Literacy Activities:
Read, read, read to your child! Read a variety of stories that include
simple, short texts which provide opportunities for your child
to "share/help" read with you. Read stories with rich vocabulary and
engaging illustrations. Include books with chapters and have your child make
predictions about what will happen next. Ask them to substantiate their
reasoning with evidence from the text by asking questions like, "What in the
story makes you think that?"
When reading with your kindergartner, reinforce the three comprehension
strategies being focused on in the classroom: making connections to the
story, making visual images in your mind as you listen to the text and
retelling the text in sequence.
Make regular trips to the local library and offer your child opportunities
to select books based on their own interests.
Play "Read the Room" at home by creating a wand and having your child read
familiar words in different rooms around the house.
Play "Write the Room" at home by providing paper and writing tools to record
words from the environmental print found in the different rooms within your
home.
Use magnetic letters at home to sort and write with.
Math Activities:
Provide opportunities to count, sort and group objects.
Provide opportunities to look for patterns within the environment.
Engage your child in oral stories that require simple computation strategies.
Expose your child to coins and their monetary values through play.
Use spatial awareness terms such as over/under, above/below, in front
of/behind/next to, etc. when speaking and eliciting oral responses from your
child.
Provide opportunities to explore concepts of measurement through standard
and non-standard units (ex. inches/centimeters or paperclips, spoons) around
your home.
Provide opportunities for your child to assist with food preparation using
recipes and sequenced directions.
Motor Activities:
Provide paper and crayons, pencils, markers to draw, color and write with.
Use "sidewalk chalk" to draw and write on outdoor surfaces such as your
driveway.
Expose your child to visual problem solving activities such as mazes and
puzzles.
Play with manipulative toys such as duplos/legos, knex, blocks, etc.
Participate in regular exercise... outdoor play and walking, bicycle riding
Make your own playdough ~
Mrs. Walker's Favorite Playdough Recipe
1 c. flour
1 tbl. oil
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. water
1/2 c. salt
food coloring ( I prefer Wilton's Icing Colors.)
Mix ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture pulls
away from the sides of the pan. Knead and cool completely. Keep
unrefrigerated for up to three months. (Not edible.)
Make your own bubbles and create wire bubble wands ~
Children's Bubble Solution
1 c. liquid dish washing solution (Dawn)
2 c. warm water
3 to 4 tbl. glycerin
1 tsp. sugar
Mix ingredients together and store in a covered plastic container.