handbook - learn. play. read....the mulberry bush here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry...
TRANSCRIPT
HANDBOOK
THE
2
Hello, all!
So. You want to make sure your preschooler is ready when he or she walks through those kindergarten doors
for the first time? You know that they’ll learn a lot at school, but you may feel a lot of pressure to make sure
they have a great foundation before they start kindergarten. Sometimes it seems overwhelming, doesn’t it?
You may hear things like, “Kids need to know how to read before they start kindergarten.” And, “How can your
child not cut yet?” and “Kindergarten now is what first grade was twenty years ago.”
Yeah, overwhelming!
Don’t worry. Just a little bit of work each day will ensure that your child is on his or her way to succeeding in
kindergarten.
As a children’s librarian, I am passionate about Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition, which incorporates
five aspects of early literacy:
Talking
Singing
Reading
Writing
Playing
All of the activities I suggest will fall into at least one of those five categories. Learning can and will be fun!
So, here we go! Dive in and see what information you can find. Don’t feel like you have to do every single
thing in this handbook. The fact that you are making an effort to furthering your child’s skills is more than a
great start. Do what you can and do what your child is ready for.
Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Let’s get learning!
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DAILY ACTIVITY CALENDARS………….......................................................................................................4
ARE YOU READY? CHECKLIST…………………………………………………………………………………...7
BOOK LIST…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
WEBSITES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
RESOURCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
BRICK PATTERNS…………………………………………………………………………………………10
CUTTING LINES……………………………………………………………………………………………11
EDIBLE PLAY DOUGH……………………….……………………………………………………………12
EMOTION FACES………………………………………………………………………………………….13
GRAPHING SHAPES………………………………………………………...........................................14
NURSERY RHYMES………………………………………………………………………………………15
SEQUENCING CARDS PART 1…….……………………………………………………………………16
SEQUENCING CARDS PART 2………………………………………………………………………….17
SEQUENCING CARDS PART 3………………………………………………………………………….18
SKIPPING INSTRUCTIONS………………………………………………………………………………19
WORDLESS PICTURE BOOKS………………………………………………………………………….20
ALPHABET PRACTICE……………………………………………………………………………………21
4
Su
n
So
cia
l an
d E
mo
tion
al
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Mo
n
La
ng
ua
ge
an
d L
iter
ac
y
He
lp
Tu
e
Ma
th P
ra
ctic
e
We
d
Fin
e M
oto
r S
kills
Th
u
Gr
os
s M
oto
r S
kills
Fr
i R
ea
d B
oo
ks
To
ge
the
r
Sa
t E
xp
lor
e th
eir
Wo
rld
1
Sho
w E
MO
TIO
N
FA
CE
S*
an
d d
iscuss
with
child
, usin
g th
e
pro
vid
ed q
uestio
ns.
2
Hav
e child
dra
w a
pictu
re of h
is/her
fam
ily a
nd
label (w
ith
help
) each m
em
ber.
3
Hav
e child
practice
BR
ICK
PA
TT
ER
NS
*
with
toy b
ricks. M
ake
new
pattern
s too
!
4
Hav
e child
cut craft
do
ugh w
ith c
hild
-
friend
ly scisso
rs.
5
Intro
duce sk
ipp
ing w
ith
SK
IPP
ING
INS
TR
UC
TIO
NS
*.
6
Read
Miss
Bin
derg
arten
Gets
Rea
dy fo
r Kin
derg
arten
by Jo
seph S
late.
7
Tak
e child
to th
e park
,
mu
seu
m, zo
o, b
each,
farmer’s m
arket,
gran
dm
a’s, etc.
8
Read
The K
issing H
and
by A
ud
rey P
enn an
d
practice th
e techniq
ue
with
child
.
9
Usin
g craft d
oug
h, h
ave
child
practice letters
with
AL
PH
AB
ET
PR
AC
TIC
E*
.
10
Hav
e child
use
GR
AP
HIN
G
SH
AP
ES
* to
gra
ph
3D
blo
cks.
11
Hav
e child
use fin
gers
or tw
eezers to re
mo
ve
item
s from
buck
et of
dried
bean
s or rice.
12
Hav
e child
practice a
large m
uscle activ
ity—
mo
nkey b
ars, ho
pp
ing
on o
ne fo
ot, etc.
