Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools March/April 2018 | Page 7

Countdown to Kindergarten: Tips for preparing your student for kindergarten
The countdown is on: Union County Public Schools
kindergarten registration began on Feb. 1!
By now, you may have started gathering paperwork that you
will need to register your student at their current assigned school
for the 2018-19 school year.
But have you also thought about how you can use the next few
months to prepare your student for kindergarten?
Kindergarten is an important moment in time for young
students as they begin to develop new skills, independence and
confidence. Now is the time to set your child up for success while
also encouraging them to develop a love of learning.
Here are a few tips to help transition your students into
kindergarten:
• Reading
– Make reading with your child a part of your daily routine
– Point out words you see every day on cereal and food
labels, directional signage and more
– Let your child see you reading your own books, magazines
or newspapers
• Writing
– Praise efforts. Respond to the message, not how it looks
– Say, “Tell me about your story,” rather than “What is this?”
– Try having your child write their first name with proper
upper and lower case letters (i.e., Sara, not sara or SARA)
Kindergarten is an important moment in time for young students
as they begin to develop new skills, independence and confidence.
Now is the time to set your child up for success while also
encouraging them to develop a love of learning.
• Math
– Play with blocks to visualize quantity
– Count sets of objects with your child
– Play board games, or recognize numerals in the form of
dots on dominos or other items with dot configurations
• Independence
– Continue working with your child to learn to snap,
zip, button and tie so that he/she can put on shoes and
coats independently at school
– Give your child responsibility for simple jobs, such as
sorting socks or putting away his/her belongings
– Provide your child with opportunities to make decisions
(i.e., What book would you like to read? Do you want to
wear your red shorts or your blue ones?)
Interested in learning more about the kindergarten curriculum
as well as additional ways you can start setting your kindergarten
student up for success next school year?
The UCPS Goals and Objectives handbook for students in
kindergarten through second grade, which is available on the
UCPS website, outlines goals and objectives for students.
You can also view the UCPS Kindergarten Registration booklet
for more information about how to prepare your child reading,
writing and math.
For additional information about kindergarten registration,
please visit the UCPS kindergarten registration website or contact
the school your child will attend.
–This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools
Communication Office.
Parent Teacher Magazine • Mar/Apr 2018 • 5