‘Countdown to Kindergarten’ to prepare youngsters
Madison Public Library staff and Madison City School educators are collaborating to present “Countdown to Kindergarten” on Feb. 6. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Kindergartners stand to benefit from a new venture devised by Madison Public Library staff and Madison City Schools educators.
The library and school district are partnering for “Countdown to Kindergarten” on Feb. 6 at 10 a.m.
Countdown to Kindergarten will allow “parents to see which skills their children have already mastered and which skills they should focus more on” for the best chance at success when the child enters school, youth services librarian LeAnna Whitaker said.
Whitaker helped with a similar program in an Illinois library. “I thought it would be a great way to partner with Madison City Schools to provide the community with a worthwhile, educational program,” she said.
Organizers hope Countdown to Kindergarten is fun for pre-kindergarten students, while also showing parents “their child’s current skill sets and pinpointing areas (for) improvement while preparing to register for kindergarten,” Whitaker said.
Angela Bush, assistant principal of Madison City Schools First Class Pre-Kindergarten Center, arranged a meeting with five pre-K and kindergarten teachers at Rainbow Elementary School.
They identified the six most important skills for children entering kindergarten:
* Sorting letters and numbers and distinguishing between the two.
* Sorting by size and color.
* Improving fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil or building with Play-Do.
* Rhyming words/sounds.
* Counting objects.
* Listening to a story and sequencing events.
“Teachers gave us examples of fun ways (for) testing” and loaned teaching aids, Whitaker said. In addition, the district is supplying take-home material for parents.
“We don’t think about it as adults, but simple things like holding a crayon correctly can be difficult with undeveloped fine motor skills,” Whitaker said.
Brandy Van Dam, who teaches at Bob Jones High School, is scheduling student volunteers to man six stations. Students will give instructions to each child/parent. Hopefully, parents will help their children.
Children should attend Countdown to Kindergarten with their parents. “The event’s real intent is for parents to assess their child’s strengths and weaknesses and help them prepare for entering kindergarten in the fall,” Whitaker said.
For more information, call 256-461-0046 or email lwhitaker@hmcpl.org.
