Mrs. JonEs' Creation Station'S

5 DAys of Teacher

apPreciation

Day 3:Getting Ready for First Grade Handout

Getting Your Child Ready

For First GradeYour child's Kindergarten year is almost to an end

and first grade is right around the corner. Below is a

list of skills your child needs to know in order to be

ready for their transition to first grade along with

ideas of activities you and your child can complete

together for the remainder of the school year and

summer.

1. Recognize all letters and sounds of the alphabet-Use the Alphabet Chant CD to practice letters and sounds.-Go on an Alphabet Hunt and find things that begin with each letter of the alphabet or words that have a specific letter in them.-Practice writing letters of the alphabet. Give your child a sound and have them write the letter that says that sound.-Hide post-its around the house with letters on them and have your child find them.-Point out letters you see around your community (i.e. billboards at the store, etc.)

2. Recognize and write numbers 0 through 20-Play "War" with number flash-cards where the highest number wins.-Have your child practice writing numbers 0 to 20 with a variety of tools (i.e. markers, crayons, pencils, Magna Doodle, etc.)-Point out numbers you see around your community (i.e. license plates, road signs, at the store, etc.)-Have your child write numbers in shaving cream, rice, or sand. -Have your child dial telephone numbers for you.

-Play "War" with number flash-cards where the highest number wins.-Have your child practice writing numbers 0 to 20 with a variety of tools (i.e. markers, crayons, pencils, Magna Doodle, etc.)-Point out numbers you see around your community (i.e. license plates, road signs, at the store, etc.)-Have your child write numbers in shaving cream, rice, or sand. -Have your child dial telephone numbers for you.

3. Count to 100-Count how many steps you take to go to the car, bedroom, door, etc. Find any reason to count. -Have your child count groups of ten as they touch each object. For example, have him/her count how many goldfish they get for snack or how many toy cars they are playing with.-Count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's.

4. Recognize all colors and shapes

-Play I-Spy with your child using colors or shapes. -Have your child tell you what color they are using as they color. -Play "In a Flash" with your child. Using color word flashcards have your child read the color word and find something that is that color. You can also do this with shapes.

5. Memorize all personal information-Make up a song, rhyme, or rap to help your child memorize their birthdate, phone number, and address.-Write letters to family and friends and have your child help you write your address.-Use a real or play telephone to help your child remember their phone number.

6. Blend sounds to read words -Have your child read to you as much as possible.-Have your child sing the sounds to you (i.e. say the sounds without any pauses)-Print books off of the Internet for your child to read to you.-Check out emergent readers from your local library.-When you read to your child model how to blend sounds to make a word.-Have your child point to each word as they read.

7. Decode sounds to write words.-Say words like a robot or in slow motion and count how many sounds are in a word. Then write the letter for each sound.-Have your child write stories or letters as often as possible.-Have your child help you write a shopping list or to-do list.-Have a "silent conversation" by writing a question on a tablet, having them read it, answer it and write a question back.

8. Story Comprehension-Make sure your child is able to answer simple questions about a story they read or had read to them.-After reading a story together discuss what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story.-When reading talk about the characters, setting, problem, and solution in the story.-Read a chapter book to your child and have them retell what happened last before moving to the next chapter. -Have your child retell their day at school to you.

9. Recognize and produce rhyming words and delete initial and final sounds in words

-While in the car, at the store, or at home pick an object and have your child give you a word that rhymes with it (real or made-up).-Read rhyming books with your child and have your child help you think of new rhyming words.-When writing words ask your child what the word would be if you took away the beginning or ending letter. Cover up the letter with your finger and read the word.

10. Recognize sight words on the Kindergarten word list -Play Hangman using your child's sight words.

-Have your child "take a mental picture" when they see a sight word.-Have your child highlight sight words in a newspaper or magazine.-Find sight words around your community (i.e.the store, on the road, in your house, etc.)

Learning Resources

Websites:

www.starfall.com

www.pbskids.com

www.literacycenter.net

www.storylineonline.net

www.kidport.com

www.tvokids.com

www.abc.net.au/countusin/

www.learningplanet.com

www.kizclub.com

Printable work-pages

www.beginningreading.com

www.coloringbookfun.com

www.kidzone.ws

www.first-school.ws

www.makinglearningfun.com

www.kizclub.com

www.dltk-kids.com

www.coloring.ws

Printable readers:

www.hubbardscupboard.org/

printable_booklets

www.kizclub.com/Sbody

www.gigglepotz.com/phonicscards

www.members.shaw.ca/primarysuccessideas/

www.early-reading.com/home/index.cfm

www.kindercritters.com/freebies

www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/

EmergentReaderListing.htm