Socialization is an important part of kindergarten. Students interact almost the entire day. Your child should be able to participate in group games and activities and understand how to take turns and wait on others. He should also be willing to share and respect others' space and belongings. Your child should be ready to listen to the teacher and comply with classroom rules.
Kindergarten students will learn many reading skills throughout the year. Teachers begin with alphabet recognition, progress to letter sounds, sounding out words and reading sentences. Your child does not have to be an independent reader when school begins, but he should know basic concepts of print like left-to-right text progression and proper book handling. Reading to your child frequently at home will enhance these skills.
Phonics is a method of reading that focuses on individual sounds in words. Your child should be able to say most initial sounds for each letter. He should also be able to hear and produce rhyming words. These skills will help your child learn to read faster because he is already aware that words are made of letters that correspond to specific sounds.
Along with reading, math is a major focus of instruction in kindergarten. Your child should know several prerequisite skills in order to succeed in the upcoming year. They include counting, recognizing and writing numbers at least to 10. Sorting by color and size and being able to name the primary colors and the four basic shapes will also help your child begin kindergarten with a good mathematical foundation.
Your child should be able to take part in discussions with peers and teachers. You can help your child improve vocabulary skills by reading to him, then asking him questions about the story or getting him to retell the story. This will also help him to build comprehension skills. Children should be able to communicate in complete sentences.
Teachers expect that children entering kindergarten will be able to write their first names, some letters of the alphabet and a few numbers. They will teach proper formation, but a basic knowledge of handwriting is beneficial. Encourage your child to practice writing before the new school year begins.