13
Read
Sup
er Sau
rus
Sa
ves Kin
derg
arten
by
Deb
orah
Und
erwo
od
.
14
Let c
hild
pick
out h
is/
her o
wn clo
thes an
d p
ut
them
on h
imself/
herself.
15
Plan
a visit to
a library
or p
laygro
up
this w
eek.
Info
rm c
hild
and
build
excitem
ent.
16
Read
a story
and
have
child
iden
tify th
e
beg
innin
g, th
e mid
dle,
and
the en
d.
17
Build
tow
ers with
blo
cks/to
y b
ricks. M
ake
small, m
ediu
m, a
nd
large to
wers—
com
pare.
18
Hav
e child
use a g
lue
bo
ttle like a p
en to
mak
e pattern
s and
write
letters.
19
Play
catch w
ith ch
ild.
Hav
e him
/her p
ractice
bo
th th
row
ing an
d
catchin
g.
20
Read
Ho
w to
Get Y
our
Tea
cher R
ead
y by Jea
n
Reag
an.
21
Hav
e child
make
cho
ices all day—
this o
r
that?
With
meals, to
ys,
bo
oks, etc.
22
Play
Sim
on S
ays w
ith
child
. Let o
ther sib
ling
s
and
/or frien
ds jo
in to
o.
23
Use S
EQ
UE
NC
ING
CA
RD
S*
to tell a
nd
retell Jack an
d th
e
Bea
nsta
lk.
24
Tell ch
ild n
um
bers an
d
hav
e him
/her fin
d
matc
hin
g o
bjects—
tell
him
5, h
e find
s 5 p
ens.
25
Hav
e child
make a
shaker eg
g—
put d
ried
bean
s insid
e of a p
lastic
egg a
nd
tape sh
ut.
26
Hav
e child
help
yo
u set
up
an o
bstacle co
urse
and
com
pete w
ith y
ou
and
/or w
ith frie
nd
s.
27
Read
Kin
derg
arten
Co
un
tdo
wn
by A
nn
Jane H
ays.
28
Get o
ut so
me d
ress up
cloth
es and
, with
child
,
take o
n p
retend
roles
and
situatio
ns.
29
Teach
child
to sa
y “H
i,
my n
am
e is ….” w
hen
meetin
g k
ids. P
ractice
(safely) in
pub
lic.
30
Read
NU
RS
ER
Y
RH
YM
ES
*. S
ha
ke
his/h
er shak
er egg to
hear rh
yth
m.
*C
heck o
ut th
e Reso
urces sectio
n o
f the K
ind
erga
rten R
ead
iness H
an
db
oo
k to fin
d th
e free prin
tab
le.
5
Su
n
So
cia
l an
d E
mo
tion
al
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Mo
n
La
ng
ua
ge
an
d L
iter
ac
y
He
lp
Tu
e
Ma
th P
ra
ctic
e
We
d
Fin
e M
oto
r S
kills
Th
u
Gr
os
s M
oto
r S
kills
Fr
i R
ea
d B
oo
ks
To
ge
the
r
Sa
t E
xp
lor
e th
eir
Wo
rld
1
Teach
the ch
ild to
sing
the A
BC
’s wh
ile he/sh
e
wash
es h
is/her h
and
s.
2
Use as m
any to
ols to
create a pictu
re as yo
u
can fin
d—
mark
ers,
pen
s, pen
cils, pain
t, etc.
3
Use b
lock
s or to
y
brick
s to b
uild
a city
togeth
er.
4
Hav
e child
use a c
hild
-
friend
ly scisso
rs to cu
t
lines, u
sing C
UT
TIN
G
LIN
ES
.
5
Listen
to a m
usic C
D
with
action so
ngs o
n it.
i.e. Shak
e Yo
ur S
illies
Ou
t by T
he W
igg
les.
6
Read
Co
rduro
y G
oes to
Sch
oo
l by D
on
Free-
man
.
7
Pro
vid
e pap
er, pen
s/
pen
cils, envelo
pes, an
d
stam
ps fo
r the c
hild
to
create mail. M
ail it!
8
Hav
e the c
hild
talk to
a
friend
or fa
mily
mem
ber o
n th
e
telepho
ne.
9
Go
to th
e library
and
find
bo
oks ab
out o
ne o
f
the ch
ild’s fa
vo
rite
top
ics.
10
Mak
e and
pla
y
ho
psco
tch to
geth
er.
