Pumpkin Delight Elementary School
24 Art Street
Milford CT 06460
203.783.3531
Helpful Links
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/school-readiness/38491.html
School Readiness
http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/parenting/36063.html
Writing Name
Your child should know his/her own name and recognize his/her name in print. Practice
writing his/her name using the capital letter first and all the rest lower case letters. This is
his/her name; it is important to teach it correctly from the start. Please review each letter in
his/her name by having him/her say each letter as he/she writes it. If your child is having
difficulty, then work on one letter at a time. See the letter formation guide, which is included
at the end of this booklet.
Using a Pair of Scissors
All children are individuals and develop at different rates. Using a pair
of scissors is a skill that children develop over time with practice and
support. It is very important to motivate and encourage children. This
can be achieved with praise and encouragement at each milestone.
Using a Pair of Scissors, cont.
Please do not worry if your child has not mastered this skill by the time he/she starts school,
but awareness of this skill will be helpful. Your child will get plenty of support when he/she
starts school.
Cutting with scissors takes a great deal of finger coordination and
control. This task can be frustrating for young children, especially
in September. Children are adjusting to our school day and “the
teacher wants me to what – CUT!” Working on this over the
summer will help your child be more comfortable with this skill.
Please show your child how to hold the scissors correctly so that
he/she uses his/her pointer finger as the helper finger (see
picture) or two fingers in the bottom hole (if they fit).
Personal Information
It is very important that your child knows his/her first and last name, as
well as his/her address (including zip code). This is for your child’s safety;
please review over the summer.
Correct Position for Holding a Crayon or a Pencil
1. The pencil should be held loosely. It should not be gripped tightly by the fingers.
2. Your child should have plenty of practice writing on a
chalkboard or white board before writing on smaller size paper.
This will encourage greater freedom of arm movement.
3. Please encourage the correct way to hold a crayon with the 2
fingers holding (a pinch grip) and the other 3 fingers tucked
under (see picture).
Sequencing Days Events or Activities
Arrange a series of picture cards into the logical order to create the story from beginning to
end or review the sequence of events of a daily activity, such as getting ready for bed.
Encourage your child to speak in full sentences.
Rhyming
Learning to rhyme is an important skill that will help your child learn to read. Here are a few
suggestions that you can do with your child at home.
1. Read nursery rhymes or sing songs with rhyming words. Exaggerate the rhyming words.
See if your child can tell you which words rhyme.
2. Vary the above activity by leaving out the rhyming words and letting your child fill in
the blanks. For example, say “Jack and Jill went up the ________.”
3. Read Dr. Seuss books or other books with a lot of rhyming words. Help your child find
the rhyming words.
4. Help your child think of words that rhyme with his/her name, names of family members,
animals, etc. Throw in some nonsense words for extra fun and practice.
Before Learning to Read
Before your child can learn to read, he/she needs to understand the connection between
words we say and what is printed. Below are three activities that you can do with your child
that will help with this skill.
1. When reading a book or story to your child, read a phrase or sentence and help your
child clap out syllables in words. Children participate in a series of activities that help
them realize that words are made up of syllables.
a. Syllable Clap
Talk with your child about why knowing about syllables can help them when
they read and write. Ask them to clap with you as you say these words:
sunshine
calendar
vacation
delicious
dinner
astronaut
alphabet
communication
school
wonderful
merry-go-round
television
Before Learning to Read, cont.
b. Syllable Count
Have children clap for each syllable you say. Begin with two or three syllable
words and build up to longer words with more syllables:
airplane
air plane
2
table
ta ble
2
porcupine
por cu pine
3
communication
com mun i ca tion
5
piz-za
to-mor-row
yes-ter-day
2. Go through some photographs and ask your child for a sentence that describes the
photo. Write the sentence down (i.e. “That’s me going down the slide.”) Together,
count the words in the sentence and write the number beside the sentence.
3. As you are reading to your child, please point to each word.
Books
Books provide information and enjoyment in our lives, and they are just as important to
children. Even if children cannot read, they enjoy looking at the pictures and having
someone read to them. Is it important to read every day to your child. Reading before bed
will allow them to calm down and relax before falling asleep. This is a special night time
activity.
Look for and encourage the following behaviors as you read books with your child:
 Does your child:
 Describe actions shown in illustrations?
 Take part in reading by inserting words and phrases?
 Gain information from books are real things?
 Recite familiar books in an attempt to “read” from memory?
 Indicate an interest in different kinds of books (fantasy, realistic fiction, and
informational books)?
 Follow along in a book as it is read?
 Attempt to “read” by looking at illustrations?
 Read some words by sounding them out?
Here are some activities that will help your child develop some of these behaviors:
1. Recite a familiar poem or nursery rhyme and allow your child to insert the mission
word or words. For example, say, Hey, Diddle Diddle, the cat and the _________,
the _________ jumped over the moon.” When you’re reading to your child, you can
point to the words, so that your child will begin to follow along, reading from left to
right.
2. Share a variety of picture books with your child. If your child shows a particular
interest in a specific topic, father picture books that reflect your child’s interest
area.
3. Reading and telling stories to your child not only provides enjoyment, but also helps
develop listening skills and increases vocabulary. As you read or tell a story, stop
and talk about the pictures or new vocabulary words. After your child has heard a
book or a story told several times, your child may want to tell it to you.
4. To help create an interest in books, provide a bookcase for your child’s own books.
As you enjoy the books with your child, stress the importance of taking good care
of books. An inexpensive way to make a bookcase is to cover a box with contact
paper.
5. Take your child to the local public library Milford Public Library
is located at 57 New Haven Avenue. The main telephone
number is 203.783.3304. The website is
http://www.ci.milford.ct.us/milford-public-library.
Letter Formation Guide