Kinder Home Links

PRINT
Kindergarten, Unit 1
Lesson 1: Learning to Listen Home Link
What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

Your child is learning the rules for how to be Being good listeners helps children be better
a good listener. These rules help your child learners. Following the Listening Rules helps
know how to listen and act in a group so children listen and pay attention
everyone can learn. in class.
Listening
Eyes wa
R ules
Ask your child: What are the Listening Rules in your class? (Have your child tc
Point to th hing
tell you each rule and show you the action that goes with it. Rules are listed e corners
of your ey
Ears liste es.
at right.) ning
Cup your
ears with
your hand
Voice qu s.
iet
Practice at Home Put your
finger to y
our lips.
Body sti
Before giving directions for daily activities, such as picking up toys or washing Hug your
ll
torso with
hands, remind your child to use the Listening Rules. For example: both arm
s.
You need to use your Listening Rules now. Say each rule and do the
actions along with your child, then give the directions: Were getting ready to leave now, so
put on your shoes and coat.
Activity
Have your child choose one of the Listening Rules and illustrate it below. After your child has finished, write
which rule you think it is under the picture.
The rule is
(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)
2011 Committee for Children Second Step: Skills for Social and Academic Success Page 13
PRINT
Lesson 2: Focusing Attention Home Link

Your child is learning that you need to use Being able to focus attention helps children
your eyes, ears, and brain when you focus be better learners. It helps them ignore
attention on something. Your child is also distractions and focus on what is important
learning how to make an attent-o-scope to in class.
help focus attention.
Ask your child: Can you show me how to make and use an attent-o-scope?
(Follow your childs directions.)
What words do you use to turn on your attent-o-scope?
Possible answers: Focus, listen, pay attention, look carefully. 1. C up hand
s
like binocu around each eye
lars.
Practice at Home 2. S ays F
ocus or
switch on Liste
Before giving important information, let your child know that you really need the attent- n to
3. P uts do o-scope.
his or her focused attention. Suggest that your child use the attent-o-scope. wn
but preten the attent-o-scope,
ds it is stil
For example: l there.
This is important. You may need your attent-o-scope. Pause for your child
to focus. I am working this afternoon, so Aunt Janet will pick you up from school today.
Activity
Have your child choose something in the room for
you both to focus on with your attent-o-scopes. Fill
in your childs answers to the following questions.
What are we focusing on?

What are three things you notice about what
we are focusing on?
1.
2.
3.
Option: Have your child draw the object you

focused on in the box to the right.
PRINT
Lesson 3: Following Directions Home Link

Your child is learning that repeating Being able to remember and follow directions
directions to yourself helps you remember helps children be better learners.
what to do.
Ask your child: What can you do to help you remember directions? Possible answers: Listen. Use the
Listening Rules. Focus attention. Use an attent-o-scope. Repeat the directions to myself.
What parts of your body do you need to use to listen and follow directions? Possible answers: My ears,
my eyes, and my brain.
Practice at Home
Before giving directions for daily activities, remind your child to listen and focus. Then ask your child to repeat
back the directions before starting. For example:
You need to listen and focus on these directions. Wait for your child to focus. Please take your plate
from the table and put it on the counter next to the sink. Now repeat out loud what I asked you to do.
Activity
Give your child basic directions for how to draw a smiley face in the box. Before giving the directions, remind
your child to listen, focus, and repeat the directions before starting to draw. Give the directions one at a time.
Sample directions:
1. Draw a big circle for the face.
2. Draw two small circles for the eyes.
3. Draw one circle for the nose.
4. Draw a half circle for the mouth.
Option: Now switch places. Let your child give you directions for a simple drawing.
PRINT
Lesson 4: Self-Talk for Staying on Task Home Link

Your child is learning that self-talk is when Self-talk is an important learning tool that
you talk to yourself in a quiet voice or in children can use to help themselves listen,
your head. Your child is also learning to follow directions, and focus.
use self-talk to stay on task and remember
directions.
Ask your child: What is self-talk? Second Step answer: When you talk to yourself in a quiet voice or in your head.
When are some times you use self-talk? Possible answers: When I repeat directions to myself. When I switch on
my attent-o-scope. When I want to ignore someone who is distracting me. When I need to focus on my work.
Practice at Home
When you see your child becoming distracted while doing daily tasks, remind him or her to use one or more of
the self-talk words from the activity below. For example:
I see you are having trouble focusing on getting ready for school. What can you say to yourself to
help you stay on task? Wait for your child to respond. What is the first thing you need to do? Wait for
your child to respond. What is the next thing you need to do?
Activity
Help your child come up with self-talk to help stay on task in the following daily scenarios. Then write one other
daily task and fill in the self-talk to use for that task.
Getting Ready for School Getting Ready for Bed
Focus.
Now its time for shoes.
Picking Up Toys
PRINT
Lesson 5: Being Assertive Home Link

Your child is learning how to ask assertively When there is something children dont
for help from an adult when he or she is understand, being assertive helps them
stuck and doesnt know what to do. continue to learn rather than being stuck.
Ask your child: What can you do when you are stuck and dont know what Be Assert
ive
Face th
to do? Second Step answer: First try really hard by myself to figure it out. Then e per
talking to son youre
.
ask another student for help. If I still cant figure it out, ask a teacher or another Keep y
our head
adult for help. shoulders up and
back.
Use a ca
lm, firm v
Can you show me how it looks and sounds to ask for help assertively? Use resp oice.
ectful wo
(See the poster at right.) rds.
Practice at Home
Notice when your child is getting frustrated with a difficult or new task, such as tying shoes or reading a book.
Give your child enough time to try to figure it out alone before reminding him or her to ask you for help. For
example:
I see that you are starting to feel frustrated about trying to read that page. If you would like some
help, you can say: Excuse me. Can you please help me read these words? Wait and let your child
ask you assertively for help. Make sure that you give him or her the needed help soon after being asked.
Activity
Ask your child these questions and write his or her responses in the spaces below.
When is a time when you need help at home or at school? Help your child think of an example.
What could you say to ask for help assertively? Help your child decide what to say. Then have your child
practice saying it to you.

PRINT
Lesson 6: Feelings Home Link

Your child is learning how to pay attention Children who can identify feelings tend to
to peoples faces and bodies to figure out how get along better with others and do better in
they are feeling. school than those who cant.
Ask your child: Show me a happy face. Does your body feel comfortable or uncomfortable when youre
happy? Answer: Comfortable.
How does my face show I am happy? (Make a happy face.) Possible answers: Mouth is turned up into a
smile. Cheeks are up. Eyes are small.
Show me a sad face. Does your body feel comfortable or uncomfortable when youre sad? Answer:
Uncomfortable.
How does my face show I am sad? (Make a sad face.) Possible answers: Mouth is turned down. Eyes are
looking down. Head is down.
Practice at Home
Help your child identify and name feelings, using physical clues to help. Name feelings as you, your child, or
others are experiencing them. For example:
Your child is getting upset when you say it is time for bed. I can see by the way your mouth is turned
down and by your droopy eyes that you are feeling disappointed that its time to stop playing and
go to bed.
Activity
Help your child cut out three photos of faces showing different feelings. Use TV guides, newspapers, or
magazinesanything that has photos of real faces. Paste the photos in the spaces below. Write what your child
thinks the person is feeling below each face.
PRINT
Lesson 11: Caring and Helping Home Link

Your child is learning how to show care and Being able to show compassion helps children
concern by saying or doing something kind or get along with others.
helpful. This is called showing compassion.
Ask your child: What does showing compassion mean? Possible answers: It means saying something kind or
doing something to help. It shows you care about how someone feels.
When is a time you can show compassion for someone else? Possible answers: When someone is feeling
sad, lonely, tired, or frustrated.
How do you feel when someone says something kind or helps you out? Possible answers: happy, special.
Practice at Home
Help your child notice when someone he or she knows could use some help or a kind word. For example:
I see that your sister cant find her toy. What could you do to help?
It sure looks like Uncle Milo could use some help cleaning the sidewalk. Is that something you
could do?
Activity
Together with your child, write down ways that your child could or does help at home. For example: Help carry
in groceries.
Ways to Help at Home
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
PRINT
Lesson 12: We Feel Feelings in Our Bodies Home Link

Your child is learning to focus attention on When children realize they are having strong
his or her own body to figure out his or her feelings, they can take steps to calm down to
feelings. Your child is also learning that if the keep themselves from getting out of control.
feelings are uncomfortable, it helps to talk
about them with an adult.
Ask your child: What clues from your body help you figure out that you are feeling worried? Possible
answers: Tummy hurts. Heart beats fast. Breathe fast. Feel hot/cold. Legs wobble.
When you are feeling worried, what can you do to help you feel better? Second Step answer: Tell a
grown-up about your feelings.
Practice at Home
When you notice your child is starting to have strong feelings, such as worry, anger, sadness, excitement, or
disappointment, ask what he or she is feeling in his or her body. For example:
A friend just dropped your childs favorite toy and it broke. Oh, I see that your favorite toy just broke.
Put your hand on your tummy. What is it doing? Wait for your child to respond. Put your hand over
your heart. What is it doing? Wait for your child to respond. Listen to your breathing. What is it
doing? Wait for your child to respond. Can you name your feeling?
Activity
Help your child do the following:
1. Choose worry or anger
and write it beside the body
outline.
2. Identify where he or she feels
this feeling in his or her body.
3. Color in those places on the
outline, for example, tummy,
heart, hands.
Feeling:
PRINT
Lesson 14: Calming Down Strong Feelings Home Link

Your child is learning that sometimes feelings When childrens feelings are very strong, it
can be strong, and how to calm down strong is hard for them to think clearly and pay
feelings. attention. When children are calm, they are
able to learn and get along better with others.
Ask your child: When you are starting to feel a strong feeling, what should you
do first? Second Step answer: Put my hands on my tummy and say Stop.
After you say stop, what should you do next? Second Step answer: Name my feeling.
Then what can you do to calm down? Second Step answer: Take belly breaths.
Can you show me how to belly breathe? Let your child lead you through belly
breathing: Put your hands on your tummy. Focus on your breathing. Breathe in
through your nose, making your tummy (belly) move out. Breathe out through your
mouth, letting your tummy move in.
Practice at Home
When you notice your child having strong feelings, remind him or her to use the Calming-Down Steps. Then,
together with your child, practice belly breathing. For example:
Your child is starting to get frustrated. I see youre having a strong feeling. Put your hands on your
tummy and say Stop. Wait for your child to say stop. What are you feeling? Help your child name the
feeling. Now lets belly breathe together. Practice belly breathing with your child.
Activity
Help your child think of two scenarios when he or she often has a strong feeling and needs to calm down.
Have your child name the feeling. Practice the Calming-Down Steps together after writing down each scenario
and feeling.
1. Scenario:
I feel . Practice the Calming-Down Steps.
2. Scenario:
I feel . Practice the Calming-Down Steps.
PRINT
Lesson 15: Handling Waiting Home Link

Your child is learning how to calm down Children who have good waiting skills tend
and choose something quiet to do to make to do better at school and have better social
waiting easier. skills than those who do not.
Ask your child: What can you do to make waiting easier for you? Possible answers: Take some belly
breaths. Count. Use self-talk (I can wait. Stay still. Be patient.) Do something quiet that will not distract
others (tap fingers together, count everyone in line, hum a song quietly).
Practice at Home
During daily activities that require waiting, such as waiting for you to finish a phone call, waiting for dinner, or
waiting for a friend to visit, remind your child to use one of the ways to make waiting easier learned in class.
For example:
I am going to make a phone call. I need you to wait very patiently while I finish the call. What
can you do to help you wait? Wait and let your child respond. Offer suggestions if needed, such as belly
breathing, counting, using self-talk, or doing something quiet that will not distract others.
Activity
Complete the following questions about this girl with your child.
1. This girl needs to wait. What do you think she is
waiting for?

2. She is very excited. How should she breathe to
help herself calm down?

3. What can she say to herself that will help her wait? (Fill in the
speech bubble.)

4. What is something quiet she can do while she waits that will
not distract others?

5. Is there anything else you can think of that will help her wait?
PRINT
Lesson 19: Solving Problems Home Link

Your child is learning the first two steps for Children who can solve problems get along
problem-solving. Your child is learning how better with other children, are less aggressive,
to say the problem, then think of solutions and have fewer conflicts.
for that problem.
Ask your child: What should you do if you are having a strong feeling before
you try to solve a problem? Second Step answer: Calm Down.
How can you calm down? Second Step answer: Put my hands on my tummy. Say
Stop. Name my feeling. Take belly breaths.
What is the first Problem-Solving Step? Second Step answer: S: Say the problem.
What is the second Problem-Solving Step? Second Step answer: T: Think of

solutions.
Practice at Home
When problems come up at home, such as missing toys or conflicts with siblings, help your child use words to
describe the problem. Then together, think of some solutions. For example:
Your child cant find a favorite toy. Say: You seem very upset. First calm down, and then we can solve
this problem together. Belly breathe with your child. What is the problem? Help your child describe the
problem. Then repeat it. You cant find your toy. Now lets think of some solutions. Help your child
think of solutions, such as to search each room or play with another toy. Which solution do you want to
try? Have your child pick a solution and try it.
Activity
Have your child color in the first letter of the first two problem-solving steps. Write the step next to the letter.
PRINT
Lesson 21: Fair Ways to Play Home Link

Your child is learning that sharing, trading, Having Fair Ways to Play with others helps
and taking turns are Fair Ways to Play with children make and keep friends.
toys with other children.
Ask your child: What are Fair Ways to Play with toys with other children? Second
Step answers:
1. Sharing, or playing together. What can you say? May I share that toy with
you?
2. Trading. What can you say? Would you like to trade this toy for that one?
3. Taking turns. What can you say? Please, may I have a turn?
Practice at Home
When your child is playing with another child, remind them to use Fair Ways to Play. If you
notice them having trouble, ask them to choose one of the Fair Ways to Play. For example:
I see you are having some trouble playing together. What would be a fair way to play with that
toy? Wait for one or both of the children to respond. If they cant remember what they are, remind them: You
can take turns with the toy, you can play together with the toy, or you can play with different toys
and trade after three minutes. I can set the timer for you. Have the children pick a fair way to play.
Activity
Have your child draw a picture of two children using one of the Fair Ways to Play in the box below, or use a
separate piece of paper. Then check which of the fair ways you think he or she drew.
Sharing Trading Taking Turns

Kinder Home Links

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Kinder Home Links

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Kinder Home Links

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PRINT

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

Option: Have your child draw the object you

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

Getting Ready for School Getting Ready for Bed

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

I feel . Practice the Calming-Down Steps.

I feel . Practice the Calming-Down Steps.

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

What is the second Problem-Solving Step? Second Step answer: T: Think of

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

What Is My Child Learning? Why Is This Important?

Sharing Trading Taking Turns

(CHILDS NAME) (DATE) (ADULTS SIGNATURE)

You might also like