What skills do you think a child needs to start school?

[Paddy05]

Hi
I am just doing a little bit of private research into the beginning years at school and what traits a successful child exhibits that gets them on the road to a positive school experience.

If you could write a list of the top 10 skills (or attitudes) a child starting school should/could have, what would they be?

For example; is sitting on the mat for 15 minutes to listen to a story or instructions really important? Knowing how to hold a pencil? Able to unpack own school bag? Know the alphabet? Positive approach to school and learning? Or do you prefer to have a 'clean slate' and teach skills and attitudes from scratch?

In anticipation of your replies.
Thanks

[Boxcar]

I personally feel that 15 minutes is too long for a preschooler or pre-K to sit. A story should be surrounded by movement, fingerplays, and songs. My circle is usually a fingerplay, a book, a movement, and a transition out to lunch. Ninety-five percent of that is active participation by the children. They often get to help me tell the stories with flannel boards and props. I don't think this takes away from reading.

That wasn't the question though. So, I'll put away the soapbox.

My main criteria is social-emotional skills. Is the child able to use his/her words with or without prompts? Is the child ready to begin to share? Where is the child in terms of language-communication? A child who is developmentally a two year old in terms of social-emotional skills shouldn't be placed with the four year olds. A placement in a mixed-age room would be better for this child. Self-soothing and self-regulation should at least have some foundations in place for a preschooler.

My other item is self-help skills. This is a BIG one. The child should be able to toliet with only occasional mishaps - like maybe once every three weeks. The child should be able to dress and undress without extensive assistence. Zipping a coat is fine. Needing help putting on every piece of outdoor gear is not so fine. Please, buy shoes that don't require tying for school! If your child isn't ready to learn to tie his/her shoes, don't send him/her in shoes he/she cannot manage. The child should be able to feed himself/herself and wash his/her own hands. Most classrooms are equipped with child-sized equipment. This should mean that the child will be very independant in terms of self-help. No pacifiers for children over one. It is a health hazard. No sippy cups for children over two. These types of self-help skills give the child confidence in addition to making the teacher's life easier. I won't lie. The more the child can participate in daily routines, the happier a teacher will be!

Finally, I love it when a child is curious and open. I love watching them discover and supporting that. The best attitude a child can have is inquisitive. I think that the children should love to learn. Young children learn through play, so this isn't a hard expectation for them to meet. If a child likes to play, he/she like to learn.

What other things will benefit a child? Well, I'd say knowing how to recognize one's own name is a good thing. Writing it is also awesome! Number and letter recongition is excellant. I'd expect that in a five who is going into K. The child should recongnize the letters in his/her name and numbers zero to ten if going into K.

To be honest, I don't expect a lot to happen before I acquire the children. The point of being a teacher is highlighting the child's strenghts and improving upon the weaknesses. I feel that the parent is the expert on the child. What that parent decided to do or not do to prepare the child is respected by me. I would ideally appreciate a team approach with the parent. I don't always agree with the parent, but I do see us as a team.

That said, I think the most important thing to remember is this: It isn't what you teach the child, it is how the child learns it. Some children come in at three knowing how to add and subtract. Now, how was that learned? Was it rote? Did the child have an interest in learning this? Was it learnt through concrete, hands-on play? Whose decision was it for the child to learn this? The child's? The parent?

I hope this helps. Let me know if I wasn't exactly coherent in some bits. I'm typing my thoughts a bit fast...

[Paddy05]

Thanks for such a detailed response. Being in Australia, we don't have to layer on clothing, so I love that you have included a problem I wouldn't normally need to consider.

I also like the way you consider how a child has acquired skills. (By rote, hands-on play etc) You are right, this does make a big difference.

Your floor circle time sounds like fun. I have observed dozens of classes and although there are huge variations, what you do sounds very exciting for the little ones.

Regards