Is my child ready for school? What about the kindergarten cut off date for enrollment in relation to my child’s birthday? What can I do to prepare my child at home? Is my child on target developmentally? My child isn’t pronouncing certain sounds, should I worry? What should I look for in choosing a quality preschool program? …

If you find that you have raised one or more of these questions in your own mind, I would like to introduce you to a valuable resource relating to Kindergarten Readiness.

www.kindergartenreadiness.net

Kindergarten Readiness.net provides a wealth of information related to preparing children for school, all compiled into one user-friendly website. They offer articles, downloadable and printable resources, comprehensive e-books, useful links and coverage of hot topics to help parents and educators provide young children with the very best early childhood education possible. Jaclyn Bower holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and is the founder of Kindergarten Readiness.net. Like me, she believes that kids are capable of so much. With the proper ingredients the learning that can take place is limitless! Consider the potential if both parents and teachers  exposed them to information in the right environment and in a developmentally appropriate way.

Enjoy a letter from the founder and I encourage you to check out www.kindergartenreadiness.net as it is full of valuable information as it relates to preschool, preschool curriculums and kindergarten readiness. Likewise, if you find any other websites as equally resourceful, please share!

Founder’s Letter

Dear Parent or Educator,

My name is Jaclyn Morris Bower. I have held teaching credentials in three states. I received my first teaching credential from the University of Richmond in Virginia. I have since taught first grade, kindergarten, and preschool in Georgia and California. Before deciding to devote my time fully to this website, I was the Early Childhood Director at a lovely school in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

I have created this Kindergarten Readiness website because I want children to love their kindergarten experience, to feel confident and proud of their accomplishments. Preparation is the key. You are children’s first and most important teachers. So many parents tell me that they want to help their child learn to read, write, draw, and count, etc, but they just don’t know how. Often there are skills learned in kindergarten that parents never even think of! Well, here it is, all in one place : what to do to best prepare your child for school, how to give your child a head-start. Take each child’s education into your own hands. Don’t allow children to struggle through kindergarten- it is such a crucial year.

I believe that kids are capable of so much more than adults give them credit for. Parents and teachers need to work together to expose them to the right information and the right environment in a developmentally-appropriate way and they will soar to unimaginable heights! Explore this website for ways to making learning fun and effective.

Not one child should have to struggle through their first years of school, when this should be such a fun, exciting time for them. Unfortunately for many students and parents, it is a frustrating and disheartening time. Studies have shown that children who are not prepared for kindergarten will in many cases continue to fall behind in elementary school, and will struggle through middle school, high school, college, and even in adulthood. There could not be a more influential time in a child’s life than these preschool years! Schools are becoming increasingly more academic and fast-paced. Stress is placed particularly on reading, writing, and math skills. Standardized testing begins as early as the first week of kindergarten in most schools! Let’s help children glide through these years with confidence and excitement.

Best of luck to you and your children! If you have any questions, please email me.

You can read my Philosophy of Education here.

Sincerely,

Jaclyn Morris Bower

Next step…making the letter and sound connections! Perhaps you have heard parents say,  “my child learned to read phonetically” or  “I know of a good phonics program” or “phonetic awareness is important in learning how to read”. What exactly does all of that mean? For clarification, one must understand the following terms:

Phonics is the understanding that there is a relationship between letters and sounds. It involves teaching how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters. It also invloves teaching how to blend sounds of letters together to create the sounds of unknown words. Thus, it pertains to the relationship between the spoken and written English language.

Phonetic Awareness is the ability to recognize individual sounds in a spoken language and to see relationships between sounds in words. It is also the understanding that these sounds can be manipulated and rearranged to create new words.

Phoneme is a sound unit in a language system

The goals of phonics instruction are to provide children with the ability to connect letter with sounds and to ensure that they know how to apply that knowledge into reading and writing. Research shows that students with phonics instruction were more effective in alphabetic knowledge and word reading and writing skills than those students that interfaced with instructional approaches that were less focused on phonics instruction.

Phonics can be fun! Hopefully, you have had a chance to check out our newly launched iPhone app Phonics Fun & Games.

Last week’s post, I talked about my daughter’s Life Cheringel. That was an example of her ability to phonectically or phonemically sound out the word triangle. That same child, who happens to be  prolific in her writings around the house, made a list. Note the title.

Directions

That was her list of “directions” (one must smile).

She happens to be a graduate of  the Pre K Scholars phonics-based program and clearly has no inhibitions with “sounding it out”.

