Getting Prepped for Kindergarten

A new crew of kindergartners in Gwinnett County are getting ready for their first day of big-kid school. Thanks to special programs at a handful of elementary schools, some of these preschoolers have already gotten a head start with Kindercamp.

Kindercamp is a summer program offered at various schools across the district to help preschoolers prepare.The program is free and designed to help ease the school transition by setting students up with their actual teacher, teaching them the kindergarten routine and adding educational lessons to the camp. 

There are more than 12,400 students currently enrolled in kindergarten for the upcoming year. But, schools decide for themselves whether to offer the program. A number of schools in Snellville participate, including Britt Elementary. There school officials said about half of the 80 kindergartners participated in the camp, which is in its third year.

"We feel it's a priority for our kindergarten students to have a solid foundation," said Principal Doris Jones, as she walked through the halls of Britt Elementary one recent morning.

Students are introduced to a variety of skills using "Mrs. Wishy-Washy Farm," a book by Joy Cowley. In addition to educational skills, the students also are introduced to working with their fellow students in groups or individually.

Teachers are also able to assess where the Kindercamp students are in critical subject area, and then can use that knowledge to better assist students when the first day comes, according to the parent center coordinator at the school.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," said Melissa Shaw, whose daughter Taylor will be attending kindergarten at Britt Elementary. "It's really helped my daughter get acclimated to the school."

Not only has she and the the other Kindercamp students met some of their classmates, but they also know where the cafeteria, media center, front office and playground are.

Because of this, Shaw added that her daughter is less hesitant and more comfortable and excited about to school.

"I think the first day of school she will be ready to go," she said.

Here are a few tips for parents of rising kindergartners, provided by Britt Elementary. Officials say independence is the key to a successful kindergarten year:

• Expose children to books
• Do exercises with the child writing his or her name
• Supervise children as they learn scissor skills and proper pencil grip
• Encourage children to count objects throughout the home, such as socks, pennies or toys as he or she does chores
• Work with children in identify ten basic colors (red, blue, green, yellow, orange, brown, purple, black, white, gray and pink) and common shapes: circle, triangle, square rectangle, rhombus and oval.
• Help children learn self-help skills ny encouraging them to wash their hands after using the restroom, dressing themselves and fastening their own buttons, zippers and snaps.
• Teach children responsibility by giving them chores they must do, such as cleaning their room, taking out trash or setting the table.

For more information on getting children ready for kindergarten at Gwinnett County Public Schools, click here.