The Ultimate Checklist for Kindergarten Readiness
Preparing a child for kindergarten is a crucial step in their educational journey. It is important to ensure that they are mentally, emotionally, and physically ready for this new chapter in their lives. This checklist will assist in preparing one’s child for kindergarten and encompasses various aspects that parents and educators should consider before enrolling a child in kindergarten.
One of the key components of kindergarten readiness is social skills. Children should be able to interact with their peers, follow simple instructions, and communicate effectively with adults. Children need to develop these skills in order to succeed in a classroom setting.
Interaction with peers is fundamental to developing social competence. Children who can engage positively with their classmates are more likely to build friendships and collaborate during group activities. These interactions help them learn important concepts such as sharing, taking turns, and resolving conflicts—skills that are vital within a classroom setting. When children feel comfortable interacting with their peers, they are better equipped to adapt to the dynamics of a school environment where cooperation is often required.
Following simple instructions is another essential aspect of readiness for kindergarten. The ability to listen attentively and comply with directions from teachers fosters an atmosphere conducive to learning. Children who demonstrate this capability can participate fully in classroom activities and routines, which enhances their overall educational experience. Additionally, effective communication with adults allows children to express their needs and emotions clearly, further facilitating positive relationships with caregivers and educators.
Another aspect of kindergarten readiness is cognitive development. Children should be able to recognize letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. They should also have basic literacy skills such as being able to hold a book correctly and turn pages from left to right. Developing these skills will help children excel academically once they enter kindergarten.
This recognition is not merely a precursor to literacy and numeracy; it serves as a critical building block for more complex learning processes. Children who can identify these fundamental elements are better equipped to engage with their environment, facilitating both academic success and social interaction. Research indicates that cognitive readiness is influenced by various factors including early exposure to language-rich environments, opportunities for play-based learning, and parental involvement in educational activities. For instance, children who participate in interactive reading sessions or engage in problem-solving games tend to develop essential skills such as memory retention, attention span, and logical reasoning. These skills are critical for navigating the structured learning atmosphere of kindergarten where tasks often require sustained focus and collaborative efforts among peers.
Physical development is also an important factor in kindergarten readiness. During the early years, children undergo rapid physical growth that encompasses gross motor skills—such as running, jumping, and climbing—as well as fine motor skills involving hand-eye coordination and dexterity. These physical capabilities are not merely beneficial for recreational play; they are fundamental for academic tasks that require the manipulation of tools, such as pencils or scissors. Children who possess well-developed motor skills are better equipped to navigate classroom settings and partake in structured learning experiences.
This development is intricately linked to cognitive and social-emotional growth. For instance, children who can effectively control their bodies tend to exhibit greater confidence in social interactions and cooperative play. This sense of security allows them to build relationships with peers and teachers alike, fostering an environment conducive to collaborative learning. Additionally, engaging in physical activities has been shown to enhance cognitive functions such as memory retention and problem-solving abilities. As children develop their physical capabilities through play-based activities—like running games or arts and crafts—they simultaneously stimulate neural pathways that support academic readiness.
In conclusion, the ultimate checklist for kindergarten readiness includes social skills, cognitive development, and physical development. By ensuring that children are well-prepared in these areas before entering kindergarten, parents and educators can set them up for success in school and beyond.
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7 Fun Learning Activities for Children to Do At Home
Family bonding at home
Educational activities facilitate personal development and informal learning for children, making the learning process enjoyable and engaging. Besides improving your child’s physiological skills, they also aid in improved mental health, communication skills, and increased physical activity. As a parent, it’s important to find ways to keep your child engaged and learning during this long summer holiday. Below are 7 fun and learning activities that you can do with your child in the comfort of your own home.
1. Cooking / Baking
Photo from Pexels
Cooking is not only a fun and educational activity but also great for bonding. Through cooking, children learn about measurements, temperature, and different ingredients used in preparation. Cooking is also a fun way to teach your child about health and nutrition. Baking gives children a sense of amazement and joy as they create something delicious from scratch.
2. Playing Games That Stimulate The Brain Processes
CA students enjoying a game of chess
Playing educational games such as charades, crosswords, puzzles, jigsaw, and scrabble is a great way to help kids learn while having fun. Choose games that match your child’s interests and ability level. Such games help improve the child’s vocabulary, and critical thinking skills and aid in the development of cognitive growth.
3. Read Together
Photo from Pexels
One of the most amazing gifts you can offer your child is the ability to read. When parents read together with their children, it not only helps children develop a love for reading but also improves vocabulary and comprehension skills. Involve your child by allowing your child to pick their book of choice which spikes their interest.
