What to Expect
What is Kindergarten Like?
In some ways, kindergarten is much like preschool and daycare. Kindergarten also involves:
Interacting With More People
Kindergarten is usually part of a larger school. So, your child may interact with more teachers, school staff and children.
New Settings & Activities
For the first time in his or her life, your child may:
- Use a school library
- Play in a gym
- Eat in a cafeteria
- Ride a school bus
More Structure
Kindergarten classrooms have a daily routine. For example, they might use the library and playground only at set times.
More Children
Your child may be in a class with 20 or more children. This may mean less individual attention, but it also means a chance to:
- Develop independent work habits
- Learn to work and play with a group
- Learn from the diversity of classmates
More Focus on Learning
Compared to preschool or daycare, your child may spend more time doing:
- Science and math activities
- Reading and writing activities
- Pencil and paper exercises
Changes like these can help your child grow in many ways. Talk about them in a positive way.
How Will My Child Grow?
District 742 offers several programming options for your child to learn and develop within a safe and caring environment. We focus on each child’s success in school and learning. Our outstanding teachers and staff look forward to partnering with you as your child experiences a wide variety of learning opportunities.
Social/Emotional Growth
- Develops positive, constructive relationships
- Builds self-confidence, self-respect and respect for others
- Learns to cooperate, negotiate, follow directions and problem-solve
- Sees themselves as part of a diverse community
Physical Growth
- Develops small and large motor skills
- Develops independence and self-help skills
Intellectual Growth
English Language Arts
- Reading, writing, rhyming, sight vocabulary, sequencing and retelling, alphabet and sounds
Math
- Numbers, counting, graphs, measuring, patterns, estimation, addition, subtraction, shapes, classification, money and telling time
Social Studies/ Science/ Health
- Community helpers, careers, maps and globes, family, diversity, seasons, weather, environment and healthy eating habits
Fine Arts/Computers
- Art, music, dance, physical education, creative drama and computer lab
Preparing for Kindergarten
Is your soon-to-be kindergartner prepared for kindergarten? Here are examples of knowledge and skills that contribute to children’s success in school. This list shows examples of children’s development.
Language & Literacy Skills
- Likes books and being read to
- Knows that letters have sounds
- Sings and knows rhymes
- Shows interest in sounds and words
- Holds a book and turns pages
- Knows upper and lower case letters
- Knows words that rhyme and joins rhyming games
- Talks to kids and adults in full sentences
Small & Large Motor Skills
- Holds scissors correctly
- Cuts straight and curved lines with some skill
- Holds pencil, crayon and marker in the right way
- Writes name with only the first letter capital
- Catches and throws a ball
- Hops on one foot and gallops
Student Self-Help Skills
- Eats a mix of healthy foods
- Sleeps 10-11 hours per night
- Says full name
- Uses toilet without help
- Washes and dries own hands
- Blows nose and covers sneezes and coughs
- Tells others what they need
- Puts on own shoes and coat
Math Skills
- Knows numbers 0-10 in any order
- Counts to 20 or higher
- Knows basic shapes (circle, square,
- triangle, etc.)
- Names 10 colors
- Counts a group of 10 objects
- Sees and completes simple patterns (red, blue, red, blue)
Social & Emotional Skills
- Listens to adults and follows rules
- Keeps hands and feet to self
- Gets along with other children
- Plays with other children and solves problems with kindness
- Sits and listens for a short time
- Names feelings and controls actions
- Listens to a story without interrupting
- Stays with task even when difficult
- Tries new things