Kindergarden level knowledge?

[bendmom]

Is anyone here enrolling their child in Kindergarden this year? We are on a lottery for a local magnet school, and when I visited the class, it was almost all play. Dh says we need to find out what the schools expect the child to already know if he doesn't get in and has to go to regular public school. Ds can write his name, recognize num. and letters, name, etc. He knows shapes and colors, but is there more that he should know? It seems like at 5 they should really be learning social skills and some basic learning. Are we missing something?

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

There was just a huge thread on this in Parenting issues. Expectations and skills taught in K vary hugely by school district. You should search your school district website or call the school principal for guidance. I know in our area the list of what a child is expected to know before starting K and what is taught is on the website.

[lauren]

Bendmom, most of the things you listed are desired by kindergarten teachers. My dd is in k-garten this year, at a ps. At our school, they wanted them to be able to color within the lines, not to be artistic squelchers, but because of the early math skills they are learning (simple graphing, etc.) There is a strong emphasis on being able to work cooperatively in a group, being able to line up to go somewhere quietly, and learning how to take turns talking. We were given a list of things to work on over the summer after we registered, to help our child get ready. Perhaps this school can offer you something similar.

[DreamsInDigital]

I just looked through our school district's web site and can find no information about what is required of them entering kindergarten. My 5-year-old will be starting this fall.

[PikkuMyy]

Ask the principal for the "KRT", Kindergarten Readiness Test. There wasn't any info in our district either but we got a copy of this test so we know what they're looking for.

PM