4. Try A Fun Science Experiment At Home
Photo from Pexels
Experiments are an ideal way to bring out your child’s love for science. Simple scientific activities that don’t involve much work on your side are fun ways of learning. Children love creating volcanoes using simple ingredients found at home. Make simple experiments that require readily available materials.
5. Grow A Garden
Photo from Pexels
Gardens are lessons in science, nutrition, and patience all rolled into one plot of dirt in your backyard. A garden teaches children how plants come to life. They also learn about nutrition which could encourage them to eat more vegetables. Children can keep a gardening journal, learn the names of different plants and vegetables, plant their favorite vegetables, and study what it takes for them to grow.
6. Visit A Museum
CA students at a museum
Museums are great spots for fun and educational experiences for children of all ages. There’s a lot to learn at the museum such as different cultures, the history of people, extinct animals, and so much more. Museums are excellent places for both children and adults. Depending on your child’s interest, You could go to a science or art museum.
7. Have A Fun Time With Arts And Craft
mummy and daughter painting
Art is the best way for a child to express their individuality. Besides boosting creativity, Art and crafts is a fun activity to break the monotony. Provide materials such as crayons, canvas, and paint and let the children create anything from their imagination. You could also use readily accessible materials such as cartons and play dough for building and construction.
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The Key Subjects of IGCSE: What Should Students Expect?
Coast Academy Student Studying
The IGCSE is a reputed education qualification that’s awarded by Cambridge International and offered by top schools throughout the world. It’s designed for students aged 12 to 16. While the demand for IGCSE education has grown progressively year-on-year, some students still struggle to select the best subjects. With other options to choose from, depending on what they want to study in the future. Below are the subjects offered in the IGCSE Curriculum
Lower secondary (Year 7-9)
In the Lower Secondary level students are required to do the following subjects.
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- ICT
- History
- Geography
- French
- Kiswahili
- Art and design
- Music
- E and Swimming
After sitting for the Year 9 checkpoint exams, we guide our students through a career talk and subject selection based on their career of choice. At this point, students can now choose their subjects of choice as per their career aspirations. In years 10 and 11, the following subjects are compulsory.
- Maths
- English language
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
In addition, 5 subjects are to be selected from the following Optional Subjects offered, of which one must be a science.
- Physics
- Geography
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Business Studies
- Swahili
- French
- English Literature
- Art & Design
- Accounting
- History
When choosing subjects, it is recommended to read the subject syllabus overview of that particular subject which gives one an overview of the areas of study of the subject. IGCSE is preferred by many because it teaches students how to think critically and expands their knowledge. Not only do the exam questions test the student’s ability to understand key concepts but also test the student’s creative and innovative abilities.
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5 Things Coast Academy Does To Encourage Parent-Teacher Relationships
1. Regular Communication
Parent teacher conference
At Coast Academy, we believe in the key of Communication. We have open communication so that the parent can reach out to the school at any time. We also keep them in the know through newsletters, emails, and calls where need be.
2. Parent-Teacher Conference
Early years parents n book review
With regular Parent Teacher Conferences, parents get an opportunity to stay up to date on their child’s progress at school. It is also a great opportunity for both the teacher and parent to lay out any issues or questions they may have.
3. Taking Advantage Of Opportunities to Connect
Mother and child painting
Frequent class presentations, special performances by students is an excellent opportunity to invite parents to come and watch their children perform. Parents love getting opportunities to drop by their child’s class and relate to what the child does in school. This not only brings parents joy but also makes them feel included in their child’s life at school.
4. Build Confidentiality And Positivity
mother and daughter hugging
The basis of effective communication with parents also starts with trust. It’s essential for parents to trust their child’s teacher. When speaking to parents, any sensitive information shared between the teacher and parent remains confidential. Putting in a positive correspondence about the child goes a long way.
5. Being Friendly And Professional
Parents, teachers, and students at the Coast Academy
A little friendliness goes a long way, in terms of building relationships with parents, it is important to maintain professionalism to avoid overstepping on individual boundaries. At Coast Academy, we respect different cultures and family dynamics.
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5 REASONS WHY PLAYGROUP IS IMPORTANT
First-time separation between a parent and child can be overwhelming for both but the benefits of enrolling your child in a playgroup are worth it. For most kids, it takes 2 weeks or even more to adjust and adapt to the new environment, but at Coast Academy, most children usually settle in within the first week. All children are respected and their individuality and differences are embraced. Here are 5 reasons why Playgroup is Important for your child’s overall growth.
