What should they know before kindergarten?

PascosGirl wrote: My friend says my son is behind the other kids his age on what he knows. She says he will be behind the other kids when he starts school. I think she is dead wrong and wants her child to be an overachiever instead of just a happy, smart child.

So my question is, what should your child know before starting kindergarten? I have looked it up and I find the same stuff everywhere but it really doesn't answer the question. Since my oldest child is starting school this year I was curious to know what (if anything) he needed to know before going? Did anyone else worry about this stuff?? lol I mean, he knows his colors, numbers (to 20), shapes, how to tie his shoes, his letters and about 10 - 12 three letter words. Isn't that enough? I mean, aren't they supposed to go to school to learn in the first place?

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Well it sounds like he knows more than my nephew (who will be starting K in the fall)
It sounds like your friend want her kid to go in knowing everything he should be learning. Kindergarden also has a big focus on socialization and preperation for when the real *learning* begins

maestra replied:
Unfortunately, that's not how it is anymore. I teach kindergarten, and our children are needing to learn to read by the end of the year, count to 20, and add and subtract to 10.

If your child goes in not knowing a thing, we will do whatever it takes to get them as close to the goal as possible.

As for your son, he is ahead of the game and should do fine. If you want to, working on rhyming words and phoneme segmentation would be helpful. That is breaking a word into its sounds orally (not letters). For example, house would be - h- ou- s. (/h/ /ou/ /s/). Also, practice counting objects to make sure that he is counting with one to one correspondence, that is- one object one number.

But all of this stuff puts him ahead. Your son actually knows a lot of what we are working on in kinder.

Don't worry!

gr33n3y3z replied: And how to tie the shoes

MomToMany replied:
Wow, that seems like a lot to put on a 5-6 year old's shoulders! My boys didn't learn to read until 1st grade. And Ethan is starting school this fall, and he knows the alphabet, can count and recognize numbers to 100, colors, shapes, and how to write his name (in capital letters). I'm worried that he doesn't know as much as he should too.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well last year Tanner had to know to know few required basics.

1. Full name, Parents Full Name
2.Complete Address
4.Phone Number
5.ABC, and to Recognize them
6.Count to 10
7.Colors
9.Basic Shape
10.Hygiene

That is what was on the require list. As you see alot of thos were more for safety then education. He will do fine. The first week of school they gave Tanner a standard placement test, as all the kids. They find out what they know and need to work hardest on.

Before Kindergarten is out they learn alot . Tanner had to know 500 sight words! I, In,The, And they add up!

Mel

Alice replied: My son is in 1st grade, my daughter will start Kindergarten in the fall. Here's my experience:

Since Pre-K isn't mandated, they really can't "expect" your child to know a whole lot. But since they leave Kindergarten reading simple books, it's obviously a whole lot easier for everyone if your child can:

1. Separate from mom, dad, caregiver without a continual problem (1st day or so doesn't count.)

2. Sit quietly for periods of time- ie "circle time"

3. Speak clearly enough to be understood.

4. Hold a pencil correctly

5. Wait his or her turn; understand the whole "raise your hand" concept

6. Respect the authority of a teacher.

7. Put on most outer-garments: coat, hat, mittens with minimal help.

8. Recognize his/ her name when it's printed.

Above and beyond this, knowing the letter sounds is helpful. So is a love of books, whether or not the child understands which letters make which sounds. Counting is fairly easy to teach; count the stairs in your house, the people at the dinner table, etc.

atlantamomof2 replied: I would think your son is going to be fine! You said he knows 10-12 three letter words? Is that by memory or is he sounding them out? I think letter recognition is a must when entering Kindergarten but that knowing the sounds that the letters make is a great head-start because they go right into sounding words out.

I am homeschooling Maggie (she will be five on the 10th of this month) and she has been sounding words out since about Nov. I have the Hooked On Phonics program. I like it because it directs me as to what I should teach next, but I normally don't do the lessons in it because they don't match Maggie's learning style. She's very hands-on and physical. She knows about 30-40 sight words (or high frequency words) which allows her to read lots and lots of Easy Readers as well as some library books. It's really been child-led because she absolutely LOVES looking at books and being read to so she had motivation to learn so she could do it herself. And now she DOES!

I wouldn't worry about what your friend says, your son actually sounds AHEAD of the game.

maestra replied:
Exactly. Unfortunately, a lot of kids come in knowing a great deal academically, but can't do these basic things. This is even true of children who have already been to preschool or head start. But even a child who can't do these things at the beginning of the year can still do well by the end.

I'm not saying not to work with your child before they come to kindergarten. But if you do work with them in a relaxed way so that they come to kindergarten already knowing some of what they will need to learn, it can make kinder a much less stressful experience for them, with all of the academics that are being shoved down their throats at too early an age.

Kaitlin'smom replied: All I have to say is wow lots of different expactations

PascosGirl replied: I can say, "wow" too! lol That is a lot.

