2017 SCHOOL YEAR You’ll be amazed. Lyrics for songs found in the calendar. Ready Freddy is funded by: Henry L. Hillman Foundation Twinkle, Twinkle, Hickory Dickory Dock The Pittsburgh Foundation Little Star Hickory, dickory dock The Heinz Endowments Twinkle, twinkle, little star, The mouse ran up the clock. The Grable Foundation how I wonder what you are. The clock struck one, Birmingham Foundation Up above the world so high, The mouse ran down The Buhl Foundation like a diamond in the sky. Hickory, dickory dock. The Sprout Fund Twinkle, twinkle, little star, OCDEL how I wonder what you are. The Frank and Theresa Caplan Fund for Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education Giant Eagle Head, Shoulders, A, B, C Song Shop ‘n Save Knees and Toes A, B, C, D, E, F, G; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P; Knees and Toes. Q, R, S; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, T, U, V; Knees and Toes. W, X; Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose. Y and Z. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Now I’ve sung my ABCs, Knees and Toes. Next time won’t you sing with me.

©2017 University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development. All rights reserved. 2017-18 It’s a new year with Ready Freddy!

This is a big year for you and your child. Working on these calendar activities together will be great practice for kindergarten and beyond.

Every month has a special theme. You and your child can explore different games, skills, and values together. You don’t have to do each activity on the given day—work with your family’s schedule—just remember to have fun! Play School Take turns pretending you are the student and the teacher.

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. August 2017 Practice your skills and routine. Get Ready for School

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 Set and practice Kindergarten Make a plan for getting “I can brush my teeth.” Help your child be more comfortable a school bedtime routine Orientation your child to school Practice setting up by visiting the school before the first day. to get into the habit. on the days you can’t your toothbrush and take them. brushing by yourself. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 FULL Friendship Day Call the school to set Practice writing Library Visit Day! Kindergarten a time to visit and your name. Find a book about Name the parts of Boot Camp meet the teacher. starting school. being a good friend. Begins Kindergarten Boot Camp • Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 11:30 am 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 THIRD Left-Handers Day “I can wash my hands.” Kindergarten Play School Day! Practice washing and Boot Camp drying your hands. Ends Kindergarten Boot Camp • Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 11:30 am 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 NEW Practice walking or Practice your school “I can get dressed.” driving to school. morning routine. Practice dressing yourself for school.

27 28 29 30 31 1 2 FIRST First day of Eid al-Adha Phases of the Moon school for all Festival of Sacrifices students. (Ends at sunset) NEW FIRST FULL THIRD What activities do you do at school? Make a list!

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Work with the teacher to set September 2017 learning goals. Having Fun at School

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 NEW Review the school Library Visit Day! September is a good time to talk with your child’s teacher calendar. Find a book about about working together on learning goals. going to kindergarten.

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 FULL Draw a picture Talk about Draw a picture No school of your teacher. school together – about Fall. How was your day?

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 THIRD Grandparents’ Day Draw a picture POW/MIA Stepfamily Day 9-11 Remembrance of your school. Recognition Day National PlayDoh Day

Check in with your child’s teacher this week. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NEW Talk about your Talk Like a Pirate Day Muharram Mark every day you favorite subject with (Begins at sunset) (Begins at sunset) Rosh Hashanah went to school a parent or older sibling. (Ends at sunset) this week with a star. First Day of Fall

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 FIRST Talk about challenges – Secondary Draw a picture Elementary (sunset) which ­subjects Open House of yourself Open House Early Dismissal are harder. and a new friend. Can you match the shapes? Draw a line to connect the matching shapes.

Octagon Rectangle

Circle Oval

Square

Triangle Heart Star

Crescent

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. October 2017 Do you know Shapes Month your shapes?

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 FULL 5 6 7 Homemade Cookie Day Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Draw some circles and Mad Hatter Day Help around Little Star” see what funny faces the house. you can make. Circles Week – Look for things that are circles.

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 THIRD Name the shape of Collect a few different Act 80 Day different street signs. leaves and create your own art No school doing leaf rubbings. Squares Week – Look for things that are squares.

15 16 17 18 NEW 19 20 21 What shapes can Play Tic-Tac-Toe. Muharram Library Visit Day! you find around (Ends at sunset) Find a book your house? about shapes. Triangles Week – Look for things that are triangles.

