Creative Ways To Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten!

My son is reading so well now that he took the class. The biggest improvement I see is his ability to write. His fine motor skills have improved, and he can independently write the sounds to make a word.

Evaluation comment from a mom

Did you know?

49% of children who do not know the alphabet as they enter kindergarten are middle class or higher.

PreK Curriculum

Parent Kit - Sample Lesson

Pre K Scholars in Action! Check Out a Lesson Plan Example

Take a peek into an interactive learning experience using the letter M as an example of what you can teach your child. Notice the integration of letters, phonics, motor skills, science, math, nutrition, social science, and creative arts.

  • Cut-and-Paste Exercise. Review child's cut-and-paste binder exercise finding words at home that start with M. How many M words did he or she find during the day?
  • The M Character Phonics Card. Introducing, Max the Maestro who Makes Music. Max makes the "mmmm" sound. Show your child how to draw an M in the air with an imaginary conductor's wand like Maestro Max. Then teach the character motions: Stand straight with both hands in closed fists. Extend each of your pointer fingers but keep your other fingers clenched shut. In unison, raise both hands straight up and then bring them down diagonally to meet in front of you while saying the "M" sound. This motion should look as if you are conducting music in the shape of a capital M.
  • Review Letters Learned. Now go through all the fun character motions and sounds of the letters with your child that the two of you have learned to date.
  • Scholarville. Find Maestro Max on the Scholarville map and help him find his M sticker. What are some of the M activities they do in Scholarville? Let's find out.
  • Guessing Game. Pull the M cards of your choice and begin to describe each M word to your child, using the three clues listed on the back of the card. See how many he or she can guess. Then reveal the picture and spelling of the word.
  • Magnet Reading and Science. Read your child a book about magnets, such as "Mickey's Magnet" by Franklin M. Branley. Help him or her make a magnet necklace to wear for hunting "moon dust." Go outside and find some dirt in search of moon dust or other metal objects.
  • M is for Math. Take out the math activity and lay out some M&M candies on the table. Help your child count out four M—Ms to place in the first box on the paper, then ask your child to place three M&Ms in the next box after the plus sign. Have him or her count the total number of M&Ms in the two boxes and write the answer in the third box after the equal sign. You can talk about colors, shapes and nutrition in this activity as well.
  • Handwriting Exercise. Give your child the handwriting page that gives instruction on how to write the letter M. Ask your child to practicing writing the letter M, providing lots of encouragement along the way.
  • Mouse Paint Color Mixing. M is for mixing Mouse Paint, based on the book "Mouse Paint" by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Your child will have fun learning how to take three colors and mix them to make six different colors.

Your Parent Kit will include other M activities. Our PreK curriculum has many fun, exciting lessons that make instruction easier. The written instructions and the Teaching Tips DVD will help you along the way. It's so easy—and you can move at your own pace. Have questions? Just contact us or click here to get answers to Frequently Asked Questions.