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Kindergarten Admissions Information
Preparing for the CHILD INTERVIEW
There is a likelihood that your child will be “interviewed” for perhaps 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning of the testing / screening process. Parents may want to ask a “stranger” (perhaps a grandparent, uncle, aunt, friend, neighbor or coworker) to conduct a mock interview with their child before the private school admissions “Test Day” to simulate testing / screening conditions.
"Hello, my name is _____. I’m so happy to meet you! Thank you for being here today! I’m going to ask you some questions."
What is your name? Please write your name on this paper. Here’s a pencil!
How did you come here today? Tell me about it!
What is your favorite FOOD? What is your favorite COLOR? What is your favorite ANIMAL?
Where do you live? Tell me about it!
Who is in your family?
Is it important to listen to your parents? Why?
Is it important to listen to your teacher? Why?
Is it important to tell the truth? Why?
Is it important to work hard in school? Why?
Is it important to play nicely with other children? Why?
What do you really like to do? Tell me about it!
What are you really good at? Tell me about it!
Tell me about your best place!
PARENT CHECKLIST - TESTING / SCREENING
Each year, hundreds of thousands of preschoolers nationwide take cognitive ability tests, readiness exams, skills tests, intelligence scales, nonverbal ability tests and intellectual assessments for admission to kindergarten. These measures of cognitive and language ability may include but are not limited to: the OLSAT, the BSRA, the CogAT, the ITBS, the Stanford-Binet, the WPPSI-III, the WISC, the NNAT-2 and the GATE.
The practice guide you purchased is designed to target preschoolers preparing for individual verbal cognitive, language and skills ability testing sessions required as part of the kindergarten admissions process. These sessions are usually administered from October through February at Hawaii’s top private schools and may coincide with or be followed by a group observational session. During the ONE-TO-ONE screening session, the private school admissions representative may test your child in the following areas:
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Child is able to HOLD a PENCIL properly with a MATURE GRIP.
Child is able to USE a PENCIL to TRACE letters, numbers and shapes (Square, Triangle, Circle).
Child is able to HOLD a (safety) SCISSORS.
Child is able to OPEN and CLOSE a (safety) SCISSORS.
Child is able to USE a (safety) SCISSORS to CUT along a STRAIGHT LINE.
Child is able to USE a SCISSORS to CUT OUT a CIRCLE (or other simple shape), turning the paper.
Child is able to BUILD a STACK of BLOCKS ( 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5+ ) blocks high.
Using a PENCIL, child is able to COPY a FORM (Shape, Letter or Number).
Child is able to WRITE his or her NAME.
Child is able to WRITE RECOGNIZABLE LETTERS and NUMBERS.
Child is able to COPY simple WORDS (from “Preschool Dolch Word List”).
Child is able to DRAW simple SHAPES ( Square, Circle, Triangle, Rectangle ).
Child is able to DRAW a PERSON with 5 BODY PARTS ( Head – 2 Arms – 2 Legs ).
Child is able to HOLD a SPOON and FORK properly.
Child is able to USE a SPOON and FORK properly.
Child is able to POUR WATER from ONE CUP into ANOTHER.
Child is able to PUT TOGETHER a 5 to 10 PIECE PUZZLE.
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Child is able to SPEAK in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
Child’s SPEECH is UNDERSTANDABLE to ADULTS.
Child is able to USE DESCRIPTIVE WORDS in SENTENCES. ( good, bad, hot, cold, big, small, fun )
Child is able to IDENTIFY LOWERCASE and UPPERCASE LETTERS. ( 5 – 10 – 15 – 20+ )
Child is able to IDENTIFY the SOUNDS of LETTERS.
Child is able to RECITE the ALPHABET in ORDER.
Child is able to IDENTIFY the CORRECT ITEM in a GROUP of PICTURES.
Child is able to ANSWER PERSONAL QUESTIONS.
Child is able to ANSWER WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY and HOW QUESTIONS.
Child is able to IDENTIFY OBJECTS and PICTURES.
