123 Kindergarten

Is your child between the ages of new and six? Here is a down-to-earth, practical guide to help parents and caregivers ensure children's readiness for kindergarten. Written by a kindergarten teacher and parent, this award-winning book, has tips, explanations, short-cuts and fun. It includes ideas that use resources already available at home or in child care centers and strategies to incorporate learning time into busy, active days. An easy-to-use developmental checklist and rating scale, guidance for the this-year-or-next-year debate, and suggestions for home-school transition make this a birth-to-kindergarten resource. "Mrs. A, I love your book. What a fantastic resource!" K. P. "You are an incredible teacher, I have watched you with awe and will strive to be even a fraction of the leader and mentor that you have been to your students. As a parent I appreciate all you have done for my daughter; as an aspiring teacher I look at you as a role model." (from Jarrah's mom)
About the Author: Barbara Allisen is a much-loved kindergarten teacher with 30 years classroom experience and a parent, too. When asked why she teaches kindergarten, she smiles and replies, "After grade 2, the kids are bigger than I am! And where else could I play with them all day?" She has shared the school start of more than a thousand kindergarten kids but worries that a third to a half of the children are not ready for school when they start kindergarten. She is concerned that those who start behind often stay behind. The cost is beyond calculation in terms of the loss of potential. Children are 20% of the population and 100% of the future. Barbara grew up in a tiny village close to the family farm, later moving to a small town, then city. Crisscrossing the country and globe, she graduated with a B.A., B.Ed., D.P.E., and a special diploma in Early Childhood Services. "Two kids of my own, one with special needs, were another education and the degree S.U.R.V.I.V.E.D." Children who are ready for school do better in all the other grades and have more chance of finishing school. Being unprepared at kindergarten can have consequences much later: a higher likelihood of drug abuse and conflicts with the law, less chance of not graduating and going to college, and even lower job earnings. In addition to her new book, Barbara has a website and daily blog with a fun learning activity for parents and caregivers to do with kids: www.123kindergarten.com She believes that being ready for school starts before children ever get there. Plus, one of the critical factors affecting children's success is PARENT INVOLVEMENT. "I may only be in kindergarten, but I can do this math: Helping Families = Helping Kids." Providing that support is her goal with this book, with practical tips and suggestions to promote readiness for kindergarten. Barbara has presented and attended workshops and seminars locally and internationally and adds to her knowledge with experiences (and books) from around the world. Here's a few comments from parents and kids. (Yes, their names have been changed.) "Thank you for a wonderful year. Keera...was so sad to realize that kindergarten was ending that she cried." "This book is well-written, very organized and easy to understand....Now getting our children ready for kindergarten is as easy as 1 2 3." Mi Lan Overheard from a parent first looking through the book, "Hey, I can do this!" And you can too! 1 2 3 Kindergarten...