11
Hav
e child
make
pup
pets o
ut o
f pap
er
bag
s.
12
Play
that th
e floo
r is
lava!
13
Read
The B
erenstain
Bea
rs Go
to S
choo
l by
Stan
Beren
stain.
14
Mak
e the E
DIB
LE
PL
AY
DO
H R
EC
IPE
*
for so
me co
okin
g a
nd
play
ing fu
n!
15
Ask
the ch
ild w
hat th
e
weath
er is like o
utsid
e.
Talk
abo
ut d
ifferent
typ
es of w
eather.
16
Ask
the ch
ild to
write
the sh
op
pin
g list w
ith
yo
u. L
et him
/her w
riter
his/h
er ow
n list.
17
Play
a coup
le of ro
und
s
of G
o F
ish to
geth
er.
18
Mak
e nec
klaces u
sing
sho
elaces and
po
ny
bead
s.
19
Go
outsid
e and
have th
e
child
dra
w w
ith c
halk
.
20
Read
Little B
ear Go
es
to S
choo
l by Ju
tta
Langre
uter.
21
At d
inner, ask
the ch
ild
wh
at his/h
er favo
rite
part o
f the d
ay an
d
wee
k w
as.
22
Use tw
o o
r three step
directio
ns to
instru
ct
the ch
ild to
get read
y
for th
e day.
23
Read
a bo
ok fro
m
WO
RD
LE
SS
PIC
TU
RE
BO
OK
S*
togeth
er.
24
Put fu
n e
ven
ts on a
calend
ar and
sho
w th
e
child
ho
w m
any d
ays
are left.
25
Hav
e the c
hild
practice
tyin
g h
is/her o
wn
sho
es.
26
Go
swim
min
g to
geth
er.
27
Read
Fro
gg
y G
oes to
Sch
oo
l by Jo
na
than
Lo
nd
on.
28
Hav
e the c
hild
tell yo
u
the step
s required
for
mak
ing b
reakfast a
nd
/
or lu
nch
.
29
Sch
edule a p
layd
ate
with
ano
ther ch
ild/o
ther
child
ren fo
r this w
eek.
30
Mak
e a bo
ok to
geth
er.
He/sh
e can d
raw
the
pictu
res and
yo
u can
write h
is/her w
ord
s.
*C
heck o
ut th
e Reso
urces sectio
n o
f the K
ind
erga
rten R
ead
iness H
an
db
oo
k to fin
d th
e free prin
tab
le.
6
Su
n
So
cia
l an
d E
mo
tion
al
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Mo
n
La
ng
ua
ge
an
d L
iter
ac
y
He
lp
Tu
e
Ma
th P
ra
ctic
e
We
d
Fin
e M
oto
r S
kills
Th
u
Gr
os
s M
oto
r S
kills
Fr
i R
ea
d B
oo
ks
To
ge
the
r
Sa
t E
xp
lor
e th
eir
Wo
rld
1
Hav
e the c
hild
try at
least one n
ew
foo
d
tod
ay.
2
Lo
ok u
p jo
kes an
d tell
them
to th
e child
. Hav
e
the ch
ild m
ake u
p h
is/
her o
wn jo
kes.
3
Ask
the ch
ild to
set the
table. C
ount th
e plates,
silverw
are, cup
s, etc.
4
Hav
e the c
hild
dra
w a
pictu
re of so
meo
ne h
e/
she lo
ves.
5
Go
for a w
alk. C
ollect
as man
y n
ature o
bjects
as yo
u ca
n. (L
eaves,
pin
econes, etc.)
6
Read
The G
reat
Dictio
na
ry Ca
per b
y
Jud
y S
ierra.
7
Giv
e the ch
ild access to
som
e item
s in y
our
closet fo
r som
e preten
d
play
.
8
Read
Glad
Mo
nster S
ad
Mo
nster b
y Ed
Em
berle
y an
d A
nne
Miran
da.
9
Read
Wo
rdy B
irdy b
y
Tam
mi S
auer. A
sk th
e
child
what h
is/her
favo
rite part w
as.
10
Mak
e a recipe to
geth
er
and
allow
the ch
ild to
measu
re the
ingred
ients.
11
Bak
e or co
ok a recip
e
togeth
er. Let th
e child
mix
, po
ur, m
easure,
sprin
kle, etc.
