Kindergarten prepares children for school by establishing important social and academic skills. It is often the first formal educational experience.
The aims of kindergarten–and public education, generally–have evolved over time. Initially, advocates prioritized five-year olds. They embraced the priority for older children only when they had secured the right to open schools for them.
Learning to Read
At this age, children are building foundational literacy skills. Reading together regularly, teaching unknown words, and asking questions helps students understand what they read.
In kindergarten, students will learn the alphabet and letter names. They will also begin learning the sounds that letters make and how to connect these sounds with written text.
Playing with rhyming words helps kids recognize patterns in language and can make it more fun to read aloud. They will also gain familiarity with book handling and turning pages from left to right.
Learning to Write
Writing is a key literacy skill for all students. Kindergarten standards usually include some expectation that kindergartners use drawing, dictation and writing to compose opinion, information and narrative pieces.
Kids can get started with beginner skills like pencil grip, letter tracing and the ABCs by practicing with Reading Eggs Junior. The program is fun, engaging and works at your child’s level.
Daily mini lessons support student journal writing time, teaching the different stages of the writing process. Also, using themes in a word wall helps children learn and recognize sight words.
Learning to Count
Counting is an important skill for children to develop. They need to learn to match a number word with only one thing and to count each object only once (one-to-one correspondence).
Children also need to understand that correct enumeration yields the cardinal value of the set – not just its order. They often solve problems not by counting, however, but by relying on physical appearance.
Task cards are a great way to introduce the concepts of one-to-one correspondence and counting to kindergarten students. Roll and cover activities are another hands-on way for students to practice these skills.
Learning to Add and Subtract
Adding and subtracting are important math skills that prepare children for other school subjects. Children can start learning these concepts by counting groups of objects, including their fingers.
For example, on a Sesame Street video, Big Bird arranges four spoons in sets of two. He can’t add them together, so Maria shows him how to count them in order to find the total. They then practice putting groups together and taking them apart. This can be fun to do with other objects, such as blocks or game pieces.
Learning to Draw
Learning to draw is a powerful way of expressing creativity and imagination. It also improves observation skills by training you to notice shapes and proportions.
New students often struggle to objectively see shapes and angles. For them, it’s a good idea to start with a simple drawing like this one.
Learning to Organize
The physical arrangement of the classroom environment can have a direct impact on children’s behavior. Organizing for independence, easy use and learning is key.
Sorting mats are great for helping students categorize objects and learn how data can be organized. (See photos)
Interactive, visual and accessible (eye-level) charts help kids understand the passage of time, daily routines, and use print in a meaningful way.
Learning to Listen
Listening is a skill that requires practice, especially for young students. Using listening games and teaching activities that incorporate active thinking promotes mindful thinking for all students.
For this speaking and listening center, one student chooses a topic, such as movies or animals, then shares their favorite movie from that category. They must list the favorites of everyone else who has spoken, correcting any incorrect information. This activity also helps with memory. It is an excellent choice for a circle time.
Learning to Learn
At this age, children learn best when they’re active and involved. High-quality kindergartens incorporate play and developmentally appropriate practices into the academic curriculum to promote social, emotional and cognitive growth.
Kindergarten teachers introduce children to a wide range of learning topics, including phonics, math, foreign language programs, manners and etiquette, art and music. Many of these subjects can be reinforced at home through everyday activities such as grocery shopping or identifying the different types of fruit.
Children in kindergarten are interested in the world around them and love to ask questions. Science lessons usually involve hands-on exploration and discovery. They learn about the weather, plants and animals, kitchen items, space and more.