • Friday Freebie – Phone Number and Address Practice

    Happy Friday! It’s really starting to feel like summer around here! Today’s freebie goes right along with this week’s theme of Kindergarten readiness prep! This phone number and address set was designed to help children practice their phone number and address in a way that is a ton of fun; with their own personalized ID card, mailbox, and play phone.  Download your copy and enjoy your weekend!

  • Household Tasks that promote Kindergarten Readiness Skills

    When parents ask me for things that they can work on with their children at home, I know that they expect me to encourage them to practice number and letter recognition, and writing their names.  So it often comes as a surprise when I encourage them to work on things like responsibility, independence, and self help skills. These are all important kindergarten readiness skills, and can easily be practiced at home by encouraging children to help with simple tasks, like the following: Making their bed Setting the table Helping pack lunches Cleaning their room Picking out clothes for the next day Dusting Feeding pets Watering plants Putting away clean laundry…

  • Making Kindergarten Prep Fun

    When parents ask me for ideas to help them prepare their children for Kindergarten, I’m sure they are expecting me to tell them to practice letters and numbers, and help their children learn how to tie their shoes.  There are ways to practice Kindergarten readiness skills that can be fun for the entire family, so often I suggest activities like; Going to the Zoo: Practice staying close to family members while waiting your turn to see your favorite animals, and introduce new vocabulary as you learn what animals eat, and where they are from. Visiting the Science Museum: Explore hands on science concepts while interacting with other children. Attending a…

  • Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

    There are so many different Kindergarten Readiness Checklist out there (seriously, I just did a Google search and it returned 517,000 results) and some are certainly more developmentally appropriate than others.  My all-time favorite list, the one that I consistently shared with my preschool parents is the checklist that was developed by my state’s Department of Education. I love this list because it focuses on health, safety, and social emotional skills. I’m including the images below, but you can also view the list here. Parents are always surprised by the things that aren’t on the list; it doesn’t say anything about knowing their letters, numbers, or shapes.  It also doesn’t…

  • Skills to practice before kindergarten

    The most popular question that I used to get asked as a preschool teacher was “How can I make sure that my child is ready for kindergarten?” Of course there is not one thing that parents can work on with their preschooler, but they usually ask me this question when they don’t actually have time for a long conversation.  So I created this workbook to share with parents.  It includes simple activities that are easy for families to do and don’t require a ton of materials. This set includes 10 weeks worth of daily activities, one activity for each week day, which can be completed during the weeks between the…

  • Friday Freebie – A gift for new kindergarten families

    Happy Friday! These last few weeks of summer are flying by – a little too fast.  If you’re thinking about heading back to school this freebie is perfect for you! I designed this First Day of Kindergarten gift to give to my preschoolers and their families when they head to Kindergarten for the first time, but it is also perfect for Kindergarten teachers to share with families at back to school night, or on the morning of the very first day. The freebie includes notes to families in a variety of colors, a list of things to include in the treat bag (which correspond with the note), and a template…

  • Graduation keepsakes for your students

    Preschool graduation is one of those special occasions that you want to mark with a keepsake, especially because many your kiddos won’t actually remember it 10 years from now.  I’ve rounded up a few fun ideas that won’t break your budget! Have you been keeping journals all year long? (Preschool Daze has a great how-to) Ask your students if you can write them a letter in their journals and send them home at graduation.  Download my End of the Year Memory Books and help your students fill in their memories.  Bind them with each child’s portfolio pages or work samples for a one-of-a-kind gift.  Makes shirts for each student, they…

  • Preparing preschoolers to transition to Kindergarten

    The end of the school year is so full of ceremonies, parties, and silly photos that it all goes by in a whirlwind.  This is an overwhelming time for any preschool teacher, but it’s even more overwhelming for those little ones.  They keep being told that next year they’ll be a big kid and go to kindergarten, and from their perspective, that’s a lot of unknown. What will their new school be like? Will their new teacher be nice? How will they get to school? Will they get to see their friends? Do they still get to play with their favorite toys? Where will they keep their things? All of…

  • Kindergarten Readiness

    Every year in the spring I am inundated with similar questions – “Do you think my child is ready for Kindergarten?” and “What can I do to make sure my child is ready for Kindergarten?” Unfortunately, these questions can’t be answered easily.  There are a number of factors that need to be considered when determining Kindergarten readiness, and on Tuesday I discussed some of the social skills that I generally look for, and I shared some suggestions for parents.  Today I’m going to share some of the academic skills that are helpful for children to know before they go to Kindergarten. I have to preface this post by saying that…