Phonics
Website: For free lesson plans, ideas and games on how to teach your child to read visit Starfall. They also have affordable reading instruction packages if you are so inclined to buy something.
Listening to literature, music, poetry
Teaching Tip: What do you listen to in the car when you’re driving here or there? Try some books on tape (always available at your local library).
A few of our favorite books: When it comes to poetry for kids my absolute favorite is Shel Silverstein. It’s a great place to start for kids because the poems are so entertaining.
Nursery rhymes, fairy tales, fables
Website: Check out this thematic unit on fairy tales. Although it’s labeled for preschool, a kindergartner would easily enjoy the activities.
Don’t have a book of classic nursery rhymes? Go to MotherGoose.com and go through the super long list of Nursery Rhymes there. Suffice it to say that the list is pretty comprehensive.
Constructing visual images while listening
Teaching tip: This is the “educationalese” for have your child draw pictures while he’s listening to you read aloud. If your child can’t concentrate on listening and drawing at the same time, have him draw a character or place after you’ve read aloud. This practice, visualizing while you’re listening, helps develop good comprehension skills.
Oral communication skills
Teaching Tip: For some reason rhetoric is a lost art in our culture. It is never to early to start good public speaking skills. Start by letting your child memorize short poems, Bible verses or nursery rhymes. They can recite them to family or friends.
Role play
Teaching Tip: I just want to mention that this is an developmentally appropriate way to introduce things like manners, safety education, etiquette, etc. to your child. While you’re not likely to write it down in your lesson plan books, it is certainly a part of early educational experiences.
Paraphrasing and summarizing
Did you know? If this seems like something silly to include in a checklist–think again. In one study, researchers found that the single most consistent factor that indicated a child’s success in school wasn’t socioeconomic status, nor was it early education but it was sitting the dinner table to eat with the entire family. Why? Researchers think that it is because of the conversation had around the dinner table. Every ask your child how their day was? They are paraphrasing and summarizing.
Teaching Tip: This is an important skill that aids comprehension. Charlotte Mason referred to this as “narration”. Any time your child reads or you read out loud to your child you should pause every once in awhile to have your child retell you the details. But don’t just stop at reading materials. Have your child retell his day, specific events, anything.
Organizing ideas & Beginning Writing Process
Teaching Tip: It is not too early to start keeping a journal! Even if your child dictates to you, keeping a journal will help your child organize his ideas in writing and learn how to express himself clearly while writing.
A Note on handwriting: There seems to be a fair amount of controversy regarding when your child should start working on his/her handwriting. While some advocates argue that children should be taught handwriting while they are learning how to read (learn a letter, it’s sound, and how to write it) other advocates point to the immaturity of the bone structure of a small child’s hand and propose that children are not ready to learn to write yet. This is one reason I love Handwriting Without Tears. It is the only handwriting curriculum I know of that comes with manipulatives which also makes it great for special needs kids. Here are some other popular handwriting programs:
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What Your Kindergartener Should Know: Science
What Your Kindergartener Should Know: Social Studies