"One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money was in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child." --Forest Witcraft

Parents are a child's most valued teacher!

Spend time talking about the things around you. Introduce new words and help your child understand their meaning. Look at pictures together and take turns observing details. Make predictions about what you think is happening in the picture or what will happen next.

Read the library books with your children each week. Give praise when listening to your child read the books sent home in his/her literacy bag. When your child shows an interest in a particular topic, check out a book from the public library to find out more. Enlist older siblings to read with your kindergartner, too!

Find opportunities to write with your child. When asked how to spell something, encourage your child to use inventive spelling by listening for all of the sounds in the word. You can help your child hear these sounds by "stretching" the word. This simply means that you say the word slowly and emphasize the different sounds. Have your kindergartner help you make the shopping list, write thank you notes to friends/family, make daily entries in a family journal. Always give your child the opportunity to read back what has just been written.

Have your child help you count beans, buttons, pennies, or any other objects you have around the house. Divide objects into groups and have your child determine which group has more/less.

One of the easiest ways you can help your kindergartner is by going over the work he/she brings home each Friday. Praise the efforts of your kindergartner and designate a special place in your home for all of his/her masterpieces. One of the greatest gifts of love you can give your child is to take an active role in their learning. Together we will make kindergarten a special time for everyone!