Child is able to IDENTIFY GROUPS of ( 2 – 3 – 4 – 5+ ) ITEMS.
Child is able to PLACE ITEMS using POSITIONAL WORDS.
( Left – Right | Above – Below | Inside – Outside | On – Off | Front – Back | Top – Bottom | Next To )
Child is able to RETELL a SIMPLE STORY.
Child is able to RECOGNIZE RHYMING WORDS.
Child is able to GENERATE WORDS that RHYME with each other.
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Child is able to JUMP or HOP ( 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5+ ) time(s).
Child is able to SKIP.
Child is able to THROW a medium-sized BALL.
Child is able to CATCH a medium-sized BALL.
Child is able to KICK a medium-sized BALL.
Child is able to STAND on ONE FOOT for ( 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5+ ) second(s).
Child is able to HOP on ONE FOOT ( 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5+ ) time(s).
Child is able to RIDE a TRICYCLE.
Child is able to WALK in a STRAIGHT LINE.
Child is able to WALK on a BALANCE BEAM.
Child is able to CLIMB STAIRS with ALTERNATING FEET.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Child is able to TELL FULL NAME when asked.
Child is able to RECOGNIZE FIRST NAME on sight.
Child is able to ORALLY SPELL FIRST NAME.
Child is able to STAY on TOPIC during a SHORT CONVERSATION.
Child is able to READ his or her OWN WRITING.
Child is able to follow ONE-STEP DIRECTIONS. (“Put your right hand on your head.”)
Child is able to follow TWO-STEP DIRECTIONS. (“First, stand up. Next, put your right hand on your head.”)
Child is able to IDENTIFY BODY PARTS by POINTING to them.
Child is able to ORALLY COUNT to ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ).
Child is able to VISUALLY IDENTIFY NUMBERS up to ( 5 – 10 – 15 – 20 ).
Child is able to COUNT OBJECTS up to ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ).
Child is able to SORT or CLASSIFY pictures. (“Is a tree a plant or animal?”)
Child is able to RECOGNIZE 8 BASIC COLORS. ( Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Brown, Black, Purple )
Child is able to IDENTIFY and NAME SHAPES. ( Circle – Square – Triangle – Rectangle )
Child is able to ANSWER SIMPLE QUESTIONS about CONCEPTS.
( Happy or Sad or Angry | Big or Small | Hot or Cold | Tall or Short | Young or Old | More or Less )
Child is able to RECOGNIZE and REPEAT a SIMPLE PATTERNING SEQUENCE. ( A B A B A B A B / 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 )
Child is able to CREATE a TWO-PIECE PATTERN with THREE REPETITIONS.
Child is able to UNDERSTAND BASIC CONCEPTS of TIME. ( Morning – Afternoon – Night )
Child is able to DISTINGUISH between LEFT, RIGHT, UP and DOWN.
Child is able to “READ” a FAMILIAR STORY to an ADULT.
Child is able to USE WORDS to MAKE COMPARISONS. (words ending in “er” or “est”)
Child is able to USE SPECIFIC and VARIED VOCABULARY.
Child is able to TALK ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING USING DESCRIPTIVE WORDS. (“I see a big blue house.”)
Child is able to TALK ABOUT EVENTS, ADDING SOME DETAIL.
(“My mom brought me here in a car. After this, we are going to eat lunch at McDonald’s.”)
During the GROUP Observational Session, the private school admissions representative may test your child in the following areas:
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Child is able to ENGAGE others SOCIALLY (or MAKE FRIENDS).
Child has RESPECT for others.
Child is able to SHARE and TAKE TURNS with others.
Child is able to CONFORM to others.
Child exhibits TRUSTWORTHINESS.
Child is able to FOLLOW a CLASSROOM ROUTINE.
Child is able to PARTICIPATE in a GROUP ACTIVITY.
Child is able to EXPRESS OWN FEELINGS CONSTRUCTIVELY.
Child is able to DISPLAY SELF-CONFIDENCE and MANAGE OWN EMOTIONS.
Child is able to IDENTIFY FEELINGS of others.
