Home Connection
You can't go wrong with reading to your child! Read whenever and wherever you can. When reading books, it is fine if your child wants to read the same book over and over again. Each time you read the same book, you can focus on something different in the story.
1) Ask questions about the story: Who was in the story? What will happen next? How does this story make you feel?
2) Have your child pick out letters or words they recognize.
3) Talk about the different parts of the book (front cover, back cover, title, author, spine, etc.)
There may also be additional activities sent home throughout the year to reinforce or extend a concept.
Other Fun Home Activities:
1) Shaving cream on wax paper: This is a great way for children to practice writing letters, numbers, and shapes. If the cream gets on clothing, it disappears in minutes!
2) Sorting activities: Sort socks/laundry by different categories like dark/light, big/little, solid/stripes, etc.
3) Send your child on a letter treasure hunt! Your child can find objects around the house that begin with a certain sound. You can also do this with old magazines. For example, your child can cut out and glue pictures that begin with the letter T.
4) Play a game of "I Spy." This game is a big hit with the kids! You can do this at home or in the car. Describe something in the environment (shapes/letters/numbers) and see if they can spot it.
5) Label your child's room or items around the house. This promotes print awareness. Label items such as, bed, fridge, dresser, TV, etc.
6) Help your child find print that is familiar to them (environmental print). Ex. McDonald's, Walmart, HEB, Barbie, different food products. You can have them cut out the picture/words and send them to school.
7) Counting small items like pennies, crayons, or toys. Food items work perfectly for this! Ex: Cheerios, Goldfish, Fruit Loops, etc. Have them figure out ways to share with you as well (dividing into equal parts).
8) If you have access to a computer, there are some great educational websites for children (Kids National Geographic, Fun 4 Children, Story Books, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, Starfall, Do 2 Learn)
9) Playing with play dough is a great way to help your child develop fine motor skills. Try having your child roll play dough into "snakes" to make letters in their name. The following is a homemade recipe for play dough:
2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups of water
2 tsp. oil
1 package of Kool Aid (for coloring and scent)
Mix and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Cool and keep covered in a container when not being used. I find this recipe lasts longer than store bought playdough.
1) Ask questions about the story: Who was in the story? What will happen next? How does this story make you feel?
2) Have your child pick out letters or words they recognize.
3) Talk about the different parts of the book (front cover, back cover, title, author, spine, etc.)
There may also be additional activities sent home throughout the year to reinforce or extend a concept.
Other Fun Home Activities:
1) Shaving cream on wax paper: This is a great way for children to practice writing letters, numbers, and shapes. If the cream gets on clothing, it disappears in minutes!
2) Sorting activities: Sort socks/laundry by different categories like dark/light, big/little, solid/stripes, etc.
3) Send your child on a letter treasure hunt! Your child can find objects around the house that begin with a certain sound. You can also do this with old magazines. For example, your child can cut out and glue pictures that begin with the letter T.
4) Play a game of "I Spy." This game is a big hit with the kids! You can do this at home or in the car. Describe something in the environment (shapes/letters/numbers) and see if they can spot it.
5) Label your child's room or items around the house. This promotes print awareness. Label items such as, bed, fridge, dresser, TV, etc.
6) Help your child find print that is familiar to them (environmental print). Ex. McDonald's, Walmart, HEB, Barbie, different food products. You can have them cut out the picture/words and send them to school.
7) Counting small items like pennies, crayons, or toys. Food items work perfectly for this! Ex: Cheerios, Goldfish, Fruit Loops, etc. Have them figure out ways to share with you as well (dividing into equal parts).
8) If you have access to a computer, there are some great educational websites for children (Kids National Geographic, Fun 4 Children, Story Books, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, Starfall, Do 2 Learn)
9) Playing with play dough is a great way to help your child develop fine motor skills. Try having your child roll play dough into "snakes" to make letters in their name. The following is a homemade recipe for play dough:
2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups of water
2 tsp. oil
1 package of Kool Aid (for coloring and scent)
Mix and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Cool and keep covered in a container when not being used. I find this recipe lasts longer than store bought playdough.
Resources
Prekindergarten is a fun and exciting year for your child. We focus on social and emotional development as well as academic development. There are many ways you can work with your child during the school year:
Download the Wet-Try-Dry app from our Handwriting Without Tears program ($4.99)! It's a great way to practice the formation of letters and develop those pre-writing skills that are so crucial.
For the full list of recently updated Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, please follow this link to the TEA web site. To view a list of important AME links and information, click here. You'll find menus, calendars, bus routes, and much more!
- Practice naming all uppercase and lowercase letters
- Practice holding crayon correctly (download FREE Handwriting Without Tears information)
- Practice writing Upper Case letters (download FREE Handwriting Without Tears information)
- Practice writing name in all capital letters, then Title Case (download FREE Handwriting Without Tears information)
- Introduce letter sounds (download FREE resource from TeachersPayTeachers)
- Learn basic colors
- Learn basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rhombus, oval, and rectangle)
- Name numbers 0-10
- Count with 1:1 correspondence (download FREE resource from TeachersPayTeachers)
- Practice rote counting to at least 30
- Practice cutting (download FREE resource from TeachersPayTeachers)
- Read to your child daily and ask questions about the stories you share
- Practice tying shoes, putting on clothes, and doing other activities that develop independence
Download the Wet-Try-Dry app from our Handwriting Without Tears program ($4.99)! It's a great way to practice the formation of letters and develop those pre-writing skills that are so crucial.
For the full list of recently updated Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, please follow this link to the TEA web site. To view a list of important AME links and information, click here. You'll find menus, calendars, bus routes, and much more!