Graduating from kindergarten is an exciting moment, full of learning and growing opportunities, but it also brings the responsibility of preparing for first grade. When your child starts elementary school for the first time in first grade, they will be introduced to a new classroom structure and schedule.
At St. Paul Northville, we can help your child prepare for first grade, and you can help your child have an enjoyable and successful year.
What Should My Child Know Before First Grade?
It's important to note that what a child should know in first grade will vary depending on their prior school experience, especially if preschool and kindergarten aren't required in your area. Developing basic social skills in early life, on the other hand, is essential for your child's success in first grade.
Your child will need to learn conversational rules and how to take turns speaking and listening to others. They will also need basic academic skills like math and literacy including:
- Adding and Subtracting Numbers Up to 10
- Counting Number of Objects in a Group
- Identify People, Places, and Things in a Picture
- Answering Questions About a Passage or Story Their Teacher Reads
- Writing and Differentiating Between Upper and Lowercase Letters of the Alphabet
When your child graduates from kindergarten to first grade, they continue to grow academically throughout the school year and their teachers will prepare them for second grade.
As a parent or guardian, it’s important to remember that educators use first grade to help students further understand concepts and master basic skills taught in kindergarten. Preparing your child beforehand can help them transition smoothly and set them up for success.
How to Prepare Your Child for First Grade
The first step is to become familiar with the first-grade curriculum. While we've highlighted some of the most fundamental principles a first-grader should know, the first-grade curriculum may vary depending on your state's department of education, which you can access online and find your state's first-grade curriculum.
Being actively involved in your child’s education is one of the best ways to help them succeed academically. Parental involvement and types of involvement include leaving encouraging notes in their lunch boxes or school backpacks, assisting your child with homework questions or offering guidance, and ensuring that your child has appropriate resources and learning tools available for them to use.
Parent-teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to meet with your child's teacher and discuss your child's progress. If you have any worries about your child's social or academic development, their teacher should be able to address them.
Furthermore, parent-teacher conferences can be used to create a plan that works best for your child, and the teacher will value the information you offer in order to better teach your child and prepare them for the future.
If you’re interested in private Christian education for your child, St. Paul Lutheran School is an excellent choice in the Northville, MI area. We offer a Christian-centered education for grades K-8, with a maximum class size of 20 students, extracurricular activities, and a rigorous academic program. For more information about our school and admissions, contact us.