What does your kid learn in Kindergarten?

AAAAAteam

Do they learn to tell time?
Do they learn to count by 5's?

Specifically what kind of things do they work on? 

 Just curious. ...

KoriBrett

Counting by 5s 10s 20s, basic addition/subtraction, some basic graphing, a bit of geography and social studies.  Computers, library, music, art, gym 2x/wk each.  Reading comprehension, spelling (her class is the advanced class, their reading/spelling is taught from a first grade level book).

MrsSR

Check online for your district's curriculum.

It will tell you everything you need to know.

xnbride

By the end of K (based on the curriculumn we are working on) they are expected to know the basic sight words, be reading simple stories, count to 30 (ideally to 60), be able to tell time, count money, measure, cut/paste/color on their own, and write basic words.

Like pp said, that info should be available on your district website. Do a search for "insert state" kindergarten standards and you should be able to find a detailed list.

MrsStubbs

KoriBrett:

Counting by 5s 10s 20s, basic addition/subtraction, some basic graphing, a bit of geography and social studies.  Computers, library, music, art, gym 2x/wk each.  Reading comprehension, spelling (her class is the advanced class, their reading/spelling is taught from a first grade level book).

Kori, how are you? 

Littlejen22

xnbride:

By the end of K (based on the curriculumn we are working on) they are expected to know the basic sight words, be reading simple stories, count to 30 (ideally to 60), be able to tell time, count money, measure, cut/paste/color on their own, and write basic words.

Like pp said, that info should be available on your district website. Do a search for "insert state" kindergarten standards and you should be able to find a detailed list.

That is scary to me bc DS can already write too 100 easily, has written to 399. Is learning his money and time, can cut and paste and read. I am dreading Kindergarten.  

Glendi428

Littlejen22:

xnbride:

By the end of K (based on the curriculumn we are working on) they are expected to know the basic sight words, be reading simple stories, count to 30 (ideally to 60), be able to tell time, count money, measure, cut/paste/color on their own, and write basic words.

Like pp said, that info should be available on your district website. Do a search for "insert state" kindergarten standards and you should be able to find a detailed list.

That is scary to me bc DS can already write too 100 easily, has written to 399. Is learning his money and time, can cut and paste and read. I am dreading Kindergarten.  

Not gonna lie, it can be a bit stressful when you've got an academically inclined kid starting kindy (I'm living it this year.) But I must say, I'm amazed by how well DD's teacher and teacher's aide have been at adapting the curriculum to make it more appropriate for her level. Even though she's still in the kindy classroom (which is where I want her to be), she still gets to do advanced stuff... word problems, reading journals, book reports, etc. There's that kind of flexibility in Kindergarten. Now, 1st grade? THAT's what's keeping me up at night... I hear it's a lot more worksheets and such... that will have her jumping out the window from boredom within a week!

mommyof4boys

My twins are in a typical kindergarten and a special needs kindergarten.  They are counting to 100, doing simple addition/subtraction, science and social studies, reading sight words, simple easy readers, journal with invented spelling, etc.  One of my boys can easily do all of this while my other guy is struggling right now with sight words, writing, reading, etc.  He has autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, apraxia, and phonological processing issues.

Chapter79

I really think it depends on the state, city, school, curriculum, etc. It's going to vary a lot.

But my DD is in K, and...
They're learning how to tell time in the past few weeks. Only by the hour, no minutes in grade K. They can count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's. They have a list of sight words they really focus on. They read (the level REALLY depends on the child- my DD's teacher groups them by level. Some still can't read yet, and others are reading books- some with a few words, and others with long sentences), they do the weather daily, read the newspaper, gym 2x a week, music 2x a week, art 1x a week.   They play lots of hangman on the chalkboard Helps them spell.   And this past week they just started really simple math addition. (1+1, 1+3, etc).

shopgirl78

My little girl is in 1st grade and the are focusing on time right now, maily an analog clock at the hour (1:00, 2:00) or at the thirty (1:30, 2:30) and they have to be able to write out all the #'s 1-12, oclock and thirty.  So, they vary how they write the time, ie, one oclock = 1:00.  I haven't seen much in AM or PM...

DD learned to count by 1s, 5s and 10s in KG.  She learned 100 sight words, basic reading, basic addition and subtraction, some science and some social studies.  They did music, health and PE rotating specials.  

