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Preparing every child for kindergarten success

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Common Core Foundations

Building skills for kindergarten Common Core success

Building Foundations for Success

The Common Core State Standards define what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Countdown2K builds the foundational skills children need to meet kindergarten Common Core expectations in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

Note: Countdown2K focuses on pre-kindergarten foundations. Kindergarten teachers build upon these skills.

ELAEnglish Language Arts Foundations

Print Concepts (RF.K.1)

Demonstrate understanding of organization and basic features of print

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Book handling activities (front/back, top/bottom)
  • Following words left to right during read-alouds
  • Understanding that words are separated by spaces
  • Recognizing uppercase and lowercase letters

Phonological Awareness (RF.K.2)

Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Rhyming word games and recognition
  • Syllable counting and clapping activities
  • Beginning sound isolation practice
  • Sound blending and segmenting activities

Phonics & Word Recognition (RF.K.3)

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Letter-sound correspondence activities
  • Consonant sound recognition
  • High-frequency word exposure
  • Name recognition and spelling

Reading Comprehension (RL.K & RI.K)

Ask and answer questions about key details

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Story retelling practice
  • Question and answer discussions
  • Character and setting identification
  • Making predictions about stories

Writing (W.K)

Use drawing, dictating, and writing to compose

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Name writing practice
  • Drawing to tell stories
  • Letter formation activities
  • Dictating ideas to adults

Speaking & Listening (SL.K)

Participate in collaborative conversations

Countdown2K Prepares Children By:

  • Circle time discussions
  • Turn-taking in conversations
  • Following multi-step directions
  • Speaking in complete sentences

MathMathematics Foundations

Counting & Cardinality (K.CC)

Kindergarten Standards

  • K.CC.1Count to 100 by ones and tens
  • K.CC.3Write numbers 0-20
  • K.CC.4Understand relationship between numbers and quantities
  • K.CC.5Count to answer "how many?"
  • K.CC.6Compare two groups of objects

Countdown2K Foundation

  • Counting to 20 (foundation for 100)
  • Number writing practice 0-10
  • One-to-one correspondence activities
  • Counting collections and answering "how many?"
  • More, less, same comparisons

Operations & Algebraic Thinking (K.OA)

Kindergarten Standards

  • K.OA.1Represent addition and subtraction
  • K.OA.2Solve addition and subtraction word problems
  • K.OA.3Decompose numbers less than 10

Countdown2K Foundation

  • Adding one more/taking one away activities
  • Story problems with objects
  • Number bond introduction
  • Part-part-whole exploration

Geometry (K.G)

Kindergarten Standards

  • K.G.1Describe objects using names of shapes
  • K.G.2Name shapes regardless of size or orientation
  • K.G.4Analyze and compare shapes

Countdown2K Foundation

  • Shape hunts and identification
  • Shape sorting activities
  • Positional word practice (above, below, beside)
  • Building with shapes

Measurement & Data (K.MD)

Kindergarten Standards

  • K.MD.1Describe measurable attributes
  • K.MD.2Compare two objects with measurable attribute
  • K.MD.3Classify and count objects into categories

Countdown2K Foundation

  • Comparing sizes (bigger/smaller, longer/shorter)
  • Sorting by attributes (color, size, shape)
  • Counting and graphing activities
  • Non-standard measurement exploration

Standards for Mathematical Practice

The Mathematical Practices describe how students should engage with mathematics. Countdown2K introduces these habits of mind:

Make sense of problems and persevere: Multi-step activities with increasing challenge
Reason abstractly and quantitatively: Number sense and counting with objects
Construct viable arguments: Explaining thinking during activities
Model with mathematics: Using manipulatives to represent problems
Use appropriate tools strategically: Selecting materials for activities
Attend to precision: Careful counting and accurate responses
Look for and make use of structure: Pattern recognition activities
Look for and express regularity: Noticing what repeats in patterns

Pre-K to Kindergarten Progression

Countdown2K Builds

  • • Counts to 20
  • • Recognizes letters A-Z
  • • Identifies basic shapes
  • • Writes first name
  • • Recognizes rhymes

Kindergarten Expects

  • • Counts to 100
  • • Knows letter sounds
  • • Analyzes shapes
  • • Writes simple sentences
  • • Blends sounds to read

For Pre-K Teachers

Use this guide to communicate with families and kindergarten teachers about the foundational skills children develop through Countdown2K. These skills create a strong base for Common Core success.

  • Share this guide at kindergarten transition meetings
  • Include in student portfolios for kindergarten teachers
  • Use during parent conferences to explain readiness preparation

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