For our beginning of the year homework, I'd like you to take five or so minutes just having a conversation with your child. Most of you are probably already doing this, but sometimes we forget. Oral language is a key component of Kindergarten. Anytime you can spend talking with your child is time richly spent. This helps your child with vocabulary development, concept understanding and lots more. Also, please read to your child on a daily basis. As you read to your child, "think aloud." Talk about the book and what is happening. Tell your child what you think about it. Predict what you think is going to happen. Change the ending of the story or extend the story and ask, "What would your child do next?" Talk about the characters, the story setting, the story problem and the story solution.