Kindergarten

What to Expect in Kindergarten Math

• Participate in daily math activities.
• Listen to books that include counting and numbers.
• Learn how to write numbers.
• Play engaging math games.
• Explore manipulatives such as cubes, buttons, shapes, and counters.
• Record their math thinking using pictures, numbers, and/or words.
• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Have opportunities to talk about math and share their ideas.

Helpful Tips to Support Math Learning

• Play board games that involve counting, like Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, and Candy Land.
• Play card games or dice games to help your child recognize numbers.
• Count objects during daily chores, such as setting the table: “How many plates are on the table?”
• Encourage combining numbers: “How many spoons and forks are on the table?”
• Use measurement words like long, short, heavy, and light in conversations: “Is the wrapping paper longer or shorter than the box?”
• Look for shapes around the house or in the world outside.
• Ask questions when counting: “How many would we have if there was 1 more? 1 less?”
• Use numbers in real-life situations: “Please get me 6 napkins for the table.”
• Count during everyday activities, such as putting away cans, walking up stairs, or folding socks.

By the End of Kindergarten: Math Goals 

• Counting to 100.
• Identifying numbers 0–31.
• Correctly writing numbers 1–10.
• Accurately counting up to 20 objects.
• Identifying shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and hexagons.
• Comparing numbers 1–10 to determine more or less.
• Measuring objects to determine which is longer or shorter.

Reading and Writing in Kindergarten

• Participate in daily reading and writing activities.
• Learn that print carries a message, explore stories, and discuss favorite parts or authors.
• Play games that focus on letter recognition, letter sounds, rhyming, and more.
• Explore books independently at a reading center.
• Learn about print using classmates' names and high-frequency words.
• Write and draw with crayons, markers, and pencils at a writing center.

Helpful Tips to Support Reading and Writing

• Read stories aloud daily and ask questions like, “What part of the story did you like best?”
• Talk to your child regularly.
• Encourage your child to retell events in sequential order: “What did you do when we went to Wal-Mart?”
• Provide paper, markers, and crayons for writing and drawing—and join in with them!
• Help your child recognize and write their name, using an uppercase letter at the beginning.
• Ensure your child holds their pencil correctly.
• Point out words in the environment, like “Stop” on a stop sign or store names on bags.
• Play “I-Spy” games where your child finds specific letters.
• Start by pointing out letters in their name and asking them to name them.
• Play board games together.
• Sing songs and rhyme with your child.
• Allow your child to use scissors.
• Encourage activities like puzzles, Play-Doh, and building with Legos to strengthen hand muscles for writing.

By the End of Kindergarten: Reading and Writing Goals

• Recognizing all letters of the alphabet.
• Writing a simple message or story of one or two sentences.
• Using spaces correctly between words.
• Forming letters correctly during handwriting practice.
• Reading and writing simple words.
• Reading a simple book while pointing to each word as it is read.
• Sharing thoughts about books, such as their favorite part or how it relates to another book.

Countdown to Kindergarten 

Reading Success
Children learn to read through positive and engaging experiences with books. Here are some ways to help your child develop early reading skills for kindergarten:

• Use magnetic letters to help your child spell their name.
• Point out letters and words in your surroundings. Can your child name the letters on a grocery bag?
• Read library books together and ask your child to point to where the words are on the page.

Writing Success
Children develop writing skills by exploring and interacting with print. Here are some ideas to help your child get ready for writing in kindergarten:

• Show your child examples of writing, such as the words on a recipe or the name on a cereal box.
• Take a walk together and point out words you see in your surroundings, like street signs or store names.

Math Success
Throughout the year, children will explore shape recognition, sorting, counting, addition, and subtraction. Here are ways to help your child build early math skills for kindergarten:

• Point to numbers and ask if your child can recognize them.
• Use sidewalk chalk to practice writing numbers.
• Encourage your child to identify numbers on speed limit signs, TV channels, or board games like Chutes and Ladders.
• Count steps when going up or down stairs.
• Ask your child to count objects, like the silverware on the table.

Kindergarten is more than academics. 
Teachers emphasize that getting along with others and working independently without disruption are essential for starting school. Help your child prepare for kindergarten by providing opportunities to:

1. Verbalize their feelings.
2. Take turns during activities.
3. Follow simple two-step directions.
4. Pay attention to a speaker.
5. Participate in group activities.

Helpful Tips for Kindergarten Preparation:

• Start a school schedule two to three weeks before kindergarten begins by having your child go to bed and wake up earlier.
• Visit your child’s elementary school and play on the playground to help ease first-day nerves.
• Encourage your child to practice zipping, snapping, and fastening their pants, backpack, and coat to build independence.
• Practice reciting your child’s assigned student number, which will be used as their lunch number.