Preparing For School!
Help your child make that successful start
at school and really enjoy their learning!
Get involved in Early Childhood
Education! Going to pre-school, kindergarten, day-care,
Playcentre or kohanga reo, for example, is a wonderful way for
children to begin their journey of learning.
Visit the
Junior Team blogs and see what is
happening in the classroom!
See our
Enrolment
webpage for information about enrolling at school and
before-school visits.
Have a look at our
Teaching
& Learning
section for full information about what to
expect at Halcombe School and how you can help at home!
Our new entrant teachers have put together their
"wish list" of skills
that young children
should have to make a successful start at school:
Your child should
be able to:
• do up their shoes
• go to the
toilet and wash their hands
• blow their nose
•
recognise when they are thirsty and get a drink of water
•
ask for things they need.
You can help by encouraging children to:
• sit on a chair at a table for short periods of time to
complete an activity
• ask for things they need
• be
comfortable being away from you
• knows how to take turns, or
is able to wait for things.
It is helpful if your child has
learned the names of colours, the letters of the
alphabet, the numbers 1-9,
and to
write their
name.
Reading
Read to your
child as much as possible. Encourage your child to pick the
books. Find a quiet place and time and enjoy the time together!
Talk about the book – give information, ask questions and
discuss the pictures. Use expression and different voices. As
the child gets to know the book encourage them to joining in on
parts they know. They may like to read the same books over and
over - that's OK! Children should know "how books work" -
can identify the front and back of book, the title, pictures &
text, where to start & "directionality". They should know what a
"letter" and a "word" is. It's great if they can identify some
letters and know the sounds. They should recognise some high
frequency words (I, was, went, to, the, etc) and recognise their
name.
What you can do:
• Have a
encouraging attitude towards reading
• Read yourself
•
Read to them
• Go to the library
• Tell your child stories
Writing -
your child should know:
•
How to hold a pen
• The alphabet – names and sounds of
letters
• Forming some letters correctly
• Directionality
• How to write their name
• How to write some high frequency
words
What you can do:
• Label things
in your house
• Draw pictures
• Write stories, notes,
cards, lists, emails etc together.
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