22 23 24 25 26 FIRST 27 28 What shapes can Draw a picture Make a Difference Day you see out of your about Fall. Help others! window today? Rectangles Week – Look for things that are rectangles. 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 Sharing Day! Tell a story about your classroom. Praise your child’s accomplishments. Let them know Count the smiley faces it’s important to you that they do well in school. on your chart. brown yellow Do you know your colors? white red green purple With crayons, color ten ovals using the colors orange on this page. Practice blue writing the names of the colors beside each.

pink

black

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Use your words. November 2017 Colors Month

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 All Saints’ Day All Souls’ Day/ How many colors FULL Make sure you know what days your child’s school is closed in November. are in your room? Some schools are closed Election Day, and ­Veterans’ Day. Many, but not all, are also closed the Monday after Thanksgiving.

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 THIRD Veterans’ Day Daylight Saving Time Election Day Find your favorite color Ends – “Fall Back” in your home or your Parent-Teacher Library Visit Day! at 2 a.m. neighborhood. Conferences Find a book about color. No school Red and Orange Week – Look for things that are either red or orange! 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 NEW Sort and match your Draw and color Learn the colors National Adoption Day clothes by color. a picture of of street signs. Ready Freddy the Frog.

Green and Yellow Week – Look for things that are either green or yellow.

Thanksgiving 19 20 21 22 Day 23 24 25 Draw a picture Early Dismissal Thanksgiving Break Draw a picture of something that No school No school of your family using as you are thankful for. Nov. 23-27 many colors as you can. Blue and Purple Week – Look for things that are either blue or purple. 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 FIRST Name the colors Thanksgiving Break al-Nabi in the fruit section No school (Begins at sunset) at the store. Black and White Week – Look for things that are either black or white. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z My Name is

This is me. Draw a picture of yourself here. Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. December 2017 Do you know Learning Letters & Writing your ABCs.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 Practice all the letters Remind your child how much they have learned of the alphabet. since the beginning of the school year.

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 FULL Advent Begins Practice writing your Pearl Harbor Day first name.

Name words that start with the letters of the alphabet. Can you think of a word for all 26? 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 THIRD Read together. Practice writing your Practice writing your Library Visit Day! last name. (Begins at sunset) first and last name. Find a book about letters of the alphabet.

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NEW Learn to write Plan to set aside time Hanukkah Early Dismissal First Day the name of a favorite over the holidays for (Ends at sunset) of Winter Break. First Day of Winter aunt or uncle. ­educational games School resumes and activities to keep January 3. minds sharp. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 FIRST Eve Christmas Day Begins Keep practicing Read together. your letters. 31 New Year’s Eve Know Your Numbers

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 on and on the numbers go I can count them fast or slow.

How old are you? ______

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Numbers are January 2018 everywhere. Numbers Month

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 FULL New Year’s Day Make a paper School Act out a story. Orthodox Christmas snowflake. resumes Cook or bake together – measure ingredients.

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 THIRD Help around Play a card game Hopping Day! Orthodox New Year the house. like Uno.

How many items can you find in your house that have numbers? 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 NEW National Hat Day Martin Luther King Jr. Talk about something Winnie the Pooh Day Measure how tall Tell a story about your Library Visit Day! Holiday new you learned. you are. favorite book. Find a book about numbers or counting. No school 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 FIRST Count toys Clerical Day Belly Laugh Day Opposite Day Learn your Read together. during clean up. No school phone number.

28 29 30 31 1 2 3 FULL Sharing Day! Learn your Can you count to 20? home address. Backwards Day Learn About Time

12 11 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 5 6

Time to wake up. Time to go to school. Time to eat lunch. Time to go home. Time to play. Time to eat dinner. Time to bathe. Time for a story. Time to sleep.

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. February 2018 Time waits Working with Time for no one.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

28 29 30 31 1 2 Wash your hands for3 Women‘s Heart Health 15 seconds (same time Wear Red Day it takes to sing Happy Birthday two times fast). Think of all the tasks and activities you do during a week where time is a factor. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 THIRD Play a quiet game: FULL Time yourself – Sing “Hickory Dickory Can you be still and Make a Friend Day What are all the things Dock.” quiet for 1 minute you can do in 1 minute? (60 seconds)? How long does it take you to get dressed for school?

Cook together –1 1 12 13 14 NEW 15 16 17 How long does it Lincoln’s Birthday Valentine’s Day In-Service Day Library Visit Day! take to make No school Can you find a book your favorite meal? about time? Learn how to “tell time” or read a clock.

