Kindergarten Readiness "Tips of the Week" March 26, 2012

Kindergarten Readiness "Tips of the Week"  March 26, 2012

The Bethel Public Schools has created a website of kindergarten readiness information and activities. It can be easily accessed by logging on to:

http://www.bethel.k12.ct.us/subsite/dist/page/kindergarten-readiness-200

 Information is in English and Spanish.

Below is a selection of activities from the Literacy Page. Try these at home with your child.

Please Note: Pre- Kindergarten Summer Programs are offered through the Bethel Summer School Program. These programs can be found at www.bethel.k12.ct.us

Try these activities at home:

Phonemic Awareness Activities (understanding the sound letter relationship in the language)

• Play with words

o   Play the name change game. Change the first letter of a word to create new words (example cat, bat, hat) model the game for your child and have them play along

o    Recite tongue twisters

o   Read books with word play, Dr. Seuss’ books are great examples and then try to come up with your own!

o   Read poems with alliteration (use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse. Ex: Mom made marvelous muffins in the morning)

o   Play compound word break-up. (example: say the word football. Then ask your child if they can say that word without ‘foot’) Reverse it and ask what word you can make with the words base and ball…Ask what other words you can make with the word ball.

o   Play  “Your Name Game” Ask your child what letter/sound their name begins with. Then ask them what other words start with that sound

o   Use refrigerator magnets to make their name

• Say words and clap out their syllables. Use blocks, toys, or other objects to have child indicate the number of syllables in a word

• Name objects in the room and sound out each letter sound ask the child what letter they expect to be at the beginning of a word. (For example, what letter do you hear at the beginning of the word ‘ball’?

• Go on a sound hunt and look for objects that start with a certain letter. Write down all of the things that you find, count them and have your child tell you how many items you found.

• Play with Rhymes

o   Say three words, two that rhyme and one that does not. Ask your child which one does not fit

o   Sing rhyming songs like “Down by The Bay”, or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and let your child finish the rhyme

o   Read books with repetitions that rhyme, have your child join in the chorus ( Example: Chicken Soup with Rice by M. Sendek)

• Use refrigerator magnets that your child can manipulate (be careful of the talking ones…. Sounds are often distorted and not exact!)

Kevin J. Smith, Ph.D.Superintendent of SchoolsBethel Public SchoolsP.O. Box 253Bethel, CT 06801(203) 794-8601