Ciarrai

Like everyone said, it really depends on your state and their curriculum and requirements, but if you're in a good school with good teachers they'll be able to adapt the lessons for all levels.  In DD's Kindy, there are kids who can easily read chapter books (like Harry Potter?) and kids who don't know their alphabet.  The teacher is great about keeping all the kids engaged as much as she can with 23 kids in there and all the parents love her.  The homework and reading groups are definitely on level with where the kids are at and most activities can be adjusted to the child's level.

xnbride

Littlejen22:

xnbride:

By the end of K (based on the curriculumn we are working on) they are expected to know the basic sight words, be reading simple stories, count to 30 (ideally to 60), be able to tell time, count money, measure, cut/paste/color on their own, and write basic words.

Like pp said, that info should be available on your district website. Do a search for "insert state" kindergarten standards and you should be able to find a detailed list.

That is scary to me bc DS can already write too 100 easily, has written to 399. Is learning his money and time, can cut and paste and read. I am dreading Kindergarten.  

Maybe ask around to see if there are gifted programs in your area. We have a new charter school opening up for gifted students.  We are doing an online program this year but I am not impressed with it because although they advertise flexibility and adaptability, from what I have seen, it is not very flexible and there is a ton of busy work. We are doing homeschool next year and then going to an onsite charter school (not the same one I refered to) two days a week for electives, field trips and activities.

Joenali

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

shopgirl78

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

Joenali

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

mommyof4boys

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

Not every child had a pre-k experience.  That is a flaw in our district. They push academics and those kids who lack social skills are ushered into a Transitional Primary class that is a 1/2 step for K and 1st.  K is only 1/2 of a day and they don't do social skills. 

shopgirl78

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

Ok. My answer is the same (for our district) that is hammered in PreK which my son is in.  Yes, you learn classroom management each year, each classroom (hello, Harry Wong : ) and its on-going as needed but I think by 1st grade for us, much of it is expected.  You raise you hand before you are called on, you don't talk out of turn, you certainly don't hit, etc...reminders are given as necessary (or in the school I am a regular sub what feels like every 5 mins: ) .  I think they are now more "teaching moments" rather than lessons and KG was a bridge to that. KWIM?

1st grade is much, much more academic for us than KG.  I think good KG bridges both academics and social skills. 

Angela814

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

They really worked on social problem solving skills in 4K and have continued into 5K. I know they used Tucker Turtle a lot in 4K - stop and think, choose a solution to the problem, etc.

Angela814

Here is the C&P of the 5K curriculum from our district's website.

Reading

Your child will:

• understand and select different skills and strategies to read including:
  • activating background knowledge and making predictions
  • using pictures to understand the story
  • recognize concepts of print
  • identifying patterns in stories
  • developing phonemic awareness by listening for and identifying beginning and ending sounds of words
  • identifying rhyming elements of words and phrases
• listen and become aware of language patterns and word meanings
• retell information orally
• draw simple conclusions based on materials read to them
• relate story content to personal experiences

Writing

Your child will:

• use pictures and conventional letters when writing
• write letters to represent sounds
• begin organizing random letters into patterns

Mathematics

Your child will:

• demonstrate one-to-one correspondence by counting objects to 20
• count, order and compare (more, less, same) numbers to 100
• recognize and write numerals 0-30
• add and subtract numbers through 10 using concrete objects
• participate in collecting and organizing objects or information in charts and graphs
• identify six basic shapes
• recognize, extend and describe patterns
• collect information and organize it in charts and graphs
• explain information depicted on charts and graphs
• draw pictures to represent problems
• determine the reasonableness of answers
• recognize and describe properties of length and weight
• measure time by days, months and years

Speaking and Listening

Your child will:

• communicate ideas and experiences to children and adults in small and large groups
• listen attentively without interrupting
• demonstrate understanding of rhyming words and word families
• understand and follow directions

Other Content Area Experiences

• Social Studies: explore self, family, school
• Science: experience how things grow, change and interact with each other
• Art
• Music
• Fitness Education
• Technology: have exposure to word processing, graphics and the Internet

Social-Emotional/Work Habits

Your child will:

• play cooperatively
• follow rules/routines
• make appropriate choices
• stay on task/complete activities
• work independently
• use appropriate words to express feelings

Classroom Guidance

Students participate in classroom guidance activities facilitated by a school counselor. Each school provides a developmental guidance curriculum that encompasses feelings, protective behaviors and career awareness. Skills taught will assist each child on his/her academic, emotional and social development. This in turn, will help ensure success in school, at home and in the community.

