Updated: JANUARY 2012

What Can I do to help my child at home?

Try the activities below! Check back each month to find new suggestions.  This is your child’s “homework”!

1.)  Any time your child brings home a graph, ask questions like, “which had the least?”  “which had the most?”  “how many more were needed to make a group of 10?”

2.) Practice counting by 2′s, 5′s  and by 10′s . 

3.)  Ask your child what numbers come before/after certain numbers.  For example, “what comes before 12?”  “what comes after 19?” etc. What comes, “in between?” Write that number down!

4.) Look for opportunities to READ.  Watch for signs that say, “in” “out” “stop” etc.

5.) Ask your child not only about beginning and ending sounds in words, but also the MIDDLE sound!

6.)  Practice reading and writing our word wall words–look for them in books, the newspaper, write them with fun markers/pens, use magnetic letters, etc.

7.) Write notes to your child–try to use our word wall words.  Ask your child to write back to YOU! Lunch notes are always fun! Help your child write a note for mom/ dad’s lunch! Send a note to grandma and grandpa!

8.) Continue to practice writing FIRST and LAST NAME at home.  

9.)  Read EVERY DAY.  Ask your child questions while reading.  Predict what will happen next.  Have your child point out words that he/she recognizes. It’s important to remember that it is not always necessary to stop and ask questions and look for words–reading should be FUN!

10.)  When your child comes home with a printable book, practice reading it 2-3 times.  Sometimes ask your child to point to specific words on the page.  Point out punctuation and have your child name and tell you the purpose of a . ? or !.

11.) Ask your child to write two-three sentences describing what went on in his/her day. Help your child begin by coming up with a ‘topic sentence’ together.  For example, “Today I went to school.”  What other sentences can be added?

12.)  Practice tallying at home–give a number and have your child show that number with tally marks.  Circle groups of ten!!!

13.) Create addition and subtraction stories and ask your child to solve the problem.  For example, “There are 6 brownies on this plate.  If you eat 2 of them, how many are left?”  Is this an addition problem or subtraction problem?  Would a + or – sign be used?  Ask your child to write a an addition or subtraction sentence to go along with the story.

14.) Give your child a number.  Ask your child how many groups of ten are in that number.

15.)  Play board games and card games. Favorites here at school are connect 4, mancala, card games and hi ho cherry-o  There are so many benefits–teaches your child to sit and focus for a longer period of time, to think about strategies, to be a good sport (Good game!  Nice try!), to lose (sometimes hard to take at this age!) and games also require many math skills.

16.)  Pray together as a family.  Pray before meals.  Pray before bed. We say the Hail Mary and Our Father together regularly. Make prayer a part of your home life!

17.)  Go to church each Sunday.  Look for other kindergarten families!  Ask your child to show YOU around the church! Your child is familiar with our church as we have weekly church visits.

18.)  Snow outside?  Get outside and PLAY!!!!