School Readiness: What Teachers and Parents Can Do

Full Answer Section

• • Social & Emotional Development: Able to manage emotions, follow rules, share, cooperate, and separate from caregivers.
  • Approaches to Learning: Curiosity, persistence, creativity, attentiveness, and problem-solving skills.
  • Language & Literacy Development: Ability to communicate needs, follow directions, understand stories, recognize some letters/words, and express ideas.
  • Cognition & General Knowledge: Basic counting, recognizing shapes/colors, understanding routines, and general understanding of the world around them.
• A Shared Responsibility: Readiness isn’t solely the child’s burden; it’s a shared responsibility among families, early childhood educators, communities, and the kindergarten system itself.
• Context-Specific: Readiness can also be influenced by the demands of the specific kindergarten environment.

Slide 2: Why is Children’s Readiness for School Important?

• Foundation for Future Success:
  • Children who are ready for school are more likely to experience early academic success.
  • They are better equipped to navigate social challenges and build positive relationships with peers and teachers.
• Positive Trajectories:
  • Strong readiness skills correlate with higher achievement in later grades, increased graduation rates, and even long-term well-being and economic success.
  • Early success fosters confidence and a love for learning, creating a positive cycle.
• Reduced Need for Remediation:
  • When children enter kindergarten prepared, they are less likely to require intensive remedial services, benefiting both the child and the school’s resources.
• Engaged Learners:
  • Ready children are more engaged in classroom activities, contributing positively to the overall learning environment for everyone.
• Smooth Transitions:
  • A smooth transition from home/preschool to kindergarten reduces stress for children, families, and teachers, facilitating a more effective start to formal schooling.

Slide 3: Critical Features of a Preschool that is “Getting Children Ready for School”

• Child-Centered & Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP):
  • Focus: Learning through play, hands-on experiences, and active exploration, rather than rote memorization or overly academic drills.
  • Environment: Provides stimulating learning centers (e.g., block area, dramatic play, art, science, reading nook) that encourage choice and self-directed learning.
• Warm, Responsive & Highly Qualified Educators:
  • Interactions: Teachers are nurturing, attentive, and responsive to children’s individual needs, interests, and temperaments. They engage in rich conversations and ask open-ended questions.