12
Preten
d to
be d
ifferent
anim
als togeth
er. Try
to
guess w
hat a
nim
al th
e
oth
er is imitatin
g.
13
Read
We D
on’t E
at
Ou
r Cla
ssma
tes by
Ryan T
. Hig
gin
s.
14
Play
I Sp
y to
geth
er.
Tak
e turn
s in th
e
differe
nt ro
les.
15
Mak
e a plan
to v
isit an
educatio
n cen
ter this
wee
k—
library
,
mu
seu
m, zo
o, etc.
16
Hav
e the c
hild
practice
writin
g h
is/her n
am
e.
Tracin
g, w
riting, an
d
then
writin
g sm
aller.
17
Hav
e the c
hild
sort th
e
laund
ry b
y co
lor, ty
pe,
or size.
18
Play
a bo
ard g
am
e
togeth
er.
19
Dan
ce Party
! Dance
with
the ch
ild to
som
e
favo
rite song
s.
20
Read
Sq
uare b
y M
ac
Barn
ett.
21
Fill a b
uck
et w
ith
water. H
ave ch
ild
exp
lore w
hich
ob
jects
sink an
d w
hich
float.
22
Tell th
e child
his/h
er
full n
am
e. Revie
w it
every
day th
is wee
k.
23
Read
A B
all for D
aisy
by C
hristo
pher
Rasc
hka. H
ave th
e
child
tell the sto
ry.
24
Co
unt h
ow
man
y w
hite
objects are in
the
child
’s ho
use.
25
Hav
e the c
hild
mak
e a
card to
giv
e to so
meo
ne
special. U
se scissors,
glu
e, mark
ers, etc.
26
Mak
e a parad
e with
mu
sical instru
men
ts (or
no
isy k
itchen to
ols.) B
e
sure to
marc
h!
27
Read
Cru
nch
the S
hy
Din
osa
ur b
y Ciro
cco
Du
nlap
.
28
Let th
e child
play
an
educatio
nal g
am
e on a
smart p
ho
ne, tab
let, or
com
puter fo
r 30
min
.
29
Hav
e child
tell yo
u h
is/
her fa
vo
rite thin
g to
do
.
Go
do
it if yo
u can
!
30
Sin
g a so
ng to
geth
er.
Sin
g it ag
ain
loud
ly,
softly
, like a
n an
imal,
with
out w
ord
s, etc.
*C
heck o
ut th
e Reso
urces sectio
n o
f the K
ind
erga
rten R
ead
iness H
an
db
oo
k to fin
d th
e free prin
tab
le.
7
ARE YOU READY? CHECKLIST*
ALPHABET VERBAL SKILLS GROSS MOTOR
SKILLS SOCIAL SKILLS
Recites the alphabet Uses descriptive
language Skips
Correctly states
age
Identifies the sounds
each letter makes
Can express and
describe feelings
Hops with both
feet and one foot Recites full name
Identifies uppercase
and lowercase letters
Speaks in
sentences
Throws and
catches a ball
Able to identify
birthday
Participates in
group activities
WRITING MATH FINE MOTOR
SKILLS
Takes turns and
shares
Correctly grips a
pencil
Sorts by color,
shape, and size
Grasps pencil
correctly
Seeks adult help
during conflicts
Traces letters and
numbers
Completes
patterns
Good scissors
skills
Follows rules and
routines
Colors in all of the
white spots Counts to 20 Uses glue neatly
Able to move to a
new activity
Identifies shapes Strings beads
READING
READINESS
Understands
graphing basics
CREATIVE
ARTS
Listens well to read
aloud stories
HEALTH AND
WELLNESS Identifies colors
Retells information
from a story SCIENCE
Brushes teeth
independently
Interprets
pictures
Uses imagination Identifies
common animals
Knows how to
wash hands
Knows facts
about plants
Able to put
shoes/coat on
LISTENING
SKILLS
Recognizes
objects in the sky
Follows 1 and 2
step directions
*not a comprehensive list
8
BOOK LIST
This book list is made up of books about starting school, particularly kindergarten. Reading them to-
gether will help the child prepare for going to kindergarten, as well as increase literacy skills and en-
hance a bond between you and the child.