Child is able to RESPOND APPROPRIATELY to others.
Child is able to TELL others about THINGS HEARD.
Child is able to LISTEN during GROUP TIME.
Child is able to SIT THROUGH an AGE-APPROPRIATE STORY.
Child is able to FINISH ONE ACTIVITY BEFORE STARTING ANOTHER.
Child is able to WORK INDEPENDENTLY.
Child is able to INITIATE OWN LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES.
Child is able to CONTINUE TRYING WHEN THINGS ARE HARD.
Child is able to MANAGE BATHROOM NEEDS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
Child is able to DRESS himself or herself ( Jacket – Shoes – Socks – Buttons – Zippers )
Child exhibits HYPERACTIVE BEHAVIOR.
Child exhibits STEREOTYPICAL BEHAVIOR. (Repetitive or ritualistic movement.)
Child exhibits DISTURBING INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR.
Child exhibits SELF-ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
Improving Cognitive and Language Abilities Your Child May Be Tested On
FLASHCARDS FOR PRESCHOOL DOLCH WORD LIST
Improves Memory, Language, Comprehension
These words are difficult to learn through the use of pictures: a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, funny, go, help, here, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, one, play, red, run, said, see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, you
LISTENING MEMORY
Improves Memory, Language, Comprehension
This is a good listening memory game. Parent says: “Repeat after me. I eat.
Okay, now say, I eat apples. Good!
Now say, I eat red apples. Very good!
Now say, I eat red apples at home. Great!
Now say, I eat red apples at home for lunch. Wonderful!
Now say, I eat red apples at home for lunch on Saturdays. I’m so proud of you!
Now say, I eat red apples at home for lunch on Saturdays before my nap. You’re so smart!”
INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Improves Language, Knowledge, Comprehension, Memory, Mathematics, Cognitive Thinking
Ask your child to name as many items in a category as he or she can in one minute. These categories include: colors, foods, drinks, fruits, vegetables, land/water animals, plants, what people wear, things that are tall – short – hot – cold – round – flat – hard – soft – red – blue – sharp – loud – liquid / begin with the letter a, b, c, d… begin with the digraph bl, br, ch, cl, cr, dr, fl, fr, gl, gr, pl, pr, sh, sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st, sw, th, tr, tw
AUDITORY ATTENTION
Improves Memory, Fine-Motor Skills (Pointing)
Turn on the television, go to the kids’ section of the library or sit next to someone talking on the phone to create a noisy background. Say a word and then ask your child to point to the picture of that word. You may want to pick words that sound alike so your child really has to listen.
PICTURE IDENTIFICATION
Improves Language, Knowledge, Comprehension, Visual-Spatial Reasoning, Memory
Show your child a group of pictures then ask him or her to identify each picture as quickly as possible.
PARENTS CAN...
Sing the “Five Senses” Song
Do Verbal Analogies
Do Simple Card Games
Use Food to Teach Colors
Cook and Bake with child
Play Tic -Tac-Toe
Do Easy Riddles
Sing Directions
Play “What Starts With…” Games
Play Rhyming Games
Read Dr. Seuss Books
Give Listening Brain Teasers
Do True-False Brain teasers
Play Marco Polo
Buy Concept books
READ to child and then ASK QUESTIONS
Give One / Two / Three-step Directions with Sock Puppet
Sing Children’s Songs and Nursery Rhymes
Ask child to Recognize Pairs (point to the tree AND house)
Play Simon Says or the Hokey Pokey
Play “What’s Wrong With This Story?”
Declare a “Number / Alphabet / Color / Concept of the Day”
CHILD CAN...
Practice Pouring
Work with a Spray Bottle
Make a Paper Clip Necklace
Practice Folding Paper
Practice Tying Knots and Bows
Draw a Person
Sequence Cards
Copy Patterns
Do an easy Music Class
Start a Collection
Sort Toys or Objects
Do “Hide-and-Seek” Counting
RIDDLES for preschoolers...
(Socks) What am I? I’m a type of clothing. People wear me on their feet. I go inside the shoe!