 

peekaboo716

Ours is pretty much what Angela posted. In our K, the kids also are supposed to know 50 sight words, count money (basic knowledge), have gym and music 4x/week, art once/week, library once/week, computer lab 2x/week, nature and science special projects, weather, and calendaring (days vs. weeks vs. months).

Andrewsgal

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

Kindergarten is NOT a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills at least not anymore, sorry to burst your bubble. Nothing you say or do will turn it back into that. The expectations for kids in kinder now is what they were for first graders 20 years ago. This is why I will emphasize again and again the importance of preschool that is what preschool is for not kinder. You can wish all you want that little bobby can use K to learn to be nice to his friends but that is not the case any more. And as far as learning manners that is a joke right? I view it as my job as a parent to teach manners shocking I know but I don't leave that up to the teachers.

Joenali

Andrewsgal:

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

Kindergarten is NOT a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills at least not anymore, sorry to burst your bubble. Nothing you say or do will turn it back into that. The expectations for kids in kinder now is what they were for first graders 20 years ago. This is why I will emphasize again and again the importance of preschool that is what preschool is for not kinder. You can wish all you want that little bobby can use K to learn to be nice to his friends but that is not the case any more. And as far as learning manners that is a joke right? I view it as my job as a parent to teach manners shocking I know but I don't leave that up to the teachers.

Yes, kinder may have changed in the past 20 years, but learning social skills are ESSENTIAL! I teach first and second and if you think Kinder is more academic than it once was, the same is true for first and second. We barely have time for one 20 minute period once a week for choice time, where kids can practice social skills. And manners, many parents do not teach manners, and really some kids need to be taught at school. I do not want some bratty little kid being a jerk to me or others in the class. And some kids do not have access to preschool and even if they did, they still should be learning and practicing social skills in the classroom. It's something that shouldn't just be taught in preschool, it's ongoing! Shoot, some adults should be taught social skills!

Improving social skills and limiting disruptive behaviors can improve instructional time. Don't you think that is important? I use the Responsive Classroom approach in my room, as do many teachers in my building. I think improves learning in my room. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pdf_files/rc_brochure_8page.pdf

Andrewsgal

Joenali:

Andrewsgal:

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

Kindergarten is NOT a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills at least not anymore, sorry to burst your bubble. Nothing you say or do will turn it back into that. The expectations for kids in kinder now is what they were for first graders 20 years ago. This is why I will emphasize again and again the importance of preschool that is what preschool is for not kinder. You can wish all you want that little bobby can use K to learn to be nice to his friends but that is not the case any more. And as far as learning manners that is a joke right? I view it as my job as a parent to teach manners shocking I know but I don't leave that up to the teachers.

Yes, kinder may have changed in the past 20 years, but learning social skills are ESSENTIAL! I teach first and second and if you think Kinder is more academic than it once was, the same is true for first and second. We barely have time for one 20 minute period once a week for choice time, where kids can practice social skills. And manners, many parents do not teach manners, and really some kids need to be taught at school. I do not want some bratty little kid being a jerk to me or others in the class. And some kids do not have access to preschool and even if they did, they still should be learning and practicing social skills in the classroom. It's something that shouldn't just be taught in preschool, it's ongoing! Shoot, some adults should be taught social skills!

Improving social skills and limiting disruptive behaviors can improve instructional time. Don't you think that is important? I use the Responsive Classroom approach in my room, as do many teachers in my building. I think improves learning in my room. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pdf_files/rc_brochure_8page.pdf

I am a behavior therapist so you can skip all the cute behavior social skills talk. Should it be taught in kinder? Yes but just as you can't find the time neither can the K teachers. I honestly don't meet many parents who are so concerned that their child be above grade level many are just juggling to keep their kids on grade level. Kids learn to read in kinder, they learn to add, subtract, tell time, count money, and so much more it leaves very little time for play and social skills. Do I think our curriculum in this country is asinine? Yes without a doubt, but it is what it is and my DD needs to be learning academics to keep with her peers and the expectations of her in school so be it. I will stand by my stance that this is why preschool is so important and while I sadly agree that preschool is out of reach to a lot of the general population the nest is not the general population and most kids on here are in a preschool program by at least three and almost all by four.

