Be sure you know what your preschooler is learning at pre-k.
Pre-kindergarten, or pre-k, is a preparatory level of elementary school that helps get children ready for kindergarten. Parents who plan to enroll their children in a pre-k program may wonder what their child will learn during this year of study. While each pre-k may differ somewhat depending on the school system and the methods of the teacher, there are common elements generally taught in pre-kindergarten classrooms.
Social Skills
Children in pre-k programs work extensively on social skills to prepare them for interaction with teachers and other students in years to come. Social skill practice typically involves social problem solving in the form of sharing or cooperation in groups. Good manners, self-reliance and assisting others in need are common in this setting. Children in pre-k are often expected to be able to say their full name, age, the name of the school, their phone number and the name of the city and state where they live.
Math
Pre-k students get a leg up in mathematics to prepare them for the basic lessons they'll be learning in kindergarten. Teachers in pre-k programs generally want students to learn their numbers from 1 to 10 and to be able to count objects up to at least 10. Recognizing patterns of numbers or letters may also be part of a math preparation lesson. Children learn about sizes, shapes, matching symbols, greater and less than, basic money counting and telling time.
Language
Language and listening skills are a very important part of pre-k education. Teachers can read stories aloud, and students can learn to listen with interest and concentrate on what they hear. This helps students follow oral directions as well. Children learn to verbalize their interests and the things they need. They also take part in reciting poems and in recognizing and making up rhymes. Learning the basics of grammar and spelling is also important at this level of education. Many pre-k programs focus on the child's ability to write her name and to tell her own short narrative stories.
Creativity
Creativity is a large part of the typical pre-kindergarten curriculum. Playing creative games, singing, painting, making arts and crafts, and discovering uses for various materials are all part of the creative learning process. Children may use various objects to help dramatize stories, and may learn about many simple musical instruments they will recognize and perhaps play.
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