Personally, as a mom, there are few greater joys than finding lists, notes, stories and any other written communications that have been produced by a child. I absolutely love to see how early readers  have sounded out words and what they choose to write about. You often hear of “Turtle Talk” or “Inventive Spelling” and the importance it plays developmentally on the emerging reader and writer. This all pertains to phonics and phonetic awareness. I came across a great blog post that I’d like to share. It is titled, “But how do you spell?” It is written by Annemarie Johnson, an educator for 25+ years, who is passionate about literacy. She is an incredible resource to parents and teachers everywhere, especially those in early education.

What do you do with preschoolers who are afraid to “sound it out”?

Pre K Scholars is delighted to announce that its Kindergarten Readiness Kit won Creative Child Magazine’s 2011 Media of the Year Award in the Preschool Educational Classroom Products category. The Kit, developed by former kindergarten teacher, Amy Schwary, is a 22-week phonics-based preschool curriculum for home and preschool use.

Creative Child Magazine 2011 Media of the Year Award

Half of five-year-olds aren’t ready for kindergarten.

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, May 29, 2011

El Dorado Hills, CA (PRWEB) July 26, 2011

The educators and parent judges in Creative Child Magazine’s Awards Program selected Pre K ScholarsKindergarten Readiness Kit winner of the 2011 Media of the Year Award in the Preschool Educational Products category. Only one product in each category is chosen. The program is unique in that the very people who purchase the products, early education professionals and moms, act as judges.

“We are thrilled to win this prestigious award,” said founder, Amy Schwary, the former kindergarten teacher who developed the program. “Pre K Scholars is committed to preparing 4-5 year olds for academic success by providing an affordable fun, comprehensive preschool curriculum that meets or exceeds state standards.”

The Kindergarten Readiness Kit was years in development by Schwary, mother of four girls. “When I was teaching I noted what studies have confirmed, that about half of all children entering kindergarten are not prepared, and this statistic runs across all socio-economic groups. “said Schwary. “Parents face a bewildering set of choices when they tackle kindergarten readiness for their children. They must decide what phonics, handwriting, math, early reading, science and fine motor skill resources to purchase and then face the challenge of how and when to introduce each topic. I designed the kit to solve those problems for parents.”

Schwary is convinced of the program’s effectiveness because she taught the material in her home-based preschool classes for many years, stopping classes only to develop the award-winning DVD. “If we are to improve kindergarten readiness in our country,” said Schwary, “we must provide parents with affordable, fun, easy to use yet comprehensive programs that use everyday household items, activities that parents and children look forward to rather than see as a chore. The Pre K Scholars Kindergarten Readiness Kit is just such a resource.”

To learn more about Pre K Scholars visit http://www.prekscholars.com

About Pre K Scholars
Founded in 2008, Pre K Scholars was developed by Amy Schwary and Alan Pierrot, MD with a vision of providing affordable resources to parents, teachers and preschools to enhance the kindergarten readiness of the population. The company is currently working on an iPhone and Android app to supplement it Kindergarten Readiness Kit DVD.

Contact

• Alan Pierrot
  Pre K Scholars
  559-779-4541
  Email

• Amy Schwary
  Pre K Scholars
  877-850-3926
  Email

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• Pre K Scholars Kindergarten…

In an effort to offer a more price sensitive product, we digitized our curriculum. The Kindergarten Readiness Kit DVD has all of the essentials to teach the Pre K Preschool Curriculum on one DVD. It comes with 150+ lessons with detailed instructions that you can print at your convenience, 52 phonics cards (both uppercase and lowercase) and 130 Guessing Game Cards (A-Z) to reinforce initial sounds. All of the flash cards are digitized and animated with an added audio to motivate the children. The DVD also allows us to provide a “drag and click” computer skill  opportunity for children, which we didn’t previously have. Parents are happy to  know that their child can explore early phonics on a computer in a safe environment without having access to the internet..an added bonus!

