Kindergarten, What To Expect

Kindergarten has changed. Not too long ago, kindergarten classes were half a day. Today, most children attend full-day kindergarten classes. For many of them, kindergarten is not their first school experience. They are already pros after attending pre-kindergarten classes or participating in kindergarten readiness programs. Thus, much of what students used to learn in 1st grade is now taught in kindergarten, in part because so many children already learned what used to be taught in kindergarten in preK.

Parents should expect occasional bumps in the road as their children adjust to the kindergarten classroom. Some kids might cry a little. Some might have a hard time sharing toys or understanding that the toys belong to the class as a whole, not just to them. But after a week or so, most kindergarten classrooms are humming along beautifully. Children develop at their own rates; some will not be as outgoing as others. This is not an indication that a child will be shy for life, just that he/she may need more time to adjust to being surrounded by so many people.

Often, the structure of the class depends on the students—their kindergarten readiness when they arrived on the first day and what academic skills they already have.

Don’t worry, the majority of  kindergarten classrooms still have blocks, finger paints and puppets. The students are not confined to desks. They still learn mostly through play, but they’re expected to tackle more complex academic skills in the process. Generally, kindergartners are expected to develop pre-reading skills. They start with letter recognition and associating sounds. Most of the school day is focused on reading, but other subjects, including math, science, and social studies, are woven into the curriculum. Many kindergarten lessons are built around a theme, such as butterflies. These units give children a chance to learn about science while they build their reading skills. Science at this age is about exploration and observation. Children also learn through art and music.

Math is an easy subject to integrate at this age. Kindergartners love to count, and many will have conquered simple addition and subtraction of tangible objects by the end of the school year.

Parents can help by reading with their children every night and encouraging them to observe the world around them. Providing children with a range of experiences and opportunities will help them develop their vocabularies and learn simple math.

A typical kindergarten class might start the day with students gathered in a circle to talk about aspects of daily life, such as which day of the week it is, whether the weather is sunny or rainy, and how many students are present.

Although many kindergarten classes are more advanced than they used to be, a student’s day should be filled with singing, playing games, rhyming, and other fun activities. The lessons kindergartners learn through play will help build the strong foundation they’ll need in years to come.

A primary intent of kindergarten is to teach children to work together, share and enjoy playing with each other. Luckily, these things come naturally to most 5 year olds.

Many kindergarten activities are built around encouraging kids to socialize. Teachers often allow children to choose which activity they want to do. Many activities require children to work in groups or pairs.

Some kindergarten classrooms have play areas, such as a kitchen, where kids can play house, a game that fosters cooperation.

Parents should know what sort of activities their children are doing in class. Becoming involved in your child’s education pays off in many ways. Research shows that students whose parents are involved in their education are more likely to earn higher grades, score better on standardized tests, and attend college.

You’ll benefit directly by taking an active role, too. You’ll meet other parents and quickly learn the ins and outs of your child’s school. There are many ways to become active and make a difference in your child’s education. Start by introducing yourself to your child’s teacher. You don’t have to wait until parent-teacher conferences.

Sometime during the first week or so of school, find a moment to say a quick hello and find out how the teacher prefers to be contacted. This will set a positive tone for the year. Offer to help out in the classroom. Most kindergarten teachers welcome help from enthusiastic parents. If you’re unable to commit to a regular schedule, let your child’s teacher know that you would like to help out with special projects.

Make it a point to go to assemblies, open houses, art shows, and other school events, where you’ll meet staff members and other parents.

Praise your child’s efforts. Post artwork and school papers on the refrigerator for everyone to see. Let your little one know that you think that school is important.

Finally, join the PTA. This is a wonderful way to learn about your child’s school. You’ll forge lasting connections with the parents you meet, you’ll have a role in making your child’s school a fun and exciting place to learn and your child will see that you not only care about his education but that you’re taking an active role in it.