Kindergarten English/Language Arts

What your child will learn and do in Kindergarten English/Language Arts

In kindergarten, students are exposed to a range of genres from a variety of cultures and periods. Students learn to identify the difference between literature and informational text and make connections between what they read or hear and everyday life. Students build comprehension skills as they are guided to retell stories and identify an author’s main idea. They develop an understanding of the alphabet and the main features of letters and words as they break down spoken and written words into syllables and letters and identify the sounds each letter makes. These important skills enable children to learn new words and to read and understand developmentally appropriate books and stories. Students also learn to write and share information in a variety of ways including drawing, writing letters and words, listening to others, and speaking aloud.  Activities in these areas include:

  • Naming and writing uppercase and lowercase letters

  • Matching letters to sounds and using other methods to figure out unfamiliar words when reading and writing

  • Learning and using new words

  • Identifying words that rhyme

  • Reading common words such as the, of, you, are, she, and my

  • Asking and answering questions about a story the teacher reads out loud

  • Identifying characters, settings, and major events in a story

  • Recognizing the person, place, thing, or idea that an illustration shows

  • Participating in discussions by listening and taking turns speaking

  • Using a combination of drawing, speaking, and writing to describe an event, give information about a topic, or share an opinion

  • Taking part in shared reading, writing, and research projects

  • Expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly


Helping your child learn outside of school:    
Read to your child and have him or her read to you every day for at least 20 minutes

  • Ask your child to retell a story in his or her own words by telling what happened first, second, third, etc.

  • Ask your child to think about what the message of a story may be or what he or she learned from an informational book or article.

  • Look for opportunities in everyday places to build your child’s vocabulary.  Pick out words that might be new to your child or words that have multiple or complex meanings. Discuss those words and how they add to what the writer is saying.

  • Be sure your child has a library card. Your child should select books in which they are interested in order to develop a passion for reading. Spend time at the library with your child.

  • Use technology to help build your child’s interest in reading. Access websites that allow your child to read books or articles online. The computer will help with words the student cannot read independently. Libraries also have computers your child can use to access websites.

  • Involve your child in authentic opportunities to practice conveying a message through drawing/writing (e.g. grocery or shopping lists, chore lists, messages to family members, signs, directions, keeping a journal, etc.).

  • Encourage friends and family to give books or magazine subscriptions to your child as gifts.  

  • Find time to talk to your child about school or current events (e.g. while riding in the car or taking public transportation, while waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.).

  • Involve your child in planning and researching family activities (e.g. reading recipes to plan a meal, planning a family trip, planning a home project, etc.).


Websites


To access the full CREC Kindergarten Curriculum Guide, click here.

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