School is just around the corner. As a mother of a rising kindergartener, I find myself stressing out about the amount of time I have spent with her this summer for reading. Did we do too many Frozen Cooking Camps and not enough BOB books? Of course we did! I’m trying not to stress out too much because I feel that last year we did a great job of preparing her by sending her to Lisa at Ballantyne Reading Academy during the school year. She made great strides and as we finished our last class, I found myself sad to see things come to an end. The comfort I was receiving by knowing I had educational reinforcements was coming to a close so I knew I had to take the lead this summer.
I asked Lisa Palladino at Ballantyne Reading Academy to help educate me on what I should be doing at home to help my little one prepare for kindergarten. Here are some of the things she suggested:
– Provide exposure to rhyming words/poetry
– Provide opportunities to visually discriminate (what does/does not belong)
– Name colors and color words
– Name shapes and identify shape words
– Identify/recognize common street signs, logos and environmental print
– Identify initial letter sounds in words
– Count beyond 10
– Provide opportunities to add/take away objects from groups
– READ! READ! READ!
According to Lisa…
“Aside from literacy and basic math concepts, children entering kindergarten should be able to follow multi-step directions. You may hear teachers referring to “working memory”. One of the biggest challenges facing children entering kindergarten is following multiple directions – there is so much new information and rules to learn and follow. Ask your child 2 and 3-step directions at home, such as “Bring your toys upstairs and put them in the toy box. Then get your red sweater from the closet and leave it by the front door so we won’t forget it when we go out.” Letting your child help you follow a recipe allows you to model the use of literacy and math skills, while exercising working memory at the same time!”
One of the other great tips she provided was suggested apps for the iPad for those long car rides or rainy days.
Kevin Bradford Learning Games
Raz Kids
Brain Nook
My A-Z
We have recently downloaded these apps and my daughter loves them! Kindergarten will be here before we know it and I feel confident that she will be ready. Thanks Lisa!
For more information on the Ballantyne Reading Academy for the Very Young, go to:
Ballantyne Reading Academy for the Very Young
17228 Lancaster Hwy. Suite 211
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-438-7909
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1 comment
Can’t wait to dive in a pile of leaves in the fall with grand children with out getting tired, thanks to Dr. Gear, I love e it