This month, we will continue Module 1 of our literacy curriculum: Curious About Kindergarten! ✏️🍎

Your child is probably full of questions about what kindergarten will be like! Throughout this module, we will explore those questions together as we discover what makes kindergarten—and school—such a special place to learn, grow, make friends, and discover new things.

We will read stories about school and kindergarten, learn about schools around the world, build new vocabulary, play with letters and sounds, and begin expressing our ideas through drawing and writing. Children will also have opportunities to share their favorite things and make connections between the stories we read and their own kindergarten experiences.

🏡 Literacy at Home

You don't need worksheets or formal lessons to support literacy at home! A few minutes of playful practice, conversation, and reading together can make a big difference.

👂 Give Me Some Direction!
Build listening skills by giving your child simple directions to follow. Start with one-step directions and gradually work toward two- and three-step directions. Using words like first, then, and next can help children remember the sequence.

“First, put your pajamas on. Then, choose a book.”

💡 Big Idea Words
Listen for and practice some of the important words we are learning during this module:

discover • dream • partners

Try using these words naturally in conversation or point them out when you encounter them while reading!

🔤 Word Play
Playing with sounds is an important part of learning to read! Try:

• Singing the ABCs and songs that rhyme.
• Playing “I Spy” to find letters around your home, at the grocery store, or while driving.
• Reading alphabet books and reciting nursery rhymes together.
• Asking, “What sound do you hear at the beginning?”
• Finding words that rhyme and clapping the syllables in words.

📚 Words to Know
We are beginning to recognize words that we will see frequently in books and writing:

a • the

When you see one while reading together, encourage your child to spot it!

❤️ Let's Read Together!
One of the best ways to support your kindergartner's literacy development is simply to read together every day. While reading, pause occasionally and ask:

“What's happening in the picture?”
“Who is the story about?”
“Where does the story happen?”
“What happened at the beginning? What happened next?”
“What was this book mostly about?”
“What did you learn?”

There is no need to ask every question during every book—reading together should still feel cozy and fun! 📖

✏️ Beginning Writers
In kindergarten, pictures are an important part of writing! We are learning that our drawings can tell a story and communicate an idea. Encourage your child to draw, add “juicy details” to their pictures, label parts of their drawing, and begin using the sounds they hear to write words.

We will also begin sharing our opinions. At home, you can practice with simple questions:

“Would you rather have ___ or ___? Why?”
“Which book did you like better? Why?”

Encourage answers such as, “I think ___ because ___.”

Most importantly, keep reading, talking, singing, drawing, and playing with words together. These everyday moments build the foundation for confident readers and writers! 💛