As far as knowing our home address, I have never taught him that. I don't want him to tell people we don't know where we live. My kid is an open book, meaning, he tells everyone, everything!

Thanks for the advice. I am going to work on sounding words out with him. I was just concerned because he doesn't go to pre K that he may be behind. I don't want him to be too far ahead, because he may get bored. I just want him to be right on target!

THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!!

mom21kid2dogs replied:
You might be dealing with a person who doesn't agree with your choice of not to use preschool. Personally, I get that bias all the time in my area. I had someone tell me a few weeks ago that my child won't be ready for K if she doesn't go to preschool because she won't know how to wait in a line! I told her that at $150 a month (the cost of 3 day a week preschool) we could make several trips to Cedar Point to learn that !

It sounds like your son is doing great. All districts have differing requirements for Kindergarten but ours has printed information available at the request of parents outlining what children need to know before Kindergarten. Perhaps you could call to see if this is available in your area. It might ease your fear and give you the info you are seeking!

If you are interested, there are two great books that I loved both professionally and personally for education. One is "The Way They Learn" by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias-great book, a fast read, very understandable and fun. Love this book!! It will help you start to identify your child's learning style and gives specific ideas about learning/study skills. The other is far more technical, long (but fascinating) but out of this world in terms of info. It's Mel Levine's "One Mind At A Time". It discusses all human learning, breaks the mind's processes into 8 domains and goes from there.

PascosGirl replied: Thanks! I am going to check that out.

He was in preschool but when I decided to stay home, I pulled him out. I figured, he is going to be in school for the next 18 years (at least) and I want to spend some time with him. He is only a kid once. They grow up so fast. I just don't want to miss out on anything.

MommyToAshley replied: A neighbor showed me a list of 80 things that kids are expected to know before going to kindergarten in our district. At frist I thought that seemed like a lot, but then when I looked at the list, Ashley already knew everything on the list but three or four items, and she is only 2-1/2. So, while it may seem like a lot, once you breat it down, it probably won't seem so overwhelming.

I agree with just letting kids be a kids for awhile. I have never done any kind of formal educational type setting with Ashley.... everything she has learned has been through play and because she showed an interest.

I wouldn't worry about it, I am sure your son will do just fine! It sounds like he is off to a good start already!

TANNER'S MOM replied:
They advice knowing name. address, phone number incase he becomes lost..

I am from a rural area and I think that maybe our expectations maybe different. But I did want my son to KNOW how to call me. Or tell an officer where he lives.

I think it important incase of an auto accident etc. What if I am unable to talk... and he has to talk for me.

I think that it is important to discuss who we tell these things too though.. u do have a point.

Mel

Alice replied:
Boy, do I ever agree with that!!!

Don't get me wrong-- I really value education; I taught for 20 years and will again when Kira is in Kindergarten. But it seems like so many people are in a race to see who can push her (mostly) child the furthest the fastest. I just don't get it.

I have a good friend who is always bragging about all the things her 5 year old can do-- he's read War and Peace (OK- slight exageration )... you know what I mean. But he's SUCH a high-maintainence kid. She can't have a 3 minute phone conversation without a zillion interruptions, and if he isn't the center of attention for a minute, we'll all hear about it. So yeah, maybe her son is ready for Harvard, but I'm not sure he's ready for the recreation period in Kindergarten. (And that's pretty much the only thing about her that drives me nuts)When our kids argue over a toy: if her son has it, she tells my kid that her son has it, and will hand it over when he's done. When my child has it, he or she is told they have had it long enough, isn't it her son's turn? So the kid has NO social skills, although he can read and count and do logarithms. (Forgive all the sarcasm; it's been a long day!)

Back to the point: At this age, socialization is sooo important. I don't see what the hurry is to rush them through childhood to learn all the rest.

maestra replied:
Are you psychic? You just described my entire week.

Alice replied: I know what you mean!! And we're expecting a monsoon this weekend-- 3-4" of rain, with high winds.

PascosGirl replied:
Unfortunately, I have a family member whose kid is like that. Boy, is he annoying as ever. He just sits in a corner and plays alone when there are 20 other kids having a blast.

I never wanted my kid to be an over achiever. No offense, but most of those kids don't have fun and worry too much about college when they are in the 5th grade. Don't get me wrong, I fully expect my children to go to college but don't expect them to go to Harvard or Yale.

I went to FSU and was just fine with that. I do well and so does my hubby. He went to FSU too.

Kids are only little for so long. Before you know it, they grow up and move away. I want my kids to have fun and look back on their childhood and be happy that I was their mom. Is that crazy??

Daisyx3 replied: Well it sounds like your child is right on track.. What does your friend think that he should be able to recite the dictionary..

He sounds right on track.


My ds just learned to tie his shoes at 8 so anyway lol..


They will learn to count to 100 in K.

PascosGirl replied:
I guess I am just a firm believer in when the children want to learn something, they will. You can't really force anything on them.

maestra replied:
You're exactly right. It's a shame how much they want me to rush kindergarteners now.