email : Webview : Kindergarten Readiness Newsletter

Parenting a preschooler can be challenging, and we hope that this newsletter will add to your parenting toolbox by delivering inspiration and expert advice to your inbox each month. Do you have burning parenting questions or a topic that you would like us to cover in a future newsletter? We would love your input! Please contact Nicole Casey at ncasey@fayschool.org with any questions, comments, or feedback.

BOOK CLUB - The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand is a great back-to-school book as the story follows Chester the racoon, who is nervous about his first day of school. Chester's worries soon subside when his mother comes up with an idea to kiss his hand as a way for him to carry her love while away at school. See our Arts & Crafts section below for a similar idea to try with your child.

LITERACY AND NUMERACY -Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words, and it is essential for reading. An easy way to practice phonological awareness with your child is through rhyming activities. You can do this through reading rhyming books (click here for a book list), singing or listening to nursery rhymes, or by playing rhyming games (click here to see a puzzle that helps build rhyming skills).

ARTS & CRAFTS - Friendship Bracelets

As your child heads off to pre-school or kindergarten, make friendship bracelets to wear on the first day to feel connected to each other.

Materials Needed:

String or Stretchy Cord
Beads (pony beads work great)
Scissors
Tape

Directions:

Cut a piece of string or cord and tie a knot at one end. Once tied, tape that end to a table.
Work with your child to string beads onto your bracelets. Try letting your child work on their own bracelet because this is great practice for their fine motor skills. You can also work on your child's pattern recognition skills during this activity.
Once your bracelets are done, tie the ends together and wear them on the first day of school.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE -Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a normal part of child development and can be different for each child. For example, it is common for children to feel anxious when saying goodbye to their parents on the first day of school, but it is also common for anxiety to pop up during the school year, even for a child who managed the start of school well.

Katie Knuppel, Fay’s Head of Primary School, suggests that one way to manage separation anxiety related to school is for you and your child to create a drop-off routine together and practice it before the first day. Whether it’s a high-five and one hug, or a kiss and a special handshake, you can come up with a fun drop-off routine that sends your child into school feeling confident and avoids any last-minute clinging or sadness.

FIELD TRIP - Back-to-School Shopping

Picking out a special “big-kid” backpack and choosing school supplies can be a great way to build some excitement for the start of school. Take your child with you on a dedicated trip to the store and include them in the fun of getting ready for school.

PARENTING ADVICE - Conquering Back-to-School

It’s that time of year again. You linger over magazine spreads of elaborately organized homework stations and color-coded family calendar systems, and you develop the sudden conviction that a label maker will change your life. It’s back-to-school, the time of year that has a way of bringing out the inner organizer in all of us. While it’s tempting to think that redesigning your child’s workspace will transform your school year, it’s actually the habits that you cultivate now that can have the greatest positive impact. Here are seven tips for easing the transition from the lazy days of summer to back-to-school.

7 Tips for Conquering Back-To-School

Kindergarten at Fay School

Kindergarten often lays the foundation for a child's entire learning experience. At Fay, our small class size and differentiated approach helps each kindergartener establish the skills they will need for a successful educational journey. Our teachers focus on each child’s literacy, numeracy, science understanding, and social-emotional development, supported by a team of expert specialists who coordinate instruction in art, music, French, and Spanish, and P.E. Our teacher also focus on fostering a love of learning, and they know that when students believe that their learning matters, they give their all.

Learn More About Kindergarten at Fay

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

48 Main Street
Southborough, MA | 01772 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.