Kindergarteners share their new found wisdom

Advice from graduating kindergarten students

By: Emily Holody
   After an exciting first year of elementary school, the kindergarten class of 2006-2007 is moving on to first grade.
   These students shared their experiences in kindergarten and offered advice for preschoolers moving up to kindergarten next year.
   As it turns out, kindergarten, isn’t all about the ABC’s.
   "We learned about seeds and plants," said Skylar Trimpert, 6, of Constable School. "We’re growing a bean plant."
   She added that they also made toothpaste and, no, it didn’t taste good.
   From poetry to dinosaurs to apple trees, students in Brooks Crossing at Deans wrote and illustrated a book on their favorite topic.
   "I wrote one about trees," said Anish Shirvastava, 5. "Coconut trees," he added, and said he thinks coconut is delicious.
   Kindergarten sounded pretty exciting from what these students said, but they didn’t pretend it was all fun and games.
   "We had to do hard stuff like math," said Shivam B. Patel, 5. "It’s harder in kindergarten because it’s easy in preschool."
   In kindergarten, children get to buy their own lunch if they choose, and they ride the big yellow school bus for the first time.
   Nicole Osofsky, 6, said she was scared on the bus. "It was bumpy," she said with wide eyes.
   Ourania Gargalidis, 6, said to remember to put on your seat belt.
   Incoming kindergarten students should know that there are tests, homework, and many new experiences to be had in kindergarten, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have fun.
   "We still have toys like blocks and Legos," said Anish.
   There’s also recess and snack time, and many friends to make.
   Ourania said it was hard to make friends at first, but now she has tons.
   Nicole agreed. "You need to be friends with your classmates," she said.
   If scared on the first day, or first week, there are some great tricks new kindergarten students can use to feel better.
   "Don’t worry, just pretend your mom’s next to you," said Ourania.
   Nicole agreed.
   "Pretend your mom’s the teacher," she said with a giggle.
   After talking about how much they loved their teachers, the students noted the importance of paying attention.
   "You really have to listen," said Khushee Prasad, 5, and was proud to say he was a good listener.
   All of the students agreed that preschool didn’t involve nearly as much work, and kindergarten is quite a change.
   "It was hard to do different stuff," said Michael Castiello, 6, of Constable School. "Preschool was easier. You do harder work in kindergarten."
   Still, the students all let up a collective "Yeah!" when asked if they were excited about first grade, where work will presumably get harder, the array of subjects larger.