We debuted our new DVD at 4 Greater Homeschool Conventions back East, which meant lots of travel and organization for this mother of four.  We met so many wonderful homeschooling families who  eagerly set out to purchase varied programs for their children. It was so refreshing to see the level of interest and responsibility the parents took in choosing  just the right curriculums for their individual learners. For three days the families would attend workshops, listen to speakers and comb the exhibit halls diligently searching for educational connections. In Memphis, we met The Tuckers! New to homeschooling they were like sponges, trying to absorb everything they could! Their energy and level of enthusiasm was invigorating. Meghan Tucker is a thoughtful and dedicated homeschooling mother of 2 boys. She loves to blog about keeping a home, her Christian faith and homeschooling. They were one of many that purchased the Pre K Scholars Kindergarten Readiness Kit DVD. She writes about her experiences with it and so much more on her blog..Read Meghan’s Blog:

http://www.thetuckerstaketennessee.com/2011/03/new-month-new-goals-2/

Fortunately, our DVD  and it’s demonstration was met with much enthusiasm! For every two that we demonstrated, we sold one! A 50% conversion rate was a  reassuring testament to our efforts! If you were unable to attend the conventions, not to worry, you can get your own personal demonstration of our DVD at www.prekscholars.com Whether you are looking to find something for your tot to do while you are holding class with the olders, or you are new to homeschooling and need some direction on where to start we have you covered! Not a homeschooling parent, but want to assure your child is adequately prepared for Kindergarten, you are covered as well.  As you all head back to school with your preschooler or Kindergartener, we would love to hear from you…

SACRAMENTO – Aiming to give children a better chance to succeed from their first day in school, the California Legislature has approved Senate Bill 1381, the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). The measure increases the minimum age for entering kindergarten from 5 years old by December 2 of the school year to 5 years old by September 1 of the school year.

For children born between September 2 and December 2, a new Transitional Kindergarten would be established. Providing a curriculum appropriate for these “young fives,” it would be the first year of a two-year kindergarten for those students, and will be funded by the money that would have been spent on regular kindergarten.

“This is good for kids on two fronts,” said Simitian. “We start kids when they’re ready to succeed in school, and for younger children we provide a ‘get ready’ year of instruction as well.”

The bill is supported by policy experts and education advocates across the state, who have observed that children who begin school too young often have less academic and social preparation. They struggle to keep pace with their much older classmates, and never catch up. Senate Bill 1381 now moves to the Governor’s desk.

Under current law, children entering kindergarten must be 5 by December 2. Senate Bill 1381 would phase in the new age requirement by moving the cutoff date one month a year for three years, beginning in 2012.

“Today’s kindergarten classroom is a much different place than most of us experienced,” said Simitian. “We’re placing real academic demands on our kids, and the youngest are struggling to keep up. The evidence shows that giving these younger kindergarteners an extra year can make a big difference in their long term success.”

A 2008 report by the Public Policy Institute of California reviewed 14 recent rigorous studies on how entrance age affects student outcomes in the short and long term. The report suggests that “increasing California ’s entry age will likely have a number of benefits, including boosting student achievement test scores.” Several of these studies also suggest that older students are less likely to be retained or to be diagnosed with a learning disability, while having a higher likelihood of attending college and earning higher wages.

“This change in the kindergarten entry age enables us to redirect our limited school resources in a way that will make them most effective in providing children with the level of education most appropriate to them,” said Simitian. “We should seize this opportunity to expand kindergarten at no additional cost to K-12 education. It just makes sense, educationally and financially.”

California is one of just four states with a cut-off date later than December 1. Approximately one-quarter of California ’s children start kindergarten before age 5.

Under SB 1381, a child born after September 1 may still be admitted to kindergarten on a case-by-case basis, if the parent or guardian applies for early admission and the school district agrees that it would be in the best interest of the child.

Educators in Simitian’s district ( San Mateo , Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties) have been outspoken supporters of the September 1 cut-off date. In March of last year, 289 teachers signed a petition to Simitian requesting the change.

“As teachers, we see students who enter school at 4 1/2 struggling every day in the classroom,” said Natalie Bivas, a reading specialist in Palo Alto and one of the petition organizers. Diana Argenti, a kindergarten teacher at Walter Hays School in Palo Alto , partnered with Bivas to circulate the petition. “If we’re teaching things too young,” said Argenti, “in the long term it can cause social and emotional issues.”

California ’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, the California Performance Review, and the Governor’s Committee on Education Excellence have each called for an earlier kindergarten cut-off date.

The California Preschool Business Advisory Council wrote in support of the bill: “Given the mounting evidence that high-quality early learning can help close the readiness and achievement gaps and lead to higher graduation rates and better prepared workers, we believe this bill represents one of the most promising pieces of education reform in our state in many years.”

The California Kindergarten Association, noted its president Debra Weller, has supported bills to change the entrance age over the past 20 years because “kindergarten educators know that changing the entrance date will help to ensure success for children throughout their school careers.”

Senate Bill 1381 is a “unique opportunity to ensure our children are ready to learn and succeed in school, compete in the global economy and contribute to thriving communities,” wrote Catherine Atkin, president of Preschool California, in California Progress Report.

