Marielle Hedeiros: I agree with Sarah Jane. It sounds like you are doing a good job, and have a good idea of what she needs to be doing. Just a couple of thoughts- I think the idea of contacting the kindergarten is a good one. I would talk with one of the teachers, if possible. Try and set up a time to meet with her after school for a half hour or so. This might go better if you know a kindergarten teacher or have an "in" somehow. If you call the school and tell them what you want, it's possible that they would refer you to a school specialist- such as the school psychologist who does the screening for kindergarten, or the school intervention specialist who checks for children who need special services for learning disabilities. If you can ask for a specific teacher, that might help. Also along the lines of kindergarten- there is a book series called "What your child needs to know for kindergarten". The series has a book for every grade. "What your child needs t! o know for first grade"...etc. You could try looking for it at your library or check online at Amazon to see what it looks like and to read about it a little bit. One thing that children often miss when they stay at home is understanding the idea that there are times for certain activities, and that the rules for their house are not the same as in other places. As a Preschool teacher, I have to teach children to sit for a story. They don't understand that when they are bored, they can't just get up and leave. Or if one child wants a different story, we may not have an opportunity to quit the one we are reading and get a different one just because he/she would prefer something else. Going to library story hour would help your daughter understand that there are different rules in different places. It would help her to lean that "this is story time" and we sit until the story is finished. Taking turns is another big lesson to learn, and understanding that all the piece! s of (whatever toy) aren't "mine". Another place you could tr! y for a school type experience is church. If you belong to a church, sign her up for Sunday School when she is old enough, and attend Vacation Bible School in the summer. Our church has a Preschool, and we offer scholarships to families in need so their child may attend Preschool. Many times the scholarship is not for the whole amount or for the whole year- it may be for half of the tuition, and then the family can afford the other half, or the church pays for the first half of the year until the family gets over some financial struggle, or whatever. You could try looking at church Preschools and see what you think. The biggest deal of all is to get your daughter out and experience different things. Hands on experiences are the key to learning. Anything you can do will help her build her confidence, and "make sense of the world around her". (That's a teacher phrase). Go for a walk and point out things in your neighborhood. Count the mailboxes on the street. What ! color are the houses? Go grocery shopping with her and come home and sort the groceries. Canned goods go here- cereal boxes over here- fruit goes here. Check out a video from the library on ballet. Make paper bag puppets and tell a story. Go to the zoo, the playground, visit Grandma. It all will go a long way to help her learn. Teacher websites and teacher resource books my help you. A magazine called "Mailbox" is a staple of Preschool teachers, and is available at most libraries. You can look it up online, also. Teacher Websites to try-Prekinders.com DLTK.comPerpetual PreschoolPreschool Express by Jean Warren**Preschool Express has a calendar you can print out for the month with an educational activity for each day. I'm sorry this is so long, but I really understand your situation and feel for you. If you want to correspond, I could do that....Show more
Linwood Mccory: No worries :-) Sounds like you are on the right road in providing a good foundation for! your child.I usually recommend at least 1 year before Kindergarten but! if you can't...that's the way it is and I'm sure you'll do your best in preparing your child for Kindergarten. If that is what happens, I suggest that you get on your state's main website and department of education link and review kindergarten standards. This is what they must know as they LEAVE Kindergarten. Then you just take steps toward that. Basic: recognize her name, write her name, count to at least 10, can hear rhymes and plays with words, can clap out a word and hear the chunks (syllables). Really, our K teacher says she can't expect more than the child to be potty trained and a ten minute attention span. That's it. But it definitely helps with the children come in with more. Recognizing letters out of order, matching upper/lower case letter, able to write them (large...do not expect them to write on lined paper), begin to know the letter sounds. Math- able to sort and describe, count with meaning, recognize numerals out of order, ABAB patterning. Soc! ial-emotional- a minimum 10 minute attention span, can name their feelings, deals with problems verbally instead of physically, respects other adults besides just parents. That'll get you started anyway :-)Side note: State funded programs usually work hand in hand with Head Start program. I always say, fill out the paperwork for the state funded programs even if you think you make too much. They only require a 50% class enrollment being at or below the poverty line. Both Head Start and State funded programs (ours is called Just 4s) will accept only 4 year old (or the year before Kindergarten)....Show more
Oscar Waddups: I think it sounds like you are doing all the right things. I stayed home with my two sons, now 15 and 19 years old. They both are fine young men now. They both have many friends. Each one has a "best" friend or two. They are well educated, one in College and the youngest doing very well in High School. When my youngest was about the same age! as your daughter I started thinking I'd better get him socialized beca! use the oldest had started school already. We were home alone. A lot. I put him in the best preschool facility in the area and he got Mononucleosis. I kept him home until he was ready for regular Kindergarten after that. Of course that's just my story out of a million. I think you are doing a great job. If she can already do the things you have taught her just keep a little bit of that up and take her to the park or places where she can hang out with other kids her age. She really doesn't have to have a classroom setting. There are many ways to socialize a child. The local library often has a "reading time" as do places like Barnes and Noble. There Home school groups, of course, who meet regularly for fun days like the movies or age appropriate activities. A local church might have children who are watched for free during service. Just some ideas. You are doing the right things. Let her enjoy these precious few years home with you. The more confidence she g! ains at home the better off she will be when she enters formal schooling. Keep your money but not your love and things will turn out just fine! Best Wishes,SarahJane...Show more
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