How do you know if a child is ready for Kindergarten?

[bigbabyblues]

I was reading the thread about the twins, and saw something about this, and I'm curious.

My oldest ds was 5 in November. I'm pretty sure he's ready, but he'll be a little older than some kids, as he'll be 6 a couple months into K.

He seems very smart, can count to 100, knows alphabet, can write the upper and lowercase letters and reads some early-reader type books (Dick and Jane, and several others that are in a series for little kids). He knows what sounds the letters make. He plays well with other kids most of the time, but he is quiet and likes to be on his own too. He's excited to go, has been for since he started preschool 2 mornings a week before he was 4.

I never thought about it until a few months ago, I just assumed they were old enough, they went, but how do you know? Any teachers with insight?

 

[Annette_VA]

From your list of your son's behaviors & abilites, sure sounds to me that he's ready.

My DS is going into K this fall. His preschool sent home a "Kindergarten Readiness Wish List" that they complied from talking to area K teachers. Here's what they had listed

This list is based on conversations with area kindergarten teachers. Their desire is to see children exposed to the following skills, not that they would necessarily be mastered prior to starting Kindergarten.

Social and Emotional Development:
• Be able to share (take turns with materials, limiting competitiveness, being a good friend)
• Be able to listen to classmates and teacher
• Listen to stories
• Be cognizant of personal space and other's needs for personal space
• Be able to focus on task for 10-15 minutes
• Exercising self-control (talking versus striking, waiting)
• Be prepared to work in small groups and independently both directed and independently
• Able to respond to 2 step directions (perhaps with multiple reminders)
• Responsible for personal belongings & following routines
• Be able to care for toileting needs (redress, washing hands, maintaining a clean bathroom)
• Exercise voice control (using inside voices)
• Respect & be responsible for classroom materials & equipment (clean up, putting things
away where they belong, taking responsibility for items used)
Fine Motor Development:
• Correct finger placement for pencil grip
• Correct finger placement for scissors cutting
• Able to cut on a straight line
• Able to control liquid glue, using only a small amount
• Able to color
• Able to put on coat, sweater, mittens, and redress after toileting
• Able to zip or button
Gross Motor Development:
• Hop, skip and jump on one foot
• Kick a large ball
• Walk in a straight line
• Walk behind another ("in line") without stepping on others
Cognitive Development:
• Recognize colors, body parts, numbers 1-10, some letters, and some letter sounds, shapes
• Write first name correctly ("The Kindergarten Way": upper case first letter, followed by
lower case letters)
• Knowthe difference between letters and numbers
• Rote counting to 20
• Sequencing the beginning, middle and end of a known story
• Know first and last names & parents' names
• Create simple 2-part patterns (A/B A/B A/Boo.)

 

[golfgal]

Mainly they can't do all the things your child can do. A lot of it is maturity issues and not always academic issues. Can they sit and listen at appropriate times, how do they handle not being around mom/dad, etc. Starting kindergarten kids should be able to at least recognize their name, say the alphabet, know 8 basic colors, know 4 basic shapes, count to 20, know their first and last name and their parents first names, follow two part directions (go get that paper and put it in your box), sit and listen at appropriate times.

Most kindergartens aim to get kids to the level your son is at, ideally. I know there is one boy in the twins class that went to two years of kindergarten and still couldn't do most of that. He has some pretty heavy duty learning disabilities that his parents were in denial about but is now doing wonderfully with help. Don't think, though, that your son will be bored. There will be plenty of new things for him and kids that will be further along then he is but those are the minimal things they hope for a student exiting K.

 

[Beth76]

I can't imagine that he wouldn't be ready with all that you said. I'm having issues right now because my son will be 5 in April. His pre-k teacher told me she doesn't think he's ready for K in the fall because he lacks focus. She even said he's ready academically, but he just can't sit still for long periods of time.

We have an August 1 cut-off date and I just can't see an April b-day needing to be held back just for one thing. My son would need to be severely behind to hold him back with a November b-day.

I spoke briefly with the school principal and have an appointment with the school guidance counselor. It never occured to me that I would consider holding him back until this teacher said something. As of now, I'm about 90% sure he's going to K in the fall.

ETA: My district has no requirements (other than age) to get into K.

 

[cepmom]

I can't imagine that he wouldn't be ready with all that you said. I'm having issues right now because my son will be 5 in April. His pre-k teacher told me she doesn't think he's ready for K in the fall because he lacks focus. She even said he's ready academically, but he just can't sit still for long periods of time.

We have an August 1 cut-off date and I just can't see an April b-day needing to be held back just for one thing. My son would need to be severely behind to hold him back with a November b-day.

I spoke briefly with the school principal and have an appointment with the school guidance counselor. It never occured to me that I would consider holding him back until this teacher said something. As of now, I'm about 90% sure he's going to K in the fall.

