Ready, Set...Kindergarten
Kindergarten readiness involves much more than just basic letter and number recognition skills. But self-care and social and emotional skills are important for kindergarten readiness, too. It is important to look at the whole child and all the skills and strengths each child has developed. There are skills in childhood development that can help make the transition to the kindergarten classroom more successful (please visit the Activities Websites on resources on how to address these skills). But don't put too much pressure on your child-or on yourself. The list of skills below are just guidelines:
Language Skills
- Speak using complete sentences
- Use words to express needs and wants
- Understands two-step directions
- Classify objects according to their size, shape, and quantity
- Ask questions and is curious
Reading Readiness Skills
- Identify some letters of the alphabet
- Listen to a story without interrupting
- Recognizes familiar logos and signs, like stop signs
- Write first name using upper- and lowercase letters, if possible
- Identify rhyming words
- Draws a picture to help express an idea
Math Skills
- Count to ten without skipping numbers
- Understand "more than" and "less than"
- Can name basic shapes (square, circle, triangle, rectangle)
- Can arrange objects in the right order (like from smallest to biggest)
Social and Emotional Skills
- Separate from parents easily
- Play independently or focus on one activity with a friend for up to 10 minutes
- Follows direction
- Asks for help
Fine Motor Skills
- Grip a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly (with the thumb and forefinger supporting the tip)
- Use scissors, glue, paint, and other art materials with relative ease
- Put together a simple puzzle
Self-Care Skills
- Manage bathroom needs
- Clean up after self
- Get dressed
- Knows their full name, phone number, and birthday
Gross Motor Skills
- Bounce a ball
- Run
- Climb stairs
Contact Us
Early Learning Office
Lindbergh School
220 23rd Street
Building C, Rm 1
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 515-6622
Kathleen Leary
Early & Expanded Learning Director
(714) 424-8979
kleary@nmusd.us
Michelle O'Neill
Early Learning Coordinator
(949) 515-6793
moneill@nmusd.us
Yazmin Diaz
Administrative Assistant
(714) 424-8978
ydiaz@nmusd.us
Sarah Maldonado
Office Assistant (Sub)
(949) 515-6622
smaldonado@nmusd.us
Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2023-2024 School Year is now open! Please visit the Karen Kendall Welcome Center (Enrollment) website for more information.
