Tag Archives: kindergarten

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a early literacy program that can help foster the love of reading in young children. This free, self-paced reading program for infants through preschoolers allows parents and caregivers an opportunity to share books daily with their child. The goal is 1000 books before they start Kindergarten and, yes, they can read the same book more than once. Libraries across the United States have joined in, providing incentives and promotion for this fun challenge.

Here at the Greenwood Public Library we’ve been eager to finally start, and have been kicking around the idea for the past couple of years. It’s all come together. We have the cutest little fox friend as our mascot, along with tons of awesome prizes for children and their grown-ups as they read.

We have special logs to help you keep track. Keep progress with stamps on the back for every 10 books you read, and earn two big stickers (one for the log and one for you) for every log of 100 books you complete. After the first 100 books, you’ll earn a 1000 Books tote bag. At 300, 500, 800, and 1000 you’ll earn a free book, and at 1000 books when you finish the program, you’ll join our ranks of finishers.

Research shows that children who are read to daily in the years prior to kindergarten not only have an increased vocabulary but are better prepared to learn to read and succeed in school. Also, creating a special time to read together shows your child the value and enjoyment of reading from a young age. If you want to join us on this adventure, stop by the library to sign up and pick up your first log!

Kindergarten Readiness

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Nowadays kindergarten readiness has developed into a big issue. With the state increasing kindergarten to a full day program, they have also changed the curriculum to align with what used to be many of the first grade goals. The saying is, “Kindergarten is the new first grade.”

With that in mind parents are scrambling to enroll their children in quality preschools that will help prepare them for a successful kindergarten experience. Kindergarten teachers encourage social and emotional skills as having the highest priority. Studies show that a child’s score on these skills in kindergarten predict later success in life. See study: https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/selstudy/#

Here is a list of emotional/social developmental milestones for 4-5 year olds from : http://www.kamloopschildrenstherapy.org/social-emotional-preschool-milestones

Between the ages of 4-5 years, your child will:

  • Show some awareness of moral reasoning, such as “fairness,” and good or bad behavior
  • Develop friendships
  • Express more awareness of other people’s feelings
  • Enjoy imaginative play with other children, such as dress up or house
  • Get better at sharing and taking turns with other children
  • Enjoy playing games, but might change the rules as he goes
  • Stick with a difficult task for longer period (controlling frustration or anger better)
  • Show an understanding of right and wrong
  • Listen while others are speaking
  • Play games with simple rules

Red Flags for Social-Emotional Development (5 years)

If you notice some of the following things by the time your child is 5 years old, you may want to ask for help from your doctor or from another health professional such as a mental health clinician, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a psychologist.

  • He is not interested in playing with other children
  • She is not able to share or take turns with other children
  • She wants to be dependent on her caregivers for everything
  • He is extremely “rigid” about routines and becomes extremely upset when things are changed
  • She has extreme difficulty separating from you
  • He is too passive or fearful and does not want to try things other children his age are doing
  • She has extreme fears that interfere with daily activities

GPL will again host a program especially designed for children and parents who are enrolling in kindergarten this year. Ready, Set, Kindergarten is scheduled for Thursday May 4th 6-7:30 pm. Greenwood kindergarten teachers and administrators will be there to answer your questions along with lots of interactive stations. The most surprising things we learned last year was that children need to learn how to open their milk or juice cartons, balance a food tray, eat lunch in the 20 minute time frame, put their coats and shoes on independently, and be able to endure a full school day without a nap. To register: https://tinyurl.com/k8hwldx

We have developed our preschool story time classes to focus on fine motor development, phonemic awareness, and letter recognition along with having lots of fun with books. Our summer sessions fill up quickly so remember that registration opens May 15th @ 9am.

Online resource check list for kindergarten readiness:

http://www.getreadytoread.org/transition-kindergarten-toolkit/establishing-readiness/kindergarten-readiness-indicators-checklist