Confused about what kids usually know entering Kindergarten
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Anonymous
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Some parents are telling me that they don't need to know much, just shapes and colors. No letters or writing.
Others parents tell me their kid (and a lot of other kids in the class) could read and do upper grade level math. It just confuses me. I'm not freaking out about it. I don't need my son to be a super star at the top of the class. I'd just like to make sure he has the basic skills that most of the other kids will have so he doesn't start off feeling behind. So what is that exactly? Recognize letters and numbers, write his name? Any other info you can share with a FTM with DS starting kindergarten in the fall at MCPS would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! |
Anonymous
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The reality is that in every single kindergarten class there is a huge range of kids. Some kids will know how to read, some will know letters, some will know neither. Some kids have lots of experience with classroom expectations because they've been in daycare and/or preschool. Some have no experience along those lines.
K teachers are used to this and know how to make it work. 
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Anonymous
| There is a huge range in public kindergarten. Some kids have never even gone to preschool an some know how to read. I wouldn't sweat it. |
Anonymous
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I agree that there will be a range and he'll likely be just fine.
My son and pretty much all of his pre-K classmates recognize all their letters and letter sounds. A couple can read but most, including mine, cannot. He can write most letters, but gets tripped up by a few. He's doing pretty advanced math (addition and basic subtraction, counting change, etc) but he's kind of obsessed with numbers and I think pretty ahead of the curve on that. I visited his pre-K class recently and most, but not all, of the kids could count up to 30. |
Anonymous
| My son just turned 3 and most of the kids in his preschool know letters and letter sounds. |
Anonymous
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are you in the red zone or the green zone....
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Anonymous
OP here. No clue what that means. |
Anonymous
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You can google the phrase "What should a child know before kindergarten." You will see an enormous range of benchmarks and it is reflected in what kids entering MCPS in kindergarten do know.
Generally, a child from a middle to high SES background will enter MCPS with a preschool experience. She will know her alphabet, basic geometric shapes, and at least 9 colors, be able to count to 100, can write at least her first name, and have 15 to 20 basic sight words. She can color within the lines and handle scissors. She will know major body parts and what they do. She can say the names of domestic animals and some common wild ones. Even an urban child can usually name some trees and plants. She may be reading primers or illustrated Level 1-2 books with minimal assistance. A child with an advanced academic pre-K may enter K reading independently and writing sentences with confidence. She may be able to independently complete a worksheet with simple directions. This is not always the case: my friend's elite Montessori pre-schooler could not read at all. A child from a lower SES who has not had Head Start or public pre-K might enter with no academic skills. She may be able to sing the ABCs, but not tell you what comes after a random letter. She may be able to count to 10 or 20. She may need help establishing a pencil grip. |
Anonymous
| I'm not OP, but we are red zone and my younger DD was reading at a 2nd grade level when she left pre-K and doing single digit addition. Paid for private pre-K. Worth every cent. |
Anonymous
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OP, go to the library and check this book out.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Preschooler-Needs-Know/dp/0385341989/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=00PV76SB845TVSNX5T84 Hope this helps. |
Anonymous
| It depends on the preK. Montessori kids will enter with single and double digit addition, subtraction, basic multiplication and division, and strong math concepts. Many can read simply chapter books and have well established phonics skills. Some play based schools are better at preparing kids for the worksheets that they do in public school. The kids are better at spelling. |
Anonymous
NP here. What is 'red zone'? |
Anonymous
Oh boy, here we go. |
Anonymous
I don't think this is at all typical, and just serves to freak parents out. Double digit addition and subtraction? Multiplication and division? And I say this as someone whose kids went to Montessori and later, HGC. I am certain my kids didn't do much more than single digit addition and subtraction...and perhaps they could tell you if everyone could have a slice of pizza if you cut it into X number of pieces. But for god's sake don't get all crazed about it if they can't do that walking into K. I agree with all the PP that say the range is vast at that age, and predicts next to nothing. Kids develop at wildly different paces. I have friends whose kids were not reading fluently in pre-K who went on to be voracious readers and gifted writers. |
Anonymous
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I've been though this twice. Once with a kid that was reading chapter books and writing sentences and once with a kid that was barely reading and writing.
I would say the minimum to know is: - how to listen and follow directions - ability to sit on carpet for 15-30 minutes and listen to teacher - how to interact appropriatelly socially with other kids - know all letters, letter sounds and reading simple words (sounding out cat, dog), - able to write name and all letters - able to write out simple words - recognize numbers 1-20 Knowing less is fine but be ready for potentially hearing from your child that they are slow and not as smart as the other kids. Its not a big deal to prop your kid up after this but it might happen. There is a HUGE range from kids like my one child that could do 2nd grade work going in to others that don't speak english and don't know any letters or numbers. This is for non-red zone school in QO district. |