{"id":248,"date":"2013-12-16T16:24:53","date_gmt":"2013-12-16T16:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deltalearns.ca\/mlledellisanti\/?page_id=248"},"modified":"2024-01-07T22:12:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T06:12:13","slug":"getting-ready-for-kindergarten","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/getting-ready-for-kindergarten\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting ready for kindergarten"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"n_1\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h1>Ways to prepare your child for school<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"n_1_content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure your child has received his\/her school entry booster shot<\/li>\n<li>Encourage your child to print his\/her name with a capital letter first and then small letters (i.e. Brenda)<\/li>\n<li>Encourage your child to practice using pencils, crayons, glue and scissors<\/li>\n<li>Help your child recognize colors, numbers and letters in the world around him\/her. Recite poems and rhymes together<\/li>\n<li>Help your child learn his\/her full name, address, telephone number and emergency contact person\u2019s name<\/li>\n<li>Ensure your child knows how to use the bathroom by themselves. Have them practice at home and make them as independent as possible! When going into public washrooms, have your child go in the stall alone to practice.<\/li>\n<li>Teach your child to zip zippers, tie shoelaces (if sending laced shoes to school) and fasten their school bag. The more independence the better!<\/li>\n<li>Practice eating school lunches! Prepare a typical school lunch and set a time for 20 minutes. Have your child eat with you nearby but not next to them. See if they are able to start and finish independently, open the containers on their own and clean up their messes \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<li>Start a nightly reading routine. This will set the foundation for reading daily with a family member or on their own.<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"n_3\">\n<div id=\"n_3_content\">\n<h1><strong>The First Day of School<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>For children and parents, this is a big day! In many schools, Kindergarten teachers help make this easier by arranging times for your child to visit the classroom with you and\/or by visiting you in your home before the first day of classes. Some schools start with only part of the class, so that the first day does not seem so overwhelming. It is natural for both children and parents to be a bit anxious, but there are things you can do to help make the first day go smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>If you go with your child\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0<strong>Arrive on time<\/strong>: not too early (waiting can be hard) and not too late.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<strong>\u00a0Leave cheerfully<\/strong>: make contact with your child&#8217;s teacher and then don&#8217;t linger. If your attitude is positive, then your child will feel that school is a safe and interesting place to be. Your presence may distract your child from this new and fascinating place. Letting go can be hard, but please don&#8217;t let your worries influence your child&#8217;s enthusiasm.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0<strong>Talk about concerns:<\/strong>\u00a0answer their questions about the teacher, other kids, who will pick them up, where the bathroom is, etc.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\u00a0<strong>Be supportive<\/strong>: let your child know that you and his\/her teacher will work together to help them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>A list of useful books to prepare children for Kindergarten&#8230;<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The Kissing Hand\u2026 by Audrey Penn<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to Kindergarten\u2026 by Anne Rockwell<\/p>\n<p>Curious George goes to school\u2026. by Margaret and HA Reys<\/p>\n<p>If You Take a Mouse to School\u2026 by Laura Numeroff<\/p>\n<p>Tucker\u2019s Best School day\u2026. by Susan Winget<\/p>\n<p>Kindergarten Kids\u2026 by Ellen Senisi<\/p>\n<p>Wemberley Worried\u2026 by Kevin Henkes<\/p>\n<p>A Child\u2019s Story\u2026. by George Bains &amp; Paul Bains<\/p>\n<p>Cat and Dog at School\u2026 by Rozanne Williams<\/p>\n<p>Mama Don\u2019t Go\u2026 by Rosemary Wells<\/p>\n<p>Kindergarten Rocks\u2026 by Katie Davis<\/p>\n<p>Llama Llama Misses Mama&#8230; by Anna Dewdney<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1>Full Day Kindergarten<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"n_4\">\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"n_4_content\">\n<div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>The purpose of full day Kindergarten is<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;to enhance children&#8217;s overall development &#8211; not to rush them into academics at an earlier age. Full day Kindergarten can provide a range of benefits over and above those from half day programs largely because it allows more time for play based exploration and inquiry. These types of hands-on experiences are responsible for most of the cognitive growth that occurs in Kindergarten children&#8221;.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>The benefits of Full Day Kindergarten for your child:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; More opportunities to learn through play (learn through exploration and play, indoors and outdoors)<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; Extended interaction with other children to help develop strong social-emotional skills, positive self esteem, self-regulation, and form positive relationships with teachers and peers<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; Greater exposure to educational materials to help develop strong literacy skills.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; More time for teachers to meet the needs of children.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; Fewer transitions during the day.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; More individual and small-group activities.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; More time for children to engage in developmentally and culturally appropriate experiences that foster their learning and development in all areas<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">&#8211; More opportunities to engage in enriched experiences that facilitate conceptual, cognitive, and language growth, and foster inquiry<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bced.gov.bc.ca\/early_learning\/full_day_kindergarten.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Click here for more information<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"n_5\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"n_5_content\">\n<div>\n<div align=\"center\"><strong>FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"center\"><strong>FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN <\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>1.\u00a0\u00a0Are all schools offering full-day Kindergarten in 2011-2012, or will some still be offering half-day programs?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">All Kindergarten classes in BC&#8217;s elementary schools will be operating on a full-day basis as of September 2011. \u00a0For the 2010-2011 school year, these classes have been in operation in about two-thirds of the schools, with half-day programs in the remaining schools. \u00a0All half-day programs will be phased out as of Sept. 2011.