ETA: My district has no requirements (other than age) to get into K.

we went through the same thing with my DD now 8...her birthday is in August and our district cutoff date is 8/31. Her pre-K teacher wasn't so sure she would be able to handle the social part of K, but I figured we had to give her a chance and see how she did. We would never know unless we let her try. She did wonderfully and is now in 3rd grade.

To the OP ~ I definitely think your son is ready for K...my DD5 is in K now and wasn't where your son is before she started.

 

[Tiffann4k]

Sounds like he is ready for first grade not kindergarten

 

[barkley]

i think alot of it depends on the expectations of the kindergarten program the child will be in.

we have some in our area who have the expectation that the child knows how to read upon entry (and not sounding out words-true reading) such that they can be given a worksheet with printed instructions and be able to read it/do what the instructions say. these programs also have the expectation that the child has the "focus" to do 30 minutes of homework each night with little or no parental assistance.

it seems like alot of the kindergarten programs have changed due to the higher number of kids in preschool programs-they are no longer the "nurturing" first educational experience for little ones, that largly focused on introducing the basics and teaching the kids how to navigate the classroom experience (when i taught k in the 80's we did alot more circle activities and progressed into solitary desk work later in the program when the kids seemed better able focus and work independantly).

our dd was in the high demand k program but we moved her to another school in first grade (she could handle the academics but i did'nt like the concept of a first grader feeling pressured over an hours homework per nite, how they would perform on standardized tests, doing schoolwork in cursive-yup, cursive in first grade ). she moved into a school with less pressure and is actualy at grade 5 performing several grades above level in most subjects-but she views learning as fun and it's something she enjoys which i think makes a huge difference.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

How do you tell when a mother is ready to send her child to kindergarten is a a better question. It is more truamatic on the parents than the chid.

 

[Rachie0507]

I think the best way to tell is talk to his current teacher. What you described is more than ready for our town's kindergarten class. In fact, he would be bored--we are going through that with our DD right now. But every school system is different.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not a teacher, but here is what I did to find out:

In our county--we were able to call a county office for our district to get a pamplet that answered the questions of Kindergarten readiness. We were told this was provided also when you go to register your child for Kindergarten. So call the county or local school and see if they have any information for you.



Good luck!

 

[Disney_1derland]

He sounds like he's about where my dd is and she is 2/3 of the way through kindergarten now. She is considered 'advanced'. See if the school will give you a meeting with a kindergarten teacher where she could run through some basics with him or see if they will let him 'visit' kindergarten for a day (with you there as well) to see if he can deal with it. They will do that here if you request it.

Here they do not expect them to be able to read and they are only required to know 28 sight words to graduate kindergarten. The expectations are shockingly low

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks all! I think he's ready socially as well. I've seen him a few times at preschool (when he didn't know I was there) and he seems to be able to sit and do what he's supposed to. Last year (3-4 yo class) he had a little trouble sitting still for storytime or whatever, but his teacher said he was much improved at the end of last year. He does most of the things on AnnetteVAs list (thanks for that, btw, it helps), may need to work on using glue and things.

 

[YourMajesty]

Usually, the older kids are ready for kindergarten unless they have some special issues. We held back our oldest (July birthday) and he has done very well. Our youngest (February birthday) is in kindergarten this year and doing ok. He's not overly mature for his age and sometimes has a short attention span. With the skills you listed I would think he will do great. Plus, if he can listen, follow directions, and keep from distrubing others he'll should be just fine. Good luck...sounds like he's on his way to a great start.

 

[momof2inPA]

Well, all the kids in my son's K class could read, add, and subtract at the beginning of the year. His teacher said that most are reading on about a second grade level, now, midway through the year. My son works ahead and has started memorizing his multiplication tables. So, it must depend on the school. Most of the pre-schools in our town are very academically inclined.

 

[golfgal]

I can't imagine that he wouldn't be ready with all that you said. I'm having issues right now because my son will be 5 in April. His pre-k teacher told me she doesn't think he's ready for K in the fall because he lacks focus. She even said he's ready academically, but he just can't sit still for long periods of time.

We have an August 1 cut-off date and I just can't see an April b-day needing to be held back just for one thing. My son would need to be severely behind to hold him back with a November b-day.

I spoke briefly with the school principal and have an appointment with the school guidance counselor. It never occured to me that I would consider holding him back until this teacher said something. As of now, I'm about 90% sure he's going to K in the fall.

ETA: My district has no requirements (other than age) to get into K.

I think you are taking the right approach. A lot can change in 7 months. Our twins are late March and DS10 did have some "attention" issues in Kindergarten, nothing major, but mostly him just being a boy. The teacher just mentioned it to us but said it wasn't anything to worry about. He is now in 5th grade and a straight A student.

 

[pooh4evr]

Our district tests all incoming Kindergarteners -DD took hers 2 weeks ago I think it is called thr Dial-3 mostly to see where the kids are at and if there is any weaknesses to work on befor Kindergarten, or if they just aren't ready. Check with parents as teachers if you belong or the district- WE SIGN UP FOR K TOMORROW for next school year!!! DD will be 5 next week.