Let's Get K Ready!
Tips for Parents of Upcoming Kindergartners
Vol.1, No.4
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This 3rd edition of the Let's Get Ready for K News focuses on letter recognition and the Basics.
Letter Recognition!
In Volume 1 of our Let's Get Ready for K Newsletter, we shared the importance of helping your child develop an interest in reading. In Volume 2, we discussed the importance of print awareness. This week, we take it a step further and share tips for letter knowledge! Letter recognition is a super power in kindergarten. Knowing that letters are different from each other, knowing letter names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere are skills that you can easily help your child develop. Here are some fun ideas to get you started:
1. Make tactile "feely" letters! Use clay, pipe cleaners, shaving cream, legos or cereal to create letters. Here is a cute idea that combines legos and playdoh.
2. Create alphabet art! Use stamps, sponges, stickers, crayons, chalk, glitter or whatever you can find to create artwork with the letters of the alphabet. Check out this website for letter collage ideas.
3. Eat the alphabet! Look for packaged foods like cereal, cookies, soups with letter shapes. Make pancakes or cookies into alphabet shapes. Create a dinner of things that start with certain letters for Cc you could have chicken, corn, cabbage, and cake! Here are some more ideas for teaching with food.
4. Go on letter hunts! If you are in a store or at home, can you find the letters on everyday objects? Here is a letter hunt idea if you have magazines to cut up.
5. Learn to spell names! Kids love to learn the "special letters" of their names! It gives them a little head start on knowing how to spell their name. Check this link for several ways to help your child learn the letters in his/her name.
6. Use their bodies to make letters! This may be a fun cooperative family activity! Try doing this body alphabet video with your child.
Whatever you do just remember to have fun! You don't have to learn the letters in order. You don't have to use workbooks or flashcards. Letters are all around us. Talk to your child. Read to your child. Play with your child. Letter recognition will be a natural extension of many everyday learning opportunities.
Name Chants for Letter Recognition!
Do You Know About the Basics?
Science shows that 80% of brain growth happens by the age of three! Beginning from birth, young brains develop like little muscles, getting bigger and stronger the more you and your family interact with your child.
The Basics are five fun, simple, and powerful ways to help all our children aged 0-3+ grow to be happy and smart. Check out the website to learn more.
Next week's focus: Letter Sounds and Social Skills!
The Office of Family and Community Engagement
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Website: https://mychesterfieldschools.com/family-and-community-engagement/
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