Hawai'i's Public Schools

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
Hawaii State Department of Education

Hawaii Goals for Education

Goal 1: Readiness for School. All children entering kindergarten or first grade will be ready and eager to learn.
Children learn something new every day. How children learn and what they learn are important. As parents and immediate caregivers, we have the most influence in what they learn. It is for parents to nurture good learning behaviors. School is where the learning continues and takes children from where they are and moves them forward, academically and socially.
Health/Physical
Goal 1: Ongoing health care which includes prevention and treatment
Family/Caregiver: Knows how to access and when to use health/medical services, if needed	The Child: Receives regular health care (dental, vision, hearing, medical checkups) Has all required immunizations
Goal 2: Save, nurturing environment
Family/Caregiver: Provides adult supervision Provides familiar routines	The Child: Is safe and secure in a stress-free environment
Goal 3: Appropriate rest, nourishment, and clothing
Family/Caregiver: Provides balanced meals at regular time Includes regular naps and sleep times Provides appropriate clothing	The Child: Eats from all food groups Is alert and energetic and physically comfortable
Goal 4: Opportunities to use large and small muscles
Family/Caregiver: Provides space and time for physical activity Provides appropriate toys for large and small muscle development	The Child: Participates in indoor and outdoor activities has opportunities to use small muscles (fingers, hands)
My child:
___ Receives regular medical/dental care and all necessary immunization ___ Is always under adult supervision ___ Helps set and follows predictable routines ___ Eats a balanced diet ___ Gets plenty of rest ___ Wears comfortable clothing ___ Runs, jumps, plays outdoors ___ Uses writing tools, puzzles, scissors, blocks, clay and computers
Social/Emotional
Goal 1: Consistent love, affection, and care
Family/Caregiver: Provides comfort, love, patience, and understanding Takes time to interact with the child	The Child: Trusts adults and has a positive attitude toward adult guidance
Goal 2: Positive self concept
Family/Caregiver: Involves child in family/community traditions Responds to child's curiosity, interest, and questions	The Child: Feels good about self and being part of the family
Goal 3: Appropriate social behavior
Family/Caregiver: Provides opportunities to play with other children Models courtesy, respect, concern for others Provides guidance to develop self-discipline	The Child: Interacts with peers and others in socially acceptable ways
Goal 4: Autonomy
Family/Caregiver: Provides opportunities to have choices and make decisions Encourages independent activities	The Child: Begins to have a sense of accomplishment
My child:
___ Shares special times with family (walk in the park, family celebration) ___ Engages in conversations and discussion with me/us ___ Is beginning to share possessions and take turns ___ Is beginning to understand consequences of own and other's behaviors ___ Is acknowledged when using socially acceptable behaviors ___ Has opportunity to make choices (clothing, play, books)
Literacy
Goal 1: Reading, writing, and viewing as natural daily activity
Family/Caregiver: Provides time, materials, models and encouragement for reading and writing Reads to child every day	The Child: Learns that reading, writing and viewing are meaningful
Goal 2: Language development
Family/Caregiver: Models, encourages, and provides frequent opportunities for child to use language	The Child: Speaks clearly to express self Listens to and understands others
Goal 3: Development of Thinking
Family/Caregiver: Provides a wide variety of firsthand experiences such as: dramatic play, art, music, and science activities	The Child: Forms basic ideas about the physical and social world
My child:
___ Is curious about print in own environment (grocery store, doctor's office) ___ Enjoys listening to and retelling of stories (words, actions) ___ Can follow simple directions ___ Likes books ___ Pretends to read ___ Enjoys rhymes, repetitions, songs, chants ___ Recognizes some pictures, words, and stories ___ Tells stories about pictures ___ Is read to every day ___ Plays at writing and may produce scribbles, some letters, words ___ May produce stories or letters with temporary spelling ___ Can express needs using appropriate language ___ Can sequence objects from large to small, long to short ___ Is able to sort in several ways (color, size, shape) ___ Plays with sand and water (weight, volume, size)

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