Kindergarten Ready?

Want to know what skills your child should have before they start kindergarten? Check out these materials.

The ECCS also helps parents find preschool options, enrichment programs, and other resources to ensure their child is ready for kindergarten.

Presentations from Southington Public Schools

SPS Kindergarten Readiness – Numeracy Slides
Provided by Sara Baranauskas, Southington Public School PK-8 Math|PK-5 Science Coordinator, 2023.

SPS Kindergarten Readiness – Literacy & Language Slides
Provided by Stephanie Lawlor, Southington Public Schools District Curriculum Coordinator for ELA Prek-8, Social Studies Prek-5, 2023.

SPS Kindergarten Readiness – Social Emotional Learning and RULER
Provided by – Melissa Barbuto, Principal, Strong Elementary School and Rebecca Cavallaro, Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

SPS Kindergarten Readiness – Development Skills
Presented by Assistant Superintendent Steve Madancy and Kindergarten Teacher Rosemary Risser, 2018.

SPS Fine Motor Readiness for Kindergarten
Presented by Sue Spatafore, an Occupational Therapist for the Southington Public Schools, 2018.

Other Resources:

The Southington Public School District has implemented RULER, an approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) based out of Yale University, that teaches emotional intelligence to people of all ages, with the goal of creating a healthier, more equitable, innovative, and compassionate society. Learn more about Social Emotional Learning and RULER.

Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten – Connecticut State Department of Education

Suggested Reading for Children Entering Kindergarten – Southington Public Library

Ready Set Write: letter formation pathway – This is the way the SPS teaches handwriting.

What Parents Should Know About Kindergarten Entry, Enrollment, and Attendance –

The Connecticut State Department of Education has developed a valuable downloadable resource for parents when considering kindergarten for their child. This family resource addresses why your child should attend kindergarten and includes frequently asked questions about kindergarten entry, enrollment, and attendance. Available in English and Spanish.

Life Skills

While academic skills are important, we often forget the importance of non-academic life skills your child should have before entering kindergarten. Teaching these life skills and independence will not only benefit your child in the long run but will also give your child’s teacher more time to teach and work on their academic skills. Can your child put on their own shoes, coat and backpack? Can they open everything in their lunchbox? Do they know their first and last name and yours?

You can find a list of life skills for kindergarteners here.

Kindergarten Readiness Research

Recent research* says that for kindergarten readiness, three critical areas need to intersect:

1. Timing

  • When intervention starts

2. Quality

  • Intentional instructional component
  • Focus on social-emotional

3. Dosage

  • Day-to-day basis (e.g., half-day vs. full-day programs)
  • Cumulative, over time (e.g., attendance; year-to-year)

If we want children to be prepared for kindergarten and be “ready to learn” in the early grades (K-grade 3), we must:

1. Develop strong foundational cognitive skills (literacy/communication and math).

2.  Develop social and emotional competence.

3.  Establish patterns of engagement in school and learning

And we must do this in partnership with:

  • District Leaders
  • Principals
  • Teachers
  • Site Administrators
  • Families
  • Community Leaders
  • Childcare Providers

* Adapted from Kauerz, K. (April 8, 2014) Presentation to CT Governor’s PreK-Grade 3 Symposium, Hartford, CT

The ECCS is committed to building and supporting these partnerships and sharing as much information as possible with parents and caregivers about various preschool opportunities.