1. DEVELOPS SOCIAL SKILLS
Statistics state that social skills development in children starts between the ages of 1-3. Most kids today spend the whole day with their nannies at home. This could slow down their growth and social skills. In playgroups, children get to socialize, which helps build life skills such as self-expression, sharing, cooperation, consideration, and mutual respect, which also add up as conflict resolution skills. Our very able and qualified team inspires the children to thrive and maximize their potential by exploring and discovering the world around them.
2. ENCOURAGES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
While most children spend their entire day at home on screen time, playgroups offer an enabling environment for a variety of age-appropriate activities ranging from physical activities such as running, jumping, balance, and swimming to block play, painting, and molding which build the children’s gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and balance.
3. DEVELOPS CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION, AND MOTOR SKILLS
90% of Brain growth happens before kindergarten. Exposing your child to a playgroup environment will trigger their creativity and imagination through dress-up, role plays with the other children, music, puppet play, and other games. Storytime aids in speech, language, vocabulary development, auditory perception, and imagination whereas visual perceptions are developed through activities such as Identifying different shapes and colors and building puzzles.
4. BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE
The warm and loving nature of our staff helps develop the child’s confidence and resilience. Children that go to playgroup turn out to be strong and independent individuals as they learn to take care of themselves and show a sense of responsibility and a desire to be competent. They learn how to manage separation anxiety, clean up after themselves after free play, make choices throughout the day, and adapt to a new environment.
5. PLATFORM FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Playgroup is hugely beneficial in building trusted relationships with each other and with their teachers and helpers. Our small class sizes help in developing close, healthy, and positive relationships. It also serves as a base for parents to meet, make friends, learn parenting tips, and network. We pride ourselves in maintaining close, healthy, and positive relationships with our parents and most importantly, vibrant and happy children.
Read MoreThe Coast Academy Cultural Day Concert 2022
Recently, The COAST Academy held its annual cultural day which, was marked with dances from different cultures ranging from the local Kenyan tribes to countries as far as Italy. “The Coronation of the King” was the title of the play, which left parents and invited guests awed at the impeccable talent displayed by the children. The event was graced by 2 of our directors: Mr. Mumo and Mr. Vonza Mwenda, and our chief guest Mr. Abdikadir Kike.
We thank all our invited guests, parents, students, and the entire Coast Academy fraternity for the success of this event.
Read MoreQUALITIES OF A GOOD TEACHER
We all have at least 2 teachers that we remember from our school years. A teacher that made you look forward to their lesson because of how approachable kind and friendly they were, and a teacher who was always harsh and insulting. Students dreaded classes of the latter teacher because of her hostile approach. This plays a big factor in students’ performance. Below are 7 qualities of a good teacher.
1. Patient And Approachable
Patience is an essential virtue in a teacher. It is easier for a student to approach an empathetic teacher for assistance than a hostile one. A student would rather suffer in silence than be humiliated by a teacher in class. A good teacher reassures their students which in turn boosts their self-esteem.
2. Passionate About Their Job
A good teacher is one that is excited and enthusiastic about their job. This will make them give their best and the students will in turn have more willpower to study and perform well. Class performance is also likely to be affected by this because the teacher will strive to ensure that no child is left behind.
3. Excellent Communication And Interpersonal Skills.
A class consists of children with different capabilities. It takes a teacher with excellent verbal and non-verbal communication to make sure that the message has been received and understood by each and every one in the class. This also helps in choosing the right language to correct the students without being harsh. Nonverbal cues can also help spot a child needing extra attention/help.
4. Qualified And From A Renowned Institution
There is nothing as good as knowing your content. A good teacher is one that prepares for class and has her content at her fingertips. This prevents being caught off-guard by a question from the student which will make you lose your credibility. It also makes you gain respect from the students and parents.
5. Creative And Innovative
Routine creates boredom. A good teacher is one that comes up with different, innovative, and fun ways to engage the students. This can be done in a variety of ways, i.e group discussions, inquiries, field excursions, and conducting experiments. This in turn breaks the monotony.
6. Sets High Expectations
A good teacher challenges her students to do their best, surpass their expectations and explore their full potential. Set daily goals, and weekly goals termly goals and review them accordingly.
7. Rewarding
Acknowledgment has always been like a sweet pat on the back. A good teacher praises her students for a job well done, improvement and good progress. This in turn pushes the students to do even better next time. A great sense of humor also creates a relaxed learning environment.
