Kindergarten teachers have weighed in and have shared the skills they think are most important for children just starting formal schooling. It may surprise you to learn that it isn’t recognizing and naming alphabet letters and sounds, colors and numbers or even writing their name. While these can be helpful, kindergarten teachers say that these aren’t the most important skills.
Chances are that all that hard work you’ve done (1) creating experiences for children to explore their world and manipulate materials, (2) helping them attend to and enjoy stories, (3) providing time for them to move their bodies, (4) supporting them to interact positively with their peers, and (5) showering them with affirmation to help them develop a strong positive sense of self is just what they needed to be “ready” for kindergarten. Here is a list of the top 6 skills kindergarten teachers report children need for a successful start to their kindergarten year:
- A positive approach to learning that includes curiosity and persistence .
- Strong oral language skills. The more words children know the easier it will be for them to make learning connections.
- Listening skills so that they can attune to what the teacher and peers are saying [ see hard work items.
- Independence skills such as putting personal items away, bathroom needs, and managing zippers, snaps, and buttons so that adjusting to school is easier.
- Social skills like cooperating, sharing, problem-solving, and turn-taking so that they can interact with adults and peers appropriately.
- Fine motor skills to support kindergarten tasks like cutting, gluing, holding a pencil, coloring and more.
Here is a helpful handout:
Lynne Hall is a research associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability & Community’s Early Childhood Center. She holds a Master of Science in Education and an Indiana instructional teaching license (Early Childhood Education and Services; Elementary/Primary Generalist; Elementary/Intermediate Generalist). She formerly taught preschool in a variety of settings for over 15 years. Her expertise includes early literacy instruction, equity in early childhood education and inclusive classroom practices.
Email her at hallma@iu.edu
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