What I would like to a workshops in are programs for 4 years old entering into the Kinder program in public schools. Here's are some things that I would of wanted to know before my child entered Kinder. *What are they expected to know...
*Button, zip, open milk (small cartons), how to drink properly from it. Since the school doesn't offer straws, and cartons are way different than cups at home. These are basic items but when they are grouped together it becomes overwhelming I think.
*How to help cope with seperation process
*What are the goals of the school
*What steps will be taken to get there
*They just don't need to know the ABC "Song" but also the sounds of each alpha letter
*Cutting with Scissors
*Reconizing numbers 1-20 and counting out and matching and grouping.
Yes, these are things that we are told over and over as parents but how do we continue to teach. This is my second child in the Kinder and I feel that I was more prepared with my 2nd than my first. I think a workshop for Kinder-Prepareness is great.
Have you tried an early literacy program? I do this in my school to get the little ones used to being in a school setting and to help with their social skills, express the importance of practicing reading skills, gross motor skills, we make an art or craft project so they have something to take home or I put it up on the walls of the classroom so they see it when they come to visit the next time. The projects are very simple and are done together with their mommies, hence Parent Involvement. I have 17 kids in my class and they love coming to school. We have class every other Thursday. I make sure I call and remind them the Wednesday before, and I remind the mom who is supposed to bring snack for that day. It is alot of fun. We are also working on our ABC's etc. Good Luck! If you need any ideas, let me know.
My district is looking for ways to reach out to Kindergarten and preschool parents. Do any of you do programs aimed specifically at K parents? or do you do an educational program for parents along with K registration? I would love to hear about any and all programs targeted to this group.
In NY we are finding that K parents are unaware of all the work that is required in K. We want to come up with a way to reinforce good parent and homework skills, reading aloud, reinforcing school lessons at home and the importance of parent involvement. We also need to address some basic issues of safety and life skills. I am constantly amazed at the # of parents who put their little ones on the bus and the kids don't know their own last name. or their phone # or their new teachers name. Kids who can't open their lunch or feed themselves, unzip their pants to go to the bathroom, etc. We want to reach out and educate as many of these parents as we can before their kids get to school. And hopefully prevent some problems.