(House) What am I? I have rooms, walls, doors, windows and a roof. People live in me!
(Paper) What am I? I’m white and thin. People write, draw and color on me!
(Santa Claus) Who am I? I say Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas!
(Policeman) Who am I? I protect people. I carry a gun. I catch bad guys!
(Singing) What am I doing? I’m using my voice and music to make people happy!
(Nurse) Who am I? I’m not a doctor. But I help sick people in a hospital!
(Hen or Chicken) What am I? I live on a farm. I have feathers. I lay eggs!
(Bug or Beetle) What am I? I’m very small. I crawl on the ground. Don’t step on me!
(Bed) What am I? People put pillows, blankets and sheets on me. People sleep on me.
(Car) What am I? I have doors, windows and 4 wheels. People use me to drive places.
(Tree) What am I? I am tall and have branches and leaves. I give people shade.
(Sun) What am I? You can see me in the sky. I’m really bright! I keep people warm all over the world.
(Cup) What am I? You will find me in the kitchen. People use me to drink water, milk and juice.
(Glasses) What am I? People wear me over their eyes. I help people see better!
(Elephant) What am I? I have very big ears. My long nose is called a trunk.
(Giraffe) What am I? Children love to see me at the zoo. I have a long neck and spots on my skin!
(Pencil) What am I? I’m not a pen. People use me to write letters and numbers!
(Hat) What am I? People wear me on their heads. I protect people from the sun!
(Towel) What am I? I hang in the bathroom. People use me to wipe themselves dry after a bath!
(Bear) What am I? I’m big and furry. I eat fish and berries!
(Lion) What am I? I’m a beautiful but scary animal. I’m the King of Jungle!
(Bell) What am I? I’m near the front door of your house. You can ring me. I go ding-dong!
(Grapes) What am I? I’m a fruit. I grow in a bunch. One of me can fit in your mouth!
(Teacher) Who am I? I work at a school. You can find me in a classroom. I help children learn letters and numbers!
(Doctor) Who am I? You can come to me if you get real sick!
(Fireman) Who am I? I wear a helmet and heavy boots. I carry a long hose. I fight fires!
(Crayons) What am I? I have different colors. Children use me to color and draw!
(Bicycle) What am I? I have 2 wheels. Children learn to ride me when they are about 8 years old!
(Fork) What am I? You will find me in the kitchen. I have pointy tips. People use me to pick up food!
(Shirt) What am I? People wear me on their bodies. Sometimes I have buttons or a collar. I have sleeves!
(Shoe) What am I? People wear me on their feet. Children learn to tie my laces!
(Chair) What am I? People sit on me!
(Window) What am I? I’m part of your house. I’m made of glass. You can see right through me!
(Frog) What am I? Sometimes you can find me in a pond. I have green, slippery skin. I say ribbet-ribbet!
(Fish) What am I? I swim in the ocean. Some people keep me as a pet. Some people catch me and eat me!
(Grasshopper) What am I? I’m an insect. I hop on grass!
(Bag or Backpack) What am I? I hold schoolbooks, paper and pencils. Children carry me to school!
(Book) What am I? There are lots and lots of me in a library. I have a cover and pages. People read me!
(School) What am I? I have classrooms and teachers. Kids come to me to learn and make friends!
(Plate) What am I? You find me in the kitchen. I’m round and flat. People put food on me!
(Leaf) What am I? There are lots and lots of me on trees. I grow from branches. I’m usually the color green!
(Toilet) What am I? I help people use the bathroom. You can flush me!
(Hair) What am I? I grow on your head. You have to cut me sometimes!
(Bottle) What am I? I’m tall and skinny. I’m made of glass. People put water and soda in me!
(Pocket) What am I? I’m attached to shirts and pants. People carry things in me like keys and money!
(Soap) What am I? People use me to wash their hands and take a bath. I help take dirt off your body!
(Light Bulb) What am I? I make light. People turn me on and off!
(Food) What am I? People keep me in the kitchen. Just open the refrigerator. People cook me and eat me!
