[MOSAIC] Kindergarten preparation

[KENNETH SMITH]

I think a welcome packet would be a great idea. A book from A-Z might be a good idea so that parents can be prepared for what will be expected of their kids. It seems like I remember an A-Z book called "Getting Ready for School", but I'm not sure of the level. I think sight words might be a bit much, but maybe instead you could do something with the alphabet. You might be able to find a file folder game or an activity off of the FCRR website to produce, giving them a set of alphabet flashcards to manipulate. You could produce upper and lower case letters, some pictures with Elkonin boxes under, maybe filled-in, except for beginning sound - you might be able to find worksheets that can be laminated and then include a dry erase marker. I would also suggest a sentence strip (or name plate) with the child's name (first and last) - this, too, could be laminated for the child to practice. If you did want to do something with sight words, there is a great sight with a complete Dolch kit that can be downloaded. It's called theschoolbell.com. There are flashcards, a practice book, games, and phrase lists. I would think this would be a better welcome to first grade item, though.

I would suggest teaching the parents about the 5 components of reading, and then focusing them on the phonemic awareness area and giving them ideas of how to work with sounds with their kids. Again, the FCRR website has lots of info you could use.

Hope that helps.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Heather Wall" <heather_wall_2000 at yahoo.com>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 6:24:30 AM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago
Subject: [MOSAIC] Kindergarten preparation

Does anyone do a "Kindergarten Welcome Packet" type of thing for their entering Kindergarteners in the Spring? Our superintendent is thinking of starting this - sort of a "Welcome to K" packet of possibly a book and/or sight words and/or parent tips - that would be for the kids we've registered to begin K in the fall. We'd try to get it to them before summer starts.
I'm thinking perhaps we could get a free sample level A book from readinga-z.com (everything has to be very cheap to do it county-wide), and possibly some parent tips from readingrockets.com  I'm not sure about the sight words. What do you think? Should a pre-K student be studying sight words?  We're a rural, high ESL population in general, with pockets of middle class families. Any ideas you have that can help, or if you've done something like this before, would be greatly appreciated!
 Heather Wall/ Instructional Coach/ Georgia
NBCT 2005
Literacy: Reading - Language Arts
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