Kindergarten Readiness Indicators

Transitioning to Kindergarten: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators

Getting children prepared for Kindergarten doesn't happen overnight. It is a process that begins at birth. Here is a toolkit for ECEs that covers development of skills leading up to the Kindergarten program. Along with a checklist (which can be called upon in fall, winter and spring), there are many excellent parent resources on topics including Skill-Building Activities, Language Development,Learning and Thinking, Beginning Reading, Beginning Writing, Numbers and Counting, Physical Development, Social and Emotional Development, and What to Do If You Are Concerned About Your Child's Literacy Development.

http://www.getreadytoread.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=260

Keeping Up With the Times

Keeping up with current research in early literacy can be challenging when you don't know where to look. Lately, early learning has been buzzing across Ontario with new documents popping up frequently. Not all are specific to early literacy, but here are some of the documents I am referring to with a brief explanation about what each of them are.


Early Learning for Every Child Today (2007)

https://ozone.scholarsportal.info/bitstream/1873/8768/1/274085.pdf
This document was created to support curriculum and pedagogy in Ontario's early childhood settings, including child care centres, kindergarten classrooms, home child care, nursery schools, Ontario Early Years Centres and other family support programs, and early intervention services. It complements specific curricular and pedagogical approaches, early identification protocols and regulated reguirements now in place in Ontario early childhood settings. It features a continuum of developmental skills from birth to eight years old.


National Strategy for Early Literacy - The Role of Parents, Families and Caregivers in Young Children's Literacy Development: A Review of Programs and Research (2008)

http://docs.cllrnet.ca/NSEL/Current/NSEL_RoleOf08.pdf
This document reviews the current state of knowledge about the role of early learning and child care programs on early childhood literacy development. Using the information gathered, it recommends directions for future Canadian research to expand this base of knowledge.


National Strategy for Early Literacy - Report and Recommendations (2009)

http://docs.cllrnet.ca/NSEL/finalReport.pdf
This report defines and and identifies ways of measuring literacy. Then, it discusses the importance of early language and literacy environments, as well as the extent and impacts of low literacy in Canada. Systemic and individual barriers to sucessful literacy outcomes for Canada's children and youth are explored. The report concludes with suggestions for interventions on how to improve literacy across several settings.


With Our Best Future in Mind: Implemeting Early Learning in Ontario

http://www.ontario.ca/ontprodconsume/groups/content/@gopsp/@initiative/documents/document/ont06_018899.pdf
This document is a plan of action regarding the implementation of Ontario's early learning vision.


Every Child, Every Opportunity: Curriculum and Pedagogy for the Early Learning Program (A Compendium report to 'With Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario'.

http://www.ontario.ca/ontprodconsume/groups/content/@gopsp/documents/document/ont06_023393.pdf
This document articulates a proposal for the curriculum and pedagogy for the Early Learning Program for four- and five-year-old children.


The Full-Day Early Learning-Kindergarten Program (draft version) (2010)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/kindergarten_english_apr13.pdf
The Full-Day Early Learning-Kindergarten Program (Draft version) contains the learning expectations portion of the draft program document. This version will be updated with the introductory portion of the draft document shortly. The introductory portion will provide a broader context for the document, greater descriptions of play-based learning and the roles of the teacher-early childhood educator team. The complete draft document will be implemented in year one early learning sites beginning in September 2010.

The Kindergarten Program (revised) (2006)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/kindercurrb.pdf
Current Ontario Kindergarten Program

Getting Ready for Kindergarten Booklist

Last night I had the priviledge of attending a Kindergarten Parent Information Session at a local school. As a take along resource, I created a booklist of picture books that will help children prepare for school by familiarizing them with classroom routines, activities, common anxieties, and so on. In addition, reading in itself is a great acivity to help children prepare for school. Here is a list of some "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" books. I know that some of them seem repetitive (So and so goes to School), but if a certain child has a love of a certain character, finding a book about that character getting ready to go to school just might make their day and ease the transition a little more.

Mama, Don’t Go! by Rosemary Wells
Yoko loves kindergarten, but she doesn't want her mother to leave--until her new friend helps her realize that "mothers always come back."

Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler can not tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst.

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
Takeoff on the classic Clement C. Moore Christmas poem as excited kids prepare for the first day of kindergarten. 'Twas the night before kindergarten, and as they prepared, kids were excited, and a little bit scared. It's the first day of school. Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all-saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. But maybe it won't be so hard once they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.

Franklin Goes to School by Paulette Bourgeois
Franklin is nervous about starting his first day of school.

David Goes to School by David Shannon
David's activities in school include chewing gum, talking out of turn, and engaging in a food fight, causing his teacher to say over and over, "No, David!"

Spot Goes to School by Eric Hill
Spot starts school for the first time, and as the day goes on he finds himself having more and more fun. Flaps conceal part of the illustrations.

We Share Everything! by Robert Munsch
It's the first day of kindergarten and Amanda and Jeremiah have a problem. They both want to read the same books. They want to paint with the same paints. And they refuse to share. The teacher tells them, "Look. This is kindergarten. In kindergarten we share. We share everything." Everything? Amanda and Jeremiah decide to take their teacher at her word. But what can they share? They begin by switching their shoes, and end up wearing each other's outfits! Now Jeremiah is wearing Amanda's pink shoes, pants and shirt and Amanda is wearing Jeremiah's clothes. Together they show their teacher that sharing really can be fun!

Does anyone have any other recommendations that can be added for next year?