(Cat) What Animal Am I? Lots of people keep me as a house pet. I’m soft and furry. I chase mice. I say meow!
(Alligator) What Animal Am I? I live by lakes and rivers. I have lots of sharp teeth. I’m dangerous so watch out!
(Monkey) What Animal Am I? Children love to see me at the zoo. I swing from trees. I love bananas!
(Mouse) What Animal Am I? I sometimes hide in people’s homes. I’m small and quick. I love cheese!
(Crab) What Animal Am I? I have a shell and claws. I live in the ocean. But you might see me crawling on the beach!
(Sleeping) What am I doing? I do this on a bed in my room. I do this at night because I’m tired!
(Running) What am I doing? I’m going faster than walking. I’m using my legs to go fast!
(Eating) What am I doing? I do this at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food goes into my mouth and down to my stomach!
(Toothbrush) Besides toothpaste, what do you need to brush your teeth?
(Ball) What is something round that you can bounce and throw?
(Fork) What’s a pointy thing that you can use to pick up food?
(Comb or Brush) What do you need to make your hair neat?
(Pencil) What do you need to write letters and numbers, but still be able to erase?
(Teacher) I help children in preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade and so on.
(Door) What am I? I’m made of wood. I can open and close. People knock on me!
(Sad) If your dog died, how would you feel? The answer rhymes with the word “Dad”.
(Happy) When you play with your friends at recess, how do you feel?
(Mad) When you don’t get what you want, how do you feel? The answer rhymes with the word “Dad”.
(Mailman or Mail Lady) Who am I? I wear a uniform. I go to many homes almost every day. I deliver letters and packages!
(Dress) What am I? I’m a type of clothes. I’m longer than a shirt. Women wear me!
(Cook or Chef) Who am I? I work at a restaurant in the kitchen. I use food to make meals for hungry people!
(Mountain) What am I? I’m very tall and big. Sometimes I have snow on me. I’m made of rock!
(Sidewalk) What am I? I’m made of concrete. I’m hard and long. People walk on me. I’m next to a street!
(Hose) What am I? I’m very long. People keep me near a yard or garden. Water goes through me!
Let’s play Things on a Farm!
(Rooster) I have feathers. I’m a bird but I can’t fly very far. I say cockle-doodle-doo!
(Pig) What farm animal am I? I like to play in mud. I say oink-oink!
(Barn) I’m a building on a farm. Farm animals eat, sleep and live in me!
(Cow) I’m a large, slow farm animal that likes to eat grass. You get milk from me. I say moo-moo!
(Horse) I’m a fast, beautiful animal. People climb on my back and ride me!
(Chicken) I'm a bird, but I can't fly. I lay eggs. People eat me for lunch or dinner!
(Hay) I'm kept in stacks or in a barn. Farmers feed me to cows and horses!
Let’s play What Animal Am I?
(Fish) I can breathe in water. People catch me with a pole. I’m food for lots of people!
(Peacock) I’m a bird but I can’t fly. I like to show my beautiful, colorful feathers!
(Seal) I have whiskers. I live in the ocean and on land. You might see me balance a ball on my nose!
(Bird) I lay eggs. I can fly. I can make a nest in a tree. I say chirp-chirp!
(Dog) I’m an animal that’s the best friend of people. I like to wag my tail. You can hear me barking!
(Starfish) I live in the ocean. I don’t move around a lot. I have 5 arms!
(Porcupine) Watch out! I have lots of needles sticking out of my body!
(Penguin) I love cold weather. I can swim in icy water or walk on land. I’m a bird but I can’t fly!
(Bull) I look like a cow but I’m much more dangerous. Watch out! I have sharp horns!
(Skunk) I’m black and white animal that lives in the forest. I’m shy, but I can make you smell stink!
(Fox) I’m a smart and beautiful animal. I live in a forest. I have a bushy tail!
(Beaver) I cut trees with my big teeth!
(Moose) I have sharp antlers on my head!
(Parrot) I have colorful feathers! I'm a bird that can repeat what people say.
