At present, almost every school organizes classes for future students. Here with the children there are lessons in mathematics, literacy. Sometimes the training program includes creative classes and English. Each school, based on the general recommendations of the education system, itself decides how much knowledge and skills they want to give to future students. Also, the requirements for first-graders in different educational institutions may be different. In some, upon admission to school, children are tested in mathematics, English and literacy. So, the child must have the initial knowledge of these subjects. Other schools do not require any special knowledge at all. Therefore, with the question of what the child should know, going to the first class, you need to turn to the school leadership that you have chosen.
In any case, it will be useful for children to acquire the following minimum luggage of skills:
- ability to count to 10 and back;
- know letters, add words, read syllables;
- retell and compose a short text on the picture;
- correctly to name colors, figures, seasons;
- define "right" and "left".
But reading and writing and math are not all. Now most psychologists and educators agree that it is not so much the ability to read and count as the emotional readiness for school that is important for a future first-grader. And this is exactly the sphere that is often given less attention.
Psychological readiness for school
The ability to focus on business for a certain time is an important skill for a first-grader. To do this, the child needs to train to focus on one lesson, cope with difficulties, and bring the matter to the end. Because some exercises and cases can be too complicated for children, then the adult needs timely support. In such cases, it is important for the parent to determine whether or not help is needed or the child will be able to cope himself. Supporting an adult in difficult affairs gives children the opportunity to bring things to the end, feel confident in their abilities. This is a good deposit for future study.
Ability to understand the rules and implement them. In preschool time this skill is developed in the process of joint games. Children often want to practice their own way. But here you need to show the child that when you play more than one, it's important to follow the rules. Then joint activities with other people are more interesting. The child to the first class needs to know that all the surrounding people live according to certain norms and rules, give examples.
It's good if the child has a motivation to learn. In order to achieve this, a future first grader needs to understand why he is going to school. Parents can help the child formulate an answer to this question.
It is also important that the first-grader had cognitive interest. Little children in the majority like to learn new things. Therefore, the task of parents: to support this desire to learn new things. For this, psychologists are advised to find time more often to answer the numerous "why" and "why", play cognitive games, read aloud.
Preparing children for school, parents should bear in mind that the child must also know his name, name, address, home phone number, date of birth and age.