Daughter will be going from Kindergarten to 1st Grade in the Fall?

Question

What can I be doing this summer to ensure she doesn't lose what she learned this past year and help her to be ready for the up-coming school year?

Answer 1

I know this isn't exactly what you are asking for but my mom is a teacher. When I went from kindergarten to first grade, she spent the summer trying to teach me some letters and sentences in an effort to speed up my learning. It didn't stick. I would get bored and wander off. Then I got to first grade and took off like a shot, and by the time I was 7 (end of first grade) I was reading Reader's Digest in the doctor's office. By third grade, my reading levels were on a 12th grade level.

I guess I'm saying that you shouldn't be overly concerned. Your daughter will be fine when she gets to first grade, and you shouldn't force anything on her because she may not be ready for it.

If you want to make sure she stays alert, read to her regularly to keep her mind thinking. If you are playing with her or just walking around the house cleaning, play little memory games to "remind" her about what she learned in kindergarten. For example, say, "Now, what is your telephone number again? I bet you can't tell me the whole number," and then praise her when she is eager to spout it off to you.

The only thing I would try to teach her that may be "new" is make sure she is learning how to use a computer. Let her play educational games on it for a half hour or so, and if she wants to make a card for Father's Day or something, help her type one on the computer. Computer skills are essential in today's world, and she can't start soon enough.

Answer 2

I'm in the same situation.  Ours is a little different because our school is year round.  Her last day of Kindergarten is this Thursday but she starts first grade in July.

Anyway, I made my daughter a little book.  I bought a blank Tinkerbell notebook and wrote down her sight words.  Then she helped me draw pictures to go with her sight words.   Then she had pages and pages to write any other words she could remember or wanted to learn.  We also bought a few level one reading books.  She can't quite read them by herself but she enjoys doing that with a little help.  We bought ones with TV characters she likes so it doesn't feel like homework.  We also have little computer games made by a company called School Zone.  My kids love the games but they are definitely learning and age appropriate.  I got our games at Sams Club.  Another thing I've heard of people doing is to label things in your house.  Just write down things like "fridge" and "counter" and even "wall" and laminate them and then stick them to the appropriate place.

Don't push her this summer.  Let her have fun.

=)

Answer 3

She is not going to lose what she learned. Anyways the first month in 1st grade will be more of a refresher for the students.

Answer 4

My middle son is in the first grade & his teacher last year said not to stress over work this summer.  She said we shojuld enjoy the vacation. But she also recommended participating in the summer reading program at our local library.  This way, the kids are still reading, which they learned, but they are doing it in a fun, rewarding way.  Also, they sent home a small packet of worksheets that you can turn in during the first week of school for a surprise.  All grades in our school have some sort of extra work for the summer & it is usually around 10 pages or so.  Remember it is still her vacation, you don't want to burn her out, it will only cause struggles in the first grade.

Answer 5

spank her.

Answer 6

let the poor kid have a break. She will not fall behind. Read books with her at night and have a fun summer playing. Life is about more than learning school stuff

Answer 7

Go to a teacher-supply store and get an appropriate-level math book... do something in it every day?

Take your daughter to the library weekly and together, get a stack of books. Read them in the afternoons?

Answer 8

We visit the library alot, read every night. Do flash card, and math games who knows she might even get ahead. The first few weeks of school are almost always review to help catch them back up and to see how much they retained over the summer.