18 Presidents Day 19 20 21 22 23 24 FIRST Time yourself – Washington’s Learn to set an Race with a friend No school Brush your teeth Birthday alarm clock. or a sibling. for 2 minutes. Practice naming the days of the week. 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 What time did you get up today? February is a special enrollment time for children in pre-school, but anyone can register early! Call your school to find out how. Can you name the different parts of your body?

Hand Arm

Eye Head Ear

Shoulder

Nose

Mouth

Fingers Elbow

Knee

Toes Leg

Foot

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Move your body. March 2018 Motor Skills Month

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 FULL Read Across America Library Visit Day! (Begins at sunset) Can you find a book that’s all about how Practice tying our bodies work? shoelaces. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 THIRD Trace your hand Hopping Day! Running day! and color it in. Try hopscotch or jumping rope.

Practice with buttons and zippers. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Practice making NEW Daylight Saving Time Sing “Head, St. Patrick’s Day Shoulders, straight lines Begins at 2 a.m. by using a ruler. “Spring Ahead” Knees and Toes.” Practice using kid scissors. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 FIRST Practice tying First Day of Spring Draw a picture Act 80 Day Get dressed all shoelaces. of yourself. No school by yourself.

Practice coloring inside the lines. 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Practice making a circle / FULL Walk backwards day!. by tracing around Mar. 29 – Apr. 2 Begins the bottom of a No school (at sunset) plastic cup. No school Practice throwing and catching a ball. Good Friends are hard to find. Connect the dots to find your friends.

20

19 Friends 1 Share 18 10 2 8 17 Are polite 7 11 9 16 Play fair 3 6 12 15 4 13 14 Invite 5 13 Include 15 14 12 Work together 16 Are kind

11 Wave hello

17 10 9 Help others

18 8 19

20 7 6 1 5 2 4 3 Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Make new April 2018 friends, but Teamwork – Working Together keep the old.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fill out the “ABCs of My Sunday Play a board game Passover Ends Child” found at the back (Christian) with siblings or friends. of this calendar and take Be a good helper day! April Fool’s Day it to your school visit. Take turns “going first” when playing with siblings or friends. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 THIRD Easter Sunday With a parent or older Visit a local park – (Orthodox) sibling, set the table. make a new friend.

Practice following simple directions from Mom, Dad, or an older sibling. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 NEW Draw or color Tax Day Sharing Day! Look Alike Day Library Visit Day! with a friend. Practice sharing with Find a book about a sibling or a friend. friends. Practice saying please and thank you. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FIRST With your parents’ Play a running game Take Your Sons and Arbor Day permission, help with siblings or friends. Daughters to Work Day a friend or a neighbor with a chore. Be open to help or suggestions, especially when trying something new. 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 FULL Help with chores around the house. April is Kindergarten enrollment month in many school districts! Call your school district and check the date for registration and schedule a school visit for you and your child. Look What I Can Do – Smiley Chart :)

Says “Please” Covers mouth when Uses bathroom Washes hands Listens to adults Gets dressed and “Thank You” coughing or sneezing independently or performs a chore without help

Draw a smiley face in the appropriate box every time your child successfully completes the task. Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. You can photocopy this to use every month if you like. Show and tell what May 2018 you have learned. Look What I Can Do

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 Draw a picture Star Wars Day of something you Make a schedule just learned. Act out a story. for the day.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 THIRD Sharing day. What would you Read a book Jump Like a Frog Day Library Visit Day! like to learn next? with a parent or sibling. Can you find a book about someone learning a new skill? 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 NEW Mother’s Day Begins Wear Purple Early Dismissal (at sunset) for Peace Day (Begins at sunset) With Dad or an older sibling, make Mom breakfast 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 FIRST Draw a picture Hopping day! Help around of something you the house. just learned.

Practice naming the days of the week! 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 FULL Help with outdoor chores. Thank a veteran. No school How Are You Feeling Today?

happy sad frustrated

confused okay surprised

excited angry tired

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. 2018 Use your words. Talk About Feelings

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 Don’t stop learning. Summer is a great time to work on new National Day National Trails Day skills. Check with your school and local library for fun activities. “Get outside!” Also most libraries have summer reading programs for all ages. Graduation

3 4 5 D-Day 6 7 8 9 THIRD Draw a picture Last day Best Friend Day Library Visit Day! That makes you think of school Clerical day Look for a book about “Summer.” for students moods or feelings. Be kind. Think before you speak. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NEW Kennywood Draw a picture Tell a story School of