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Parents' Place:
School Readiness
Children's experiences and the skills and characteristics they develop during the preschool years are critically important to their success later, in school. For children to reach their full potential, parents and other adults around them must provide an environment and experiences that promote growth and learning.
Supporting Children's Transition to Kindergarten Program
This is a Smart Start-funded program designed to educate parents on the developmental expectations of children, school readiness skills, and strategies for supporting skill development. Details and contact information.
Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten -
An Activity Guide for Families
This guide explains how young children begin to develop their social, language, cognitive, and physical skills and what families can do to help their children make the most of this critical time in their children's early development.
Kindergarten Registration Guide
This booklet contains complete details on when and how to register your child for Kindergarten in Asheville City schools, Buncombe County schools, Charter schools, magnet schools, and information about after school programs, health assessment requirements for registration (including sample forms), and virtually everything you need to know for a smooth transition into Kindergarten for your child.
- download the PDF here (this is a somewhat large file - if you don't have hi-speed internet access, please call Smart Start at 828-285-9333 to request a copy)
Additional Helpful Publications
1. Getting Ready for Kindergarten
A parents' guide available for download here as PDf files (2 Mb each):
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2. Ready, Set, Go Calendar
By clicking on the link below, you may print out a wonderful resource calendar which lists essential skills that you can help your kindergarten-bound child develop by using the suggested tasks.
Ready, Set Go Calendar (This is a very large file - 14 Mb PDF - and requires a high-speed internet connection. If you do not have a high-speed internet connection, please call the Smart Start office at 828-285-9333 for information on how you can get a copy of this calendar.)
2. Foundations
A publication designed primarily for early childhood educators. Foundations: Early Learning Standards for NC Preschoolers and Strategies for Guiding Their Success describes the particular skills and abilities that are important for children's success, and provides ideas for fostering their development.
Families can benefit greatly from taking special note of the sections entitled "Widely Held Expectations" and "Strategies for Families" which appear under the description of each set of special skills.
The Foundations booklet is available:
- for purchase by phone, call (toll-free) 1-800-663-1250, or
- download the PDF here (large file, 2 Mb)
Other Suggested Kindergarten Transition Activities
During the winter and spring before your child is entering kindergarten...
- Visit all schools that you are considering (public, private, charter). Make an appointment to meet staff and observe a kindergarten classroom.
- Participate in Magnet School programs in city schools, and Kindergarten Nights in the county, and similar events in private and charter schools. Phone the schools to learn when these nights will be held.
- After you have determined the school that your child will attend, make an appointment ot bring the child to school to visit the kindergarten classroom, find the bathroom(s), play on the playground, visit the cafeteria and library and meet staff.
- Encourage your child to write stories and draw pictures about going to kindergarten.
- Help the child to formulate questions about going to kindergarten. Give them to the kindergarten teacher at the new school.
- Talk to a neighbor, friend or relative whose child is now (or recently) in kindergarten.
Suggested Children's Books for Transitioning Kindergarteners
Print or Save this list as a Word document or PDF
The Berenstain Bears Go to School
Stan and Jan Berenstain
ISBN: 0394837363
Billy and the Big New School
Catherine and Laurence Anholt
ISBN: 080750744X
First Day, Hooray!
Nancy Poydar
ISBN: 0823416305
Franklin Goes to School
Paulette Bourgeois
ISBN: 0590254677
Froggy Goes to School
Jonathan London
ISBN: 0590066935
I Love School!
Philemon Sturges
ISBN: 0060092858
Kindergarten Rocks
Katie Davis
ISBN: 0152049320
The Kissing Hand
Audrey Penn
ISBN: 0878685855
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!
Nancy Carlson
ISBN: 0439212537
Meet the Barkers
Tomie DePaola
ISBN: 0399237089
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
Joseph Slate
ISBN: 0140562737
Pete & Polo's Big School Adventure
Adrian Reynolds
ISBN: 053130275X
Spot Goes to School
Eric Hill
ISBN: 0142401676
Vera's First Day of School
Vera Rosenberry
ISBN: 0805072691
Wemberly Worried
Kevin Henkes
ISBN: 0439288274
When Kangaroo Goes to School
Sonia Levitin
ISBN: 087358791X
When You Go to Kindergarten
James Howe
ISBN: 0688143873
More information can be obtained from the Supporting Children's Transition to Kindergarten Staff:
Lesa Schirmacher, Director
828-225-5283
Leslie Hales, Coordinator
828-231-1430
