Kindergarten Readiness Assessments
Transitioning from preschool to kindergarten is an exciting milestone in a child’s life. When you apply to a private school for kindergarten, the school will want to make sure that your child is ready – emotionally, physically, socially and academically. They will take into account your description of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, any recommendations from her preschool and/or prekindergarten teacher(s), and they will probably have your child participate in a kindergarten readiness assessment given by either an admission officer or a teacher.
The Assessment
A kindergarten assessment will usually cover language and developing literacy skills (speaking, listening, writing, pre-reading), social skills (ability to separate from parents, desire for independence, ability to play well with others), motor skills (fine and gross), and basic math skills. While the tasks your child will be asked to perform may vary from school to school, you can expect developmentally appropriate activities that might include a selection of items from the following list:
- Identify basic shapes, colors, numbers and letters
- Pull a letter of the alphabet from a bag and name words that begin with the letter
- Name opposites (what is the opposite of hot) and rhyming words (what rhymes with cat)
- Identify whether an object is placed above, below, right or left
- Distinguish between words that sound similar (wish vs which, fly vs fry, etc.)
- Recognize common sight words
- Read a simple word by phonetically sounding out the letters (c-a-p)
- Sit in a group with other students and listen to the teacher read a story
- Listen to a short story and then put the events of the story in the correct sequence
- Listen to and follow multi-step directions (Walk to the bookshelf, pick out a book, and place the book on the table)
- Write first and last names
- Count from 0 to 20 (or 30), and then count backwards from 20 to 0
- Count the number of objects in a group and then match to the corresponding numeral
- Sort and classify objects
- Identify an object’s ordinal position
- Estimate the length of an object using a smaller object
- Use scissors to cut a shape from paper
- Watch the teacher make a pattern with blocks and then replicate the pattern
- Draw a picture of yourself with your family
- Identify animals and name their habitats
- Identify parts of the human body, food items, or other groups of objects
- Play and interact well with other students, both in the classroom and at recess
You should be aware that schools do not expect all children to have mastered all of the skills that will be assessed. Some tasks will be easy and some will be more challenging so that the school can assess a wide range of ages and developmental levels. They may also be watching to determine how the children react to unfamiliar questions and situations that are more challenging.
When you talk with your child about the upcoming kindergarten assessment, make sure that she understands that it’s okay if she doesn’t know everything that is asked of her. Also let her know that she can (and should!) ask for help from the teacher when she needs assistance.
Birth date vs. Readiness
You may worry that your child will not be ready for kindergarten, especially if she has a birthday between August to October and you are faced with the decision to either begin kindergarten early or wait a year. In reality, the birth date is not as important as a child’s development, which is why recommendations and assessments are important. Discuss your concerns with your child’s current teacher and with the admission officer, knowing that you all want what is best for your child.
The Gift of Time
Sometimes a school will recommend that a child wait a year before beginning kindergarten based upon recommendations, observations and the assessment. When this recommendation is made, it is by no means a reflection on parenting skills. Rather, it is based upon the child’s readiness to be successful and meet the expectations of kindergarten. To paraphrase a quote, kindergarten is a journey, not a race. Sometimes the best gift that parents can give their child is the gift of time and along with it, a better chance at future success.
Resources available from Amazon.com
Links to More Information
About.com School-Age Children: Is My Child Ready..?
http://childparenting.about.com/cs/k6education/a/schoolreadiness.htm
ChildFun: Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
http://www.childfun.com/index.php/parenting/grade-school/953-kindergarten-readiness-assessment.html
Education World: What Is the Right Age to Start Kindergarten?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr027.shtml
Family Education: Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/school-readiness/38491.html
Scholastic Parent & Child: Ready for kindergarten?
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=701
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