Reggio Emilia and kindergarten readiness

[Anonymous]

Ask any kindergarten teacher and the skills they most want to see in a student on the first day of school include:

—ability to use the bathroom by themselves
—ability to blow their nose and wash their hands
—ability to sit mostly still during circle time and in their chairs
—ability to calm themselves when frustrated
—ability to handle transitions without frustration
—ability to hold a pencil and use scissors appropriately (not perfectly, just appropriately)

Kindergarten is a perfectly acceptable time for them to learn letters and sounds, counting, etc. There will be children who are way “ahead” and reading and way “behind” and still learning letters. It doesn’t matter if they are able to listen and learn and cope with the school day.