J.K.
The strength of Kindergarten is that every child will thrive! Your child has a strong literacy and probably numeracy sense, as well. It is evident that you have already been working with him. Kudos! Still, even for the gifted child there is much to learn in kindergarten. Learning to get along with others is vital at this age! This included respect--respecting the teacher and other students! I assume you don't want to teach your child that rolling his eyes at an adult or anyone is a polite thing to do. Nobody appreciates a know-it-all attitude. Nip that in the bud! Helping others is another good trait that will help him build solid friendships. Moreover, only boring people get bored. A gifted student is usually able to concentrate on something more then one minute for each year old he or she is. If five, he should be able to concentrate on a book for at least 5 minutes on his own. Surely, in his class there are lots of books and materials to use where he can be creative! In the past, Kindergarten had very little to do with learning to read and do arithmetic. It is only now that a big push has developed because kids come to school so far behind. Your son is lucky to have you as a mom. In teaching him to read and write, don't miss the most important thing--how to be his best person! I am a 3rd grade gifted and talented teacher. From my experience, the kids that soar are the kids that are not only the best learner but the best person. They develop the ability to lead their classmates in creative, positive inquiry-based explorations across the curriculum. It sounds like your district will offer many positive learning experiences , in the years to come. As for homework, research indicates reading aloud to your child is the most beneficial way to spend your time. Builds vocabulary, promotes bonding, increases imagination, etc. Think of Kindergarten homework for what it is intended: promote responsibility, develop a good work ethic (neatness, name on the paper, staying organized, etc.), and a chance to show that he can be successful (builds self-esteem). It sounds like he is ready to take the lead with homework--He gets it out, completes it, and returns it. Keep paper handy--he can begin to write his own stories and illustrate them for fun!