I-CANyons Parent Toolkit for Kindergarten Language Arts (ELA)
Language: I CAN...
Standard
Print upper and lowercase letters
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Core Standard
L.K.1 a. Print many upper- and lowercase letters.
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In Other Words
Child is able to write all upper and lowercase letters using legible handwriting and uses correct formation and proportion.
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If Mastered
When your child is able to write all upper and lowercase letters using correct letter formation have them write the letters using lined paper. Your child should be able to stretch the letters to fit between the lines where appropriate.
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If Not Yet Mastered
If your child is unable to write the upper and lowercase letters using
correct letter formation then help strengthen their large motor first
and then the fine motor skills next. Do the following activities:
* Have your child use their hands to shape clay or play dough. * Have your child play on the tricky bars *Build with blocks *Encourage your child to squeeze a squirt gun * Have your child hold a tennis ball and then squeeze it. * Support your child by having them trace a letter they should know that you have drawn in a yellow marker or highlighter. Have them repeat as necessary. |
Standard
Capitalize and punctuate when writing
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Core Standard
L.K.2 a. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.
L.K.2 b. Recognize and name end punctuation. |
In Other Words
The child uses an uppercase letter for the first word of each sentence
and puts punctuation at the end of each sentence (period, question mark,
exclamation point).
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If Mastered
When your child has mastered using a capital letter and correct
punctuation, create sentences with mistakes. For example using a
lowercase letter at the beginning or a missing period at the end. Have
your child find and name these mistakes and then fix them to create a
proper sentence.
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If Not Yet Mastered
Have your child copy simple sentences. For example: I like school. Point
out that a sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a
punctuation mark. Have your child continue to copy sentences until they
have mastered this skill. If this is too difficult, write a simple
sentence like, I like school. Have your child highlight the capitol
letter at the beginning of the sentence and the period at the end.
Use a medium such as sand, salt, or shaving cream. Place some in a pie plate and have the child trace and make shapes, letter in the medium. |
Standard
Spell simple words phonetically when writing.
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Core Standard
L.K.2 c. Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).
L.K.2 d. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships. |
In Other Words
The child writes down the sounds they hear in a word to spell CVC
(consonant-vowel-consonant) words. For example, in the word "van" we
hear the sounds /v/, /a/, /n/. Child would be able to hear these sounds
and write the corresponding letter for each sound - v,a,n to spell
"van".
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If Mastered
When your child has mastered writing CVC words they can begin writing
words with blends and digraphs. For example: If you say the word frog
or ship, your child will be able to write the corresponding letter for
each sound.
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If Not Yet Mastered
If your child is unable to write all the sounds in a CVC word have them
begin with writing the first sound. Once they have mastered the first
sound then have have them move onto writing the last sound. Once they
have mastered writing the first and last sound have them write the
medial sound.
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Standard
Use words and sentences based on classroom experiences.
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Core Standard
L.K.1f Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.
L.K.5 With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings. L.K.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts. |
In Other Words
When speaking in conversations the child uses new words and phrases
learned through text and whole group settings. For example, when
reading "The Kissing Hand" and being taught what the word "palm" means.
They are able to show you where their palm is and also use the word
"palm" accurately in a sentence.
Child explains new words and explains connections and relationships to previously known or learned words. Child speaks in expanded and complete sentences. |
If Mastered
Introduce new words to your child as often as possible. Explain the
meaning of these new words and encourage your child to use these new
words in conversation. This should be done in addition to the new words
they are learning in their classroom. Read to your child from many
genres. Discuss and define new words in a way that your child can
understand and then use the new words. Play a game to see who in the
family can use the new word the most that week. Encourage your child to
speak in complete sentences or expand on one word or phrase only
responses or explanations.
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If Not Yet Mastered
Your child should have a weekly list of new words they have learned. Use
that list of words (Amazing Words) to review the meaning of them and
use the new words in conversation with your child. Encourage your
child to speak in complete sentences or expand on one word or phrase
only responses or explanations.
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