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>2. Who will be teaching the full-day Kindergarten programs?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">Full-day Kindergartens are taught by fully-qualified Kindergarten teachers, as were the half-day programs. \u00a0Kindergarten teachers in BC have training in Early Childhood Education.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>3.\u00a0\u00a0Is full day Kindergarten mandatory?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">Kindergarten itself is not mandatory in B.C., and parents can choose for their children to begin school in Grade 1. \u00a0However, the vast majorities do enroll their children in Kindergarten. \u00a0When a child enrolls in full-day Kindergarten, the expectation will be that the child attends full days as in any other grade; there will not be an option of attending a full day program for only half a day.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>4. What if a parent does not want their child in full-day Kindergarten?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">As of September 2011, all Kindergarten programs in British Columbia will be full-day, so therefore there will not be any half-day alternative.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>5. Won\u2019t it be too stressful and tiring for my child to be in school all day long when he is just 5 years old? What if my child is not ready to be at school for a full day?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">Teachers are well aware that some children, particularly those who are still 4 years old in September, may become tired in the afternoons, and they will program their days accordingly. \u00a0Many children are already out of their homes and in daycare or preschool programs during the afternoon.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>6. \u00a0Why has the Ministry decided to make Kindergarten a full-day program? \u00a0What will be the benefits for my child?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">The implementation of full-day Kindergarten is based on a considerable body of research demonstrating the importance of children\u2019s early years as the foundation for lifelong learning and success in school and beyond. \u00a0The full-day program provides more time for play-based exploration and inquiry, and has been proven to benefit both academic learning and social skills development.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>7. My child qualifies as an ESL learner. \u00a0Will he have a special ESL program?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">ESL students will be in regular Kindergarten programs but will receive ESL assessment and programming support as needed.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>8. My child has special needs. \u00a0How will he be supported?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">Children who have been identified as having special needs will continue to receive support from Education Assistants where appropriate, and will be enrolled in regular Kindergarten classes, as they are at present. \u00a0They will have Individual Education Plans (as they do presently), and if they are unable to cope with a full day of school, this will be examined and strategies implemented through the IEP process.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>9. What will the curriculum be like in a full-day K? \u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">The Kindergarten curriculum continues to follow the \u201cPrimary Program,\u201d the foundation document which has guided Kindergarten programming in British Columbia for several years. \u00a0This philosophy emphasizes play-based learning. \u00a0The full-day programming is based upon this curricular philosophy.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>10. How will the children be supervised at recess and at lunchtime?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">Schools employ additional noon-hour supervisors whose job is to supervise the Kindergarten children while they eat their lunches, and to be with them on the playground at noon hour. \u00a0\u00a0To help familiarize the children with the playground and with recess and noon hour expectations, teachers gradually introduce their children to the playground equipment and to the rules and routines of outdoor play. \u00a0Some teachers may choose to start their students with a recess time, which is different from the rest of the school, and then gradually acclimatize them to the regular school recess. \u00a0Some schools may also choose to designate a particular area of the playground exclusively for Kindergarten or primary grade use. \u00a0\u00a0Parents can feel confident that every effort is made to ensure their children\u2019s safety on the playground.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>11. Will there be a gradual entry process in September?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">We anticipate following a gradual entry process very similar to that which was used last year, in which children begin attending for only short periods of time each day for the first week of school, and over a period of two weeks gradually move up to full-day attendance. \u00a0Parents will be notified well ahead of time as to the entry schedule and hours at their child\u2019s school, so that they will be able to make work and child care arrangements well before the beginning of school.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>12. Will there be nap times? \u00a0What if the children are really tired in the afternoons?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">There are no naps in Kindergarten. They will be restful or quiet-time activities later in the day. \u00a0Teachers will be sensitive to the fact that children may be more tired in the afternoons, and will plan their days accordingly.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>13. \u00a0Can I pick up my child at noon each day and just have him attend Kindergarten in the mornings?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">When a child is registered in Kindergarten, the understanding will be that he\/she is in a full-day program, just the same as in the higher grades. \u00a0Removing the child from the program for half-days would count as absenteeism, and would result in that child missing instruction and exposure to the curriculum.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">In very special circumstances, if the length of the school day is overwhelming to the child, or if particular special needs make full-day attendance too demanding, the possibility of a reduced day could be discussed with the teacher and principal.<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\"><strong>14. My child is going into French Immersion. Will there be full-day Kindergartens there as well?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">The French Immersion program will be based on full-day programming just like the regular English stream.<\/div>\n<p>*Information provided by Mme Zerbinos from SD37*<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ways to prepare your child for school Make sure your child has received his\/her school entry booster shot Encourage your child to print his\/her name with a capital letter first and then small letters (i.e. Brenda) Encourage your child to practice using pencils, crayons, glue and scissors Help your child recognize colors, numbers and letters [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6675,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6675"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3690,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248\/revisions\/3690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/marandoa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}