Post 189
March is a special month in Kindergarten. It’s the time of year when a lot of academic growth suddenly shines. It is when all those phonics lessons, all that sight word drill, all the emphasis on letter sounds, all the guided reading, all the math practices…it all is coming together. Everything suddenly makes sense and our little students are “getting it” and moving to higher reading levels more quickly than we ever would have expected. It is so exciting to see and be part of in the classroom. All their hard work is paying off.😀
Just as each child is unique, the amount of improvement is different for each one. But it really does happen. They are so proud of themselves. And that pride encourages them to keep trying and as a result, they keep improving. Nice, isn’t it?!
There are lots of ways you can encourage your little one’s growth at home. Now would be an ideal time to give them a little more responsibility that uses what they have learned in the classroom. They could write on a shopping list as you dictate things that you need to pick up. When you are reading together, try reading a page and then letting your child read the next one. This can also be done sentence by sentence or each of you could be the voice of a different character. Let them go with you to pick out a birthday card for a friend and then sign it by themself. When you are cooking, let them figure out that if there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon and you need two tablespoons, you should be adding 6 teaspoons to the bowl. And then let them do it. Also try to make these moments “real”. Children realize when we are giving them busy work. So encourage your student by trusting them with something you really have to do. (In education that’s called “authentic learning” because it is. Lol)
Finally I would encourage you to keep up the routines you have established for your child. But maybe let them take a little more responsibility for them. And, most of all, enjoy this time of achievement with them. They have worked hard to get here and so have you!
Take Care. 🙂
kindergarten23 