Jade
February 14th 2004, 03:34 PM
by KATE LARSEN
Scripps Howard News Service
Kindergarten teacher Lynn Williams will not forget Jeffery, the student who had never seen a book.
Williams said Jeffery wasn't lacking from love or care, but his mother simply failed to introduce Jeffery to books.
"I gave him a book and he said 'what is this?' " Williams said.
Jeffery was at an enormous disadvantage in kindergarten.
Educators and experts agree that a basic understanding of books and letters are some of the most important skills for children entering kindergarten.
Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist at the Chicago Medical School, stresses the importance of reading to your child.
"Of all the games and gimmicks, this is the only one that works -- the amount of language (a child is) exposed to equals the amount they will learn," Eliot said.
It's never too early to start, she said.
Not only does reading to babies and young children help with their brain development, it also encourages social and emotional development.
Williams, who taught preschool for more than 20 years, said it is helpful for children to know how to hold a pencil, how to use scissors and how to follow directions.
There aren't specific academic goals that should be achieved before a child enters school, as children develop and learn at different rates, said Alan Simpson, spokesman for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Perhaps the most important thing is to get your child excited about going to school, he said.
"If you make the transition to kindergarten something to be nervous about, your child will pick up on that," Simpson said. "But if you display confidence and anticipation, your child will get excited."
Play dates with future classmates and a visit to the classroom are some ways to make your child feel comfortable about kindergarten.
(Kate Larsen is a reporter for the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo. Contact her at 303-473-1361 or larsenk@dailycamera.com (larsenk@dailycamera.com).)
Publication Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Scripps Howard News Service
Kindergarten teacher Lynn Williams will not forget Jeffery, the student who had never seen a book.
Williams said Jeffery wasn't lacking from love or care, but his mother simply failed to introduce Jeffery to books.
"I gave him a book and he said 'what is this?' " Williams said.
Jeffery was at an enormous disadvantage in kindergarten.
Educators and experts agree that a basic understanding of books and letters are some of the most important skills for children entering kindergarten.
Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist at the Chicago Medical School, stresses the importance of reading to your child.
"Of all the games and gimmicks, this is the only one that works -- the amount of language (a child is) exposed to equals the amount they will learn," Eliot said.
It's never too early to start, she said.
Not only does reading to babies and young children help with their brain development, it also encourages social and emotional development.
Williams, who taught preschool for more than 20 years, said it is helpful for children to know how to hold a pencil, how to use scissors and how to follow directions.
There aren't specific academic goals that should be achieved before a child enters school, as children develop and learn at different rates, said Alan Simpson, spokesman for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Perhaps the most important thing is to get your child excited about going to school, he said.
"If you make the transition to kindergarten something to be nervous about, your child will pick up on that," Simpson said. "But if you display confidence and anticipation, your child will get excited."
Play dates with future classmates and a visit to the classroom are some ways to make your child feel comfortable about kindergarten.
(Kate Larsen is a reporter for the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo. Contact her at 303-473-1361 or larsenk@dailycamera.com (larsenk@dailycamera.com).)
Publication Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2003