Joenali

Andrewsgal:

Joenali:

Andrewsgal:

Joenali:

shopgirl78:

Joenali:

What about social skills? Is anyone's kindergarter learning social skills? This would scare me as a parent to know there aren't any social skills being taught. This is so important in kindergarten and beyond.

Do you mean classroom routine, sharing, manners, playing nice, etc?  In our district, those are much more hammered in PreK.  They are a "given" in first grade.

I mean much more than "playing nice". I mean problem solving skills. How to share, what to do when someone makes you upset, when to ask the teacher for help in solving a problem, etc.  Classroom routines need to be learned every year because it varies by teacher. And yes, MANNERS!! Manners! So important to learn, especially when you are competing with 25 other kids for the teachers attention!

I think the problem is so many parents are worried, "Ooooh, my baby is such a genius, he/she needs to be reading War and Peace by the end of kinder or it was a complete failure!" Parents are forgetting that Kindergarten is a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills, regardless if a kid can multiply and divide while standing on their hands!

Kindergarten is NOT a major foundation for learning and practicing social skills at least not anymore, sorry to burst your bubble. Nothing you say or do will turn it back into that. The expectations for kids in kinder now is what they were for first graders 20 years ago. This is why I will emphasize again and again the importance of preschool that is what preschool is for not kinder. You can wish all you want that little bobby can use K to learn to be nice to his friends but that is not the case any more. And as far as learning manners that is a joke right? I view it as my job as a parent to teach manners shocking I know but I don't leave that up to the teachers.

Yes, kinder may have changed in the past 20 years, but learning social skills are ESSENTIAL! I teach first and second and if you think Kinder is more academic than it once was, the same is true for first and second. We barely have time for one 20 minute period once a week for choice time, where kids can practice social skills. And manners, many parents do not teach manners, and really some kids need to be taught at school. I do not want some bratty little kid being a jerk to me or others in the class. And some kids do not have access to preschool and even if they did, they still should be learning and practicing social skills in the classroom. It's something that shouldn't just be taught in preschool, it's ongoing! Shoot, some adults should be taught social skills!

Improving social skills and limiting disruptive behaviors can improve instructional time. Don't you think that is important? I use the Responsive Classroom approach in my room, as do many teachers in my building. I think improves learning in my room. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pdf_files/rc_brochure_8page.pdf

I am a behavior therapist so you can skip all the cute behavior social skills talk. Should it be taught in kinder? Yes but just as you can't find the time neither can the K teachers. I honestly don't meet many parents who are so concerned that their child be above grade level many are just juggling to keep their kids on grade level. Kids learn to read in kinder, they learn to add, subtract, tell time, count money, and so much more it leaves very little time for play and social skills. Do I think our curriculum in this country is asinine? Yes without a doubt, but it is what it is and my DD needs to be learning academics to keep with her peers and the expectations of her in school so be it. I will stand by my stance that this is why preschool is so important and while I sadly agree that preschool is out of reach to a lot of the general population the nest is not the general population and most kids on here are in a preschool program by at least three and almost all by four.

I find the time to teach it every day! It's just as important as academics. A teacher can find the time to do it. I would never get anything taught if I was putting out fires all day. If I don't teach kids to problem solve all I will have is problems!

Every morning I have an agenda set up that my students acutally create. They facilitate the meeting (they were taught how to do it) and problem solve any issues a student has. Some of the issues are 'feeling left out at recess" ( a rule at our school that no one is to be left out of a game if someone wants to join). They discuss how they can help that person etc. I acutally think it' pretty amazing to watch 7 and 8 year olds come up with their own solutions to problems that they think are important. Our morning meeting lasts 15-20 minutes a day. You would be amazed at what they can accomplish! I bet kinders could do it too. But of course K is so academic now, there wouldn't be any time.

FormerlyAK

My ds is in kinder. The academics include:

- 220 sight words by year's end

- Once they finish their sight words (this is self-paced) they start spelling tests

- Basic math (counting by 1, 2, 5, 10), addition and subtractions, basic geometry

- Reading comp

- How to conduct a basic Science experiment

- Art

- A variety of types of writing: narrative, "how to," writing a letter/addressing an envelope, descriptive, etc.

- Read a book and give a verbal report to the class

- Social studies

In addition to the academics, they also focus on:

- Being responsible for your homework

- How to go to the library and check out a book and remembering to return it the next week

- How to make good food choices in the cafeteria

- How to "lead" the class in the morning routine

- How to manage your time on a long-term assignment

(I think these might be more of the "educational social skills" people are referring to)