Because of the No Child Left Behind Act our kindergarten curriculum has become more rigorous in the reading and math areas. This makes it more critical that we know which students are ready.
Fortunately for our Wahpeton students we do test each student in July or August before they are placed in a particular class. For those who test out at less than five years old, developmentally, we have the opportunity to give them the gift of time, one more year to catch up developmentally, but still be in school every day, all day. This is our developmental kindergarten/junior first grade program.
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Here are ten ways to help your child function at his/her best wherever he/she is developmentally:
1. Insist that the child listens to your directions and does what he or she is told to do.
2. Read to your child every day.
3. Converse with your child and help him or her to express his or her ideas and feelings.
4. Teach your child to accept limits without tears.
5. Teach your child how to resolve conflicts with peers without becoming physical.
6. Teach your child to respect other people by showing him/her respect.
7. Give your child choices, such as what to wear or what to play to teach simple decision making.
8. Limit any screen time (TV, video games, computer) to 10 hours a week or less.
9. Teach your child to take turns and wait for his or her turn patiently.
10. Have available color crayons, coloring books, pencils, paper, things to cut out, scissors, little books with lots of pictures.
In kindergarten and early primary grades we see far more problems with inappropriate behavior than we do with low cognitive ability. If students won’t sit down and listen when the teacher is presenting new material they do not learn. Consistent, firm, kind discipline must start when they are babies.
One last bit of information: Protein is brain food. Be sure your child comes to school having had breakfast containing protein in foods such as eggs, cheese or meat.
Being ready for kindergarten means ready socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Each of the four areas are equally important.
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