Kindergarten prep isn’t just about buying a new set of Crayolas and picking out a lunchbox. It’s also about preparing for a kindergarten admission test! Your child should naturally master basic test taking skills to achieve a higher kindergarten test score than he would without preparation. More importantly, he should acquire a variety of kindergarten readiness skills.
Stephanie provides kindergarten prep that can benefit children on the kindergarten admission test.
As a speech-language therapist, Stephanie works with your child at his present ability in kindergarten prep and pushes him to where he still experiences success, but is building new skills.
All of the play and work in kindergarten prep begins with building attention as it is a requirement for success in all tasks. Once your child is attending, can he follow the game directions?
If following directions in a kindergarten game is too difficult, we may need to practice in a more active game like Simon Says and slowly change the goals to follow more complex commands and settings. Does your child always understand stories that are read aloud? Stephanie helps children to understand storylines in fun and meaningful ways.
During games, we may work on defining vocabulary words that your child knows, or we may learn new words. Stephanie uses carefully chosen picture books, kindergarten games, and conversation to expose your child to new words. These tasks and experiences help encourage general knowledge that can benefit a child on the kindergarten admission test and as well as in kindergarten.
Conversational skills are consistently addressed. Is your child using age – appropriate grammar? Is he precise with his words or are there too many “vague” words (e.g., it, this, that, thing, there, etc.)? Can he formulate appropriate questions and comments fluently? Is his articulation clear – can an unfamiliar listener understand him?
During more complex kindergarten games, critical thinking skills are hard at work. Pre-reading and math skills (e.g., sequencing, rhyming, letter, number and shape recognition, one–to–one correspondence) are often intertwined.
Working with Stephanie can help build confidence and self-esteem in these areas which is critical for kindergarten test prep success.
Progress is consistently reviewed with parents and homework activities that suit the child and family are recommended.
Stephanie is not directly involved in the NYC school admissions process (public or private). Kindergarten prep does not guarantee that your child will perform well on the kindergarten admission test or in kindergarten.
If you live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and are interested in preparing for a kindergarten admissions test, or if you would like to learn more about our kindergarten prep programs, please email Stephanie Sigal, Speech-Language Pathologist: sayandplay@yahoo.com.