Helping Children Be Ready for Kindergarten

By Susan Okroy, Early Childhood Specialist

Utah State Office of Education

Parents as First Teachers:
Children’s first and most influential teachers are their parents/family. They play an important, fundamental role in the child’s learning and achievement. When parents, educators, and caregivers work together in the education and well-being of a child, a partnership is formed that will influence the best possible learning outcomes for the learner. Meaningful family-school partnerships focus on:

• Increasing regular two-way communication between parents and their child’s teacher and/or child care provider that is meaningful and ongoing.
• Welcoming and preparing family members to be involved in fun learning activities at home.
• Inviting parents and families to on-site programs, activities, and professional development when possible.
• Sharing decision making that involves the child’s learning, achievement and well-being. When and where appropriate, sharing in school and organizational governance through shared decision-making.
• Coordinating class work and home learning experiences.
• Collaborating with community members and organizations to identify partnership opportunities and resources.
• Respecting, supporting, and honoring the important role of parents as teachers and advocates of their child.

For Preschool Teachers

Intended Learning Outcomes in Early Childhood:

The main focus in early childhood is for children to begin to value learning, gain knowledge, and understand their world. Early childhood education should address the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of children. It is important to create a learning environment that fosters development of many aspects of a child. By nurturing development in these interrelated human domains, children will discover varied and exciting talents and dreams. They will be social and civically competent and able to express themselves effectively.

The outcomes identified below are to provide a direction for general learning experiences, management, culture, environment, and inclusion.

Beginning in Early Childhood, Children Should:

1.     Demonstrate a positive learning attitude.

• Display a sense of curiosity.
• Practice personal responsibility for learning.
• Demonstrate persistence in completing tasks.
• Apply prior knowledge and processes to construct new knowledge.
• Voluntarily use a variety of resources to investigate topics of interest

2.     Develop social skills and ethical responsibility.

• Respect similarities and differences in others.
• Treat others with kindness and fairness.
• Follow rules.
• Include others in learning and play activities.
• Function positively as a member of a family, learning group, school, and community.
• Initiate and respond to social interactions with peers and adults.

3.     Demonstrate responsible emotional behaviors.

• Recognize own values, talents, and skills.
• Express self in positive ways.
• Demonstrate behavior appropriate to the situation.
• Express feelings appropriately.
• Meet and respect needs of self and others.

4.     Develop physical skills and personal hygiene.

• Learn proper care of the body for health and fitness.
• Develop knowledge that enhances participation in physical activities and healthy food choices.
• Display persistence in learning motor skills and developing fitness.
• Use physical activity for self-expression.

5.     Understand and use basic concepts and skills.

• Develop phonological and phonemic awareness.
• Develop expressive and receptive vocabulary.
• Develop reasoning and sequencing skills.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills.
• Observe, sort, and classify objects.
• Make connections from content areas to application in real life.