For the Parents of Kindergarteners
You will find below, the things that a kindergartener is expected to learn. In addition you will find ways to help your child learn. The links below will jump you to the appropriate section, or just scroll down the page.

Kindergarten Mathematics
Working toward the goals of the Essential Learnings in mathematics, each kindergarten child will understand concepts and apply procedures in the following areas:

Number Sense:

  • Makes one-to-one correspondence (more, fewer, same).
  • Counts objects one by one.
  • Counts objects or events.
  • Orders numerically.
  • Uses ordinal numbers (first, second, third,....)
  • Recognizes and writes numerals.
  • Prepares for addition and subtraction.
  • Uses estimates to make predictions.

Measurement:

  • Explores measurement (time, weight, length, temperature).
  • Estimates measurement of objects (height, weight, length,...)
  • Uses measurements in everyday situations (calendar, time, money,...).

Spatial Sense:

  • Describes relative location of objects to each other.
  • Understands how geometric shapes and objects are related.
  • Constructs 2-dimensional shapes.

Probability and Statistics:

  • Predicts.
  • Collects and organizes data
  • Participates in experiments and activities.
  • Records data using real or pictorial symbols (charts, graphs).
  • Reads information from charts and graphs.
  • Verifies results.

Functions & Relationships:

  • Uses guess and check in the search for patterns.
  • Explores, creates, identifies, extends, and applies patterns using manipulative objects.
  • Uses manipulatives to solve simple equations.
  • Shows equal and unequal using manipulatives.

 

Kindergarten Reading and Language Arts Skill Expectations:
Working toward the goals of reading with comprehension, writing with skill, and communicating effectively and responsibly, your kindergartner will learn to:

Reading:

  • Experience being read to.
  • Spend time with books developing book awareness (reading left to right).
  • Recognize letters and their sounds.
  • Identify beginning sounds.
  • Read simple words.
  • Recognize story parts (beginning, middle, end).
  • Sequence simple stories (first, next, then, last).
  • Re-tell simple stories.
  • Understand word meanings.
  • Follow directions.

Reading Quick Check: Does your child:

  • Understand that pictures and words have meaning?
  • Know and use letters and sounds to guess words?
  • Recognize some words in different contexts?
  • Understand the way we read affects the meaning?
  • Reread a range of books and explore new ones?

Writing:

  • Print numbers, capital and lower-case letters as taught at school.
  • Use phonics skills to spell.
  • Use words and/or pictures to explain ideas.
  • Use ideas, voice and conventions in writing attempts.
  • Use technology as appropriate.

Communication:

  • Use complete sentences to share ideas orally (Show & Tell).
  • Listen and communicate effectively in groups.

Kindergarten Science
Your child will learn to:

Environmental Science:

  • Recognize characteristics of living and non-living things.
  • Identify some common needs of living things.
  • Observe and describe characteristic of living things.
  • Seasons - Day and Night: Patterns of Change

Earth Science:

  • Observe seasonal changes.
  • Observe patterns of day and night.
  • Matter, What Things Are Made Of: Scale and Structure

Physical Science:

  • Recognize that all things are made of "matter".
  • Matter and energy have observable characteristics.

Health and Wellness:

  • Understand the characteristics and functions of the 5 senses and their care.

Kindergarten Social Studies
Your child will learn:

Knowledge and Skill:

  • Students will be able to identify a globe and a map.
  • Students will be able to identify north, south, east, west, land, and water.
  • Students will be able to name several ways to travel from one place to another.

Heritage:

  • Students will be introduced to differences and similarities in family structure (how many brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc.)

Citizenship:

  • Students will recognize that people are part of a community.
  • Students will be able to identify community workers and their jobs.

Diversity:

  • Students will know sources of current events.

Interdependence:

  • Students will be aware of ways to safely take care of themselves.
  • Students will recognize individual similarities and differences.
  • Students will recognize that everyone has feelings.
  • Each student will realize he/she needs to follow rules and make good choices, take turns, cooperate and take responsibility.

Change:

  • Students will be introduced to school helpers such as office help, principal, lunch duty aide, DARE Officer, and librarian.
  • Students will understand their role in the school.
  • Students will be aware of ways to get to school (bus, car, walk).

 

 

Things I Can Do to Help My Kindergarten Child

  • Read to your child. Ask questions about what you’ve read. "What was the story about?" Discuss the story. Kindergartners have the ability to think critically. "Why do you think so?" "What could the girl/boy have done differently?" "What was your favorite part of the story?" "Why?" Questions like these cause children to think about what they’ve heard.
  • Let your child see YOU reading regularly!
  • Help your child to become a reader and a writer. Keep books and other "print rich" items around so your child will want to explore them. Provide writing materials. Children copy letters and numbers, and "practice" writing! Let natural curiosity take over!
  • Go on outings together: store, mall, beach, parks, city, bus, plane, library, museum, restaurants. Talk about what you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, etc. Make sure you listen to your child’s descriptions and help them find words to describe what they experience: "The trees in the forest are tall ." "The sunshine feels warm on my face." "The ice cream is cold and sweet."
  • Give your child choices of activities or foods. "Would you like crackers with peanut butter or apple slices for your snack?" "Should we have salad or green beans for dinner?" "Would you like to hear a story right now or play with your blocks?" "Would you rather help set the table or match socks?" "Do you want to pick up your toys now or put away your clothes?" These are daily decisions young children can make, yet adults often make them for them. In these situations, the adult is clearly in charge, yet the child is able to have some control. The choices described give children feelings of independence and teach them responsibility.
  • Help your child select items or topics to share at school. Sharing or Show & Tell, teaches children pride in themselves and to respect the diversity among others. Sharing also helps develop oral communication skills and helps children work toward the goal of effective and responsible communication.
  • Talk to your child about feelings. Let him/her know those feelings are important. Remind them that all people feel like they do at times. This teaches respect, understanding, & acceptance.
  • Provide for your child to play with others, to share, and cooperate. This will help him/her make friends.
  • Teach your child to tie and button!
  • Volunteer at school!
  • Remember that YOU are your child’s first teacher. The impact of your words and actions are the most important!
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