· The Berenstain Bears Go to School by Stan Berenstain
· Milk Goes to School by Terry Border
· Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten by Marc Brown
· Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten by Toni Buzzeo
· I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
· Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby
· I’m Telling You, Dex, Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis
· The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen
· Twindergarten by Nikki Ehrlich
· Corduroy Goes to School by Don Freeman
· Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt
· A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper
· Kindergarten Countdown by Ann Jane Hays
· Truckeroo School by David Kirk
· On the Way to Kindergarten by Virginia Kroll
· Little Bear Goes to Kindergarten by Jutta Langreuter
· Chicken in School by Adam Lehraupt
· Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
· Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
· Eliza’s Kindergarten Surprise by Alice McGinty
· Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster
· The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
· How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan
· Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
· Kindergarten, Here I Come by D.J. Steinberg
· Is Your Buffalo Read for Kindergarten by Audrey Vernick
· Super Saurus Saves Kindergarten by Deborah Underwood
· The Night Before Kindergarten by Nathasha Wing
· Dad’s First Day by Mike Wohnoutka
· Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten by Hyewon Yum
· Sophie’s Squash Goes to School by Pat Zietlow Miller
9
WEBSITES
These websites are wonderful resources for more information on preparing the child for kindergarten.
· http://beyondthebackpack.nickjr.com/
·http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/collection/what-to-expect-grade/count-down-to-kindergarten
· http://www.getreadytoread.org/
· http://www.readingrockets.org/
· http://www.starfall.com/
10
BRICK PATTERNS
Use blocks, toy bricks, or anything with different colors to follow the patterns below. When the child masters following the patterns, have him/her add to the pattern and make it longer. Then, he/
she can make up his/her own patterns!
11
CUTTING LINES
Have the child practice cutting by cutting on the lines below. It’s okay if he/she isn’t perfect! It
takes practice. Feel free to make copies of this page for additional practice or use a marker on a piece of computer paper to make your own lines for the child to cut.
12
EDIBLE PLAY DOUGH
Have fun cooking together and then playing together! The child will practice math when measuring
the ingredients, work on science skills when watching the chemical reactions from heating and mix-
ing the ingredients, and improve fine motor skills when playing with the play dough.
TO MAKE ONE BALL OF DOUGH
6 Large Marshmallows
¼ c. Corn Starch
2 tsp. Liquid Coconut Oil
12 drops Food Coloring
Put the marshmallows, corn starch, and liquid coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for approxi-
mately thirty seconds, depending on your microwave’s power. The marshmallows will get very puffy! Add in
10-20 drops of food coloring on top of the puffy marshmallows. Start out stirring with a spoon because the
contents of the bowl will be hot. Once the mixture cools down, mix the play dough with your hands. You’ll
know everything is mixed when the play dough is all one color. Add in some cookie cutters, rolling pins, and
other play dough and baking tools to make this a cooking and playing experience!
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EMOTION FACES
Have the child identify the different emotions each picture could be showing. You can also cut the
pictures apart and create flash cards, as well as add your own images.
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Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down
And broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got
And home did trot
As fast as he could caper
Went to bed
And plastered his head
With vinegar and brown paper.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb,
little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
Everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went,
Mary went.
Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
school one day,
school one day.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play,
laugh and play,
laugh and play.
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.
A Tisket, A Tasket
A tisket, a tasket,
A green and yellow basket,
I wrote a letter to my love,
And on the way I dropped it.
I dropped it, I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy picked it up
And put it in his pocket.
The Mulberry Bush
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush.
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our hands,
Wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our clothes,
Wash our clothes, wash our clothes,
This is the way we wash our clothes,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we go to school,
Go to school, go to school,
NURSERY RHYMES
Read rhymes together while shaking a shaker egg, a maraca, or clapping. Nursery rhymes are great
for introducing literacy skills - rhythm in speech and reading, new vocabulary words, understand-
ing concepts, etc.
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This is the way we go to school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we come out of school,
Come out of school, come out of school,
This is the way we come out of school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
Rock-a-bye Baby
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green;
Father’s a nobleman, mother’s a queen;
And Betty’s a lady, and wears a gold ring;
And Johnny’s a drummer, and drums for the king.
Wise Old Owl
A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird.
Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long,
Oh where oh where can he be?
A Swarm of Bees in May
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
One, Two, Three
One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
But I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
The little one upon the right.
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SEQUENCING CARDS PART 1
Read the story below and show the previously cut-out pictures from Sequencing Cards Part 2 while
telling the story. After, help the child tell the story using the previously cut-out cards from
Sequencing Cards Part 3.
Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. All they had
was a cow. One morning, Jack’s mother told Jack to take their cow to market and sell her, so they could use
the money for food. On the way, Jack met a man who had magic beans. Jack sells the cow for magic beans.
(Show BEANS)
When Jack’s mother saw the beans she was very angry because they needed to sell the cow for food, not
magic beans. She threw the beans out of the window. The next morning, Jack looked out of the window and
saw the beans grew into a giant beanstalk. Jack decides to climb up the beanstalk. (Show BEANSTALK)
He climbed up the beanstalk so high that he was climbing through the clouds. At the top, Jack saw a beautiful
castle. (Show CASTLE) He went inside. Jack heard a loud voice. “Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum!” Jack ran into a cupboard
because he was scared. He peeked through the door and saw a giant.
On the giant table, Jack saw a harp and a hen. “Lay!” said the giant. The hen laid an egg. It was made of
gold. “Sing!” said the giant. The harp began to sing. The hen and the harp were magic! Soon the giant was
asleep, so Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the hen, the harp and a bag of gold. (Show BAG OF
GOLD, HEN, and HARP) Then, he started climbing down the beanstalk. But, the giant heard Jack and
started chasing him down the beanstalk.
When he got to the bottom, Jack chopped down the beanstalk with the giant still climbing down. The giant fell
and crashed to the ground, along with the beanstalk. Nobody ever saw the giant again. (Show JACK and
BEANSTALK) With the hen laying golden eggs, the bag of gold and the magic harp, Jack and his
mother lived happily ever after.
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SEQUENCING CARDS PART 2
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SEQUENCING CARDS PART 3
Jack sells the cow for magic beans.
The beans grow and Jack climbs up
the beanstalk.
Jack finds a castle at the top of the
beanstalk.
Jack takes gold, a harp, and a hen
that lays golden eggs.
The giant chases Jack. Jack chops
down the beanstalk.
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SKIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
Practice skipping together. Many kindergarten screenings require children to demonstrate skip-
ping, so it is a good skill to know. In addition, skipping is also a great way to strengthen gross mo-
tor skills.
First, practice hopping (on one foot) forward in a straight line. When the child masters that, try a hop on one
foot, then a jump with two feet, then a hop on the other foot, then a jump on two feet. Finally, have your child
try stepping forward with his right foot, hopping on that same foot and then switching: stepping forward on his
left foot and then hopping on his left foot.
It takes practice! Watching you is a great way for kids to learn.
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WORDLESS PICTURE BOOKS
Wordless picture books are just that - pictures made up almost exclusively of illustrations. They are
great for developing language skills, such as comprehension, storytelling, and vocabulary. There is
no right or wrong way to read a wordless picture book. The storyteller can use his/her imagination to
tell a story, using the book’s illustrations as a guide. Tell a long story, tell a short story, tell a new sto-
ry, repeat the same story. The options are endless! Let the child tell the story or see if he/she can re-
tell the story you told!
· Lost Found by Marsha D. Arnold
· The Other Side by Istvan Banyai
· The Carpenter by Bruna Barros
· Journey by Aaron Becker
· Grace for Gus by Harry Bliss
· Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
· Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle
· The Marvelous Misadventures of Fun-Boy by Ralph Cosentino
· Truck by Donald Crews
· Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
· LaLaLa by Kate DiCamillo
· The Numbers by Monique Felix
· The Giant Seed by Arthur Geisert
· Archie by Domenica More Gordon
· Gem by Holly Hobbie
· Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle
· Bee & Me by Alison Jay
· Red Sled by Lita Judge
· Skunk on a String by Thao Lam
· Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson
· Wave by Suzy Lee
· Float by David Miyares
· A Ball for Daisy by Christopher Raschka
· I Scream, Ice Scream by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
· Dinosaur! by Peter Sis
· Fish by Liam Francis Walsh
· Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner
· Pip and Pup by Eugene Yelchin
· Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli
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ALPHABET PRACTICE
Use the following pages for alphabet practice. My favorite way to use giant letters is to have the
child make the letter shapes with play dough, using the printout letters as a guide. (I like to laminate
my letter sheets.) You can also have the child color the letters in with markers or spell his/her
name. Any way the child explores the letters will help increase alphabet awareness and, in turn,
improve his/her literacy skills.
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