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HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CHILD IS HAPPY AT SCHOOL
1. Talk to them about school
Make it a habit to discuss the day-to-day activities later in the evening. Do not be quick to condemn and don’t take matters lightly. Let them know that they can trust in you which makes you their go-to person for anything.
2. Attend school functions
Be sure to attend all school events such as Parent-teacher-student conferences, sports day and cultural day. Take any opportunity to go to the school and see how your child interacts with other children. That will give you a feel of how he is in school.
3. Engage the Teacher
Make regular follow-ups with the class teacher. This will give you an insight into how your child is fairing in school and will also alert you if it so happens that your child starts exhibiting peculiar behavior at school.
4. Ask open-ended questions
Do not ask your child questions that require a one-word answer only i.e. how was school today? Instead, ask questions that require them to go in-depth in the answering so that you get a clear picture of things that could be; what happened in class today? What do you do during break?
5. Talks a lot about school
A child that enjoys school will gladly talk about school without being prompted. They will tell you about the activities they did in school, who did what and even show you what they did in school. They will also be very eager to go back to school. (more…)
Read More5 UNIQUE QUALITIES OF THE COAST ACADEMY
1. Encourages healthy eating habits
All junk food such as sodas, sweets, and pizza, are strictly forbidden on the school campus in order to ensure the good health of our students. This in turn curbs lifestyle diseases such as obesity thus promoting participation in physical activities and concentration in class.
2. Promotes creativity and character development
Students at Coast Academy are encouraged to embrace their individuality. Partaking in co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as music, art, sports and athletics requires creative thinking, boosts self-confidence and nurtures talent.
3. Guaranteed Safety and Security
At Coast Academy, students’ safety is our top priority. No child is allowed to leave the school premises under any circumstance without being accompanied by a parent or guardian. All activities are supervised and safety precautions are taught to the students. We also carry out regular fire drills.
4. Excellent Academic Performance
Our Students have continued to deliver exemplary results over the years. This is made possible by the low teacher-to-student ratio which enables the teachers to offer individual attention to each and every child and assist them in their weak areas so that no child is left behind. All students get an equal opportunity because we understand that every child’s milestone is unique.
5. Impeccable Staff and students relationship
The entire Coast Academy fraternity coexists in perfect harmony. The teachers are always ready to listen, assist and offer guidance to the students. This creates a warm and friendly environment in our cosmopolitan setting while encouraging equity regardless of race, religion, or culture.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/taliamilgromelcott/2019/01/17/run-through-this-checklist-before-choosing-your-childs-school/?sh=121a92166fee
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RENOWNED COAST ACADEMY ALUMNI
1. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir
The governor-elect for Mombasa County, Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir sat for his KCPE exams in 1988 at the Coast Academy. He was a student who would not quit on a task until he made sure he had successfully completed it. We wish him all the best as the second governor of Mombasa.
2. Maisam Fazel
Dr. Maisam is a University of Cambridge–qualified consultant and specialist registered surgeon, in both cosmetic and breast cancer surgery with more than 21 years of experience. Dr. Maisam, the founder of Refresh Cosmetic Surgery, in the UK is also a pioneer in male breast surgery (gynecomastia surgery) and is highly recommended in his mummy makeovers.
3. Fareen Samji
Fareen, who is also known as “Far”, is the 5 time Canadian Women’s long drive champion and former golf touring professional. She moved to Canada to further her education at McMaster University and graduated with degrees in Psychology and Kinesiology. In 2017, Fareen published her book, Smashing the Grass Ceiling which aims to empower, motivate and inspire professional women.
4. Aanand Acharya
Dr. Aanand Acharya is a Master’s degree graduate in Medicine from the University Of Cambridge (UK), a Consultant ENT Surgeon in Perth, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia. He is accredited in Otolaryngology with both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Aanand also provides Outreach ENT services to rural and remote parts of West Australia and is the lead clinician and coordinator of the Telethon Speech & Hearing Pilbara Ear Bus Program.
5. Thomas N O Achia
Professor Thomas Achia is a professor of Mathematics at the University of Nairobi. And also a biostatistician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Professor Achia graduated from the University of the Western Cape. He has previously worked at the University of the Witwatersrand as a senior lecturer in Epidemiology and Biostatics, specializing in Spatial and spatiotemporal modeling of diseases and public health issues He has written a number of research publications such as Identification of determinants of infant mortality in Rwanda using a shared frailty model, which was published by the European Journal of Scientific Research.
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