Senate Bill 1381 is also supported by the California State PTA, the Association of California School Administrators, and more than 40 other business, educational, civic and child-advocate organizations.

For more information on SB 1381, visit www.senatorsimitian.com/legislation.

My 11 year-old has an iTouch, which she graciously shares with her little sisters. Until recently, when one of my four year-olds would ask, “Where is my iTouch?” I would shudder—how indulgent it sounded! I mean, a four year-old with an iTouch…how ostentatious! I would die if anyone ever heard her ask this question.

On the other hand, my four year-olds are avid fans of the iPhone (both my husband and I have one) and the iTouch, and the educational enrichment they have received from the variety of applications is hard to match. They love Math Magic and are able to do addition and subtraction facts up to 10. They love playing the matching game with letters and numbers. They love matching uppercase and lowercase letters. And together we enjoy DoodleBuddy, where a squiggle is given and the other person must turn it into something.

I am amazed at the creativity and the comprehension! And guess what? These benefits all come from free “apps”—just download and voila!

Comparable options include several “age appropriate” handheld electronic games, but they come at a high price and often require additional charges for each extra game cartridge, and the kids’ interest in any particular game is limited. Adding to the cost, the cartridges are only about an inch wide and tall, and are frequently “misplaced”—who needs one more thing to keep track of?

I’m now convinced that, comparing the options, I spend less on an iTouch. The initial cost may be higher, but in the long run, we have access to more apps, most of which are free or relatively inexpensive (an iTunes gift card can go pretty far in the apps department!). Plus, there are no extra cartridges to keep track of.

The multitude of experiences a child can have with an iTouch, both educational and recreational, far exceeds many other single-unit electronic toys and games. And the iTouch can grow with the child rather than being limited to a narrow age range. It requires no additional fees in AAA batteries, either; plug it in and let it charge!

Apple’s iTouch offers great exposure for the technological future that awaits our children! At least, this seems to be a recurring theme in conversations lately, and I think I have changed my attitude from shuttering at the thought of a four year old with an iTouch to a feeling of wise revelation on the part of the parent and embracing a high tech toddler in training!

When talking about Pre K Scholars, many moms ask me, “How old does my child have to be to do this program?”

The short answer is that the Pre K Scholars curriculum primarily serves children who will be entering kindergarten the following fall, so I encourage moms to look at our program as a kindergarten preparedness course, rather than one that is age-specific.

Leveling the Playing Field

Pre K Scholars was developed to help bridge the gaps found in the kindergarten classroom. Our curriculum provides supplemental enrichment to the child, which allows developmental preschools to remain developmental and academic preschools to remain academic. We reinforce the basic skills needed to face the more rigorous—and complex—kindergarten of today.

The Preschool Environment

Using our home state as an example, California currently has no state standards for preschool curriculum. As a result, some children attend developmental preschools, while others attend more academic preschools; certainly, their backgrounds will be different when they enter kindergarten.

Beyond types of preschools, a child’s birth date is a factor: the cut off date for California kindergarten is December 1. A popular trend seems to be holding kids back for a “bonus year”—either because of maturity or for sports performance (this trend is found more commonly among boys). Because of this, it’s not unusual for kindergarten teachers to lead classes of six year old boys and four year old girls, some with developmental preschool experiences and some with more academic experiences.

Consider the difficulty these teachers face with such educational and developmental diversity!

If you’re a kindergarten teacher, or the mother of a child that’s of kindergarten age, what challenges have you seen?

The excitement of a new school year brings the joy of clean backpacks—organized with sharpened pencils and unblemished erasers—new outfits to be worn on the first day, reuniting with friends not seen over the summer and finding out the answer to the question that peeked their curiosity all summer: “Who is my teacher going to be?”

With the excitement of all of those things, though, comes the impact that recent budget cuts have had on our public school system. Many teachers are not returning to their classrooms; with these cuts we will see larger class sizes, fewer teachers and teachers’ aides, fewer support positions and cuts in art and music. My girls brought home supply lists for their classes listing both personal supplies, and community supplies that are to be purchased by parents the first week of school. Although this isn’t unusual, the list this year seems to have grown bigger, and our receipt from the school supply store was higher than in years past.

The reality is that the state of California has a $26 billion deficit and is projected to cut an estimated $6 billion from public education. School districts are considering cutting costs by eliminating kindergarten altogether since it is not mandated by the state. What What impact will this have on our children? With all of the cuts in education it is more important than ever before, that our kids are ready and prepared for school.

So, how are you preparing your children?