Kindergarten screening is a valuable tool used to assess a child’s current development and growth. The results provide the school with a better understanding of your child’s strengths and areas where they might need more support, which helps in planning for their needs and any necessary interventions.
What to Expect During the Screening
The screening will cover several key areas of development, including communication and language skills and pre-academic skills. This means your child will be asked to do things like count, name colors and shapes, and identify letters.
The screening is conducted by one of the district’s kindergarten teachers and an elementary speech-language therapist. Each professional will spend 10 to 15 minutes individually with your child.
How the Results are Used
The information gathered from the screening is used by the elementary school team to prepare for the incoming class. The results help them create well-balanced classes in terms of academic strengths, needs, and other factors like gender. Understanding the needs of the class as a whole, as well as individual students, allows the school to be ready to support all learners from day one.
Preparing Your Child
The best way to prepare your child is to make the experience feel like an exciting visit. You can tell them they’ll be meeting some friendly people at school who will ask them to do fun things like count and name letters, shapes, and write their name.
It’s helpful to avoid using words like “test” or telling them they need to “do well,” as this can create unnecessary pressure. The more relaxed both you and your child are, the better the experience will be for everyone.
You don’t need to do any special preparation to get your child ready for the screening. The purpose is to understand your child’s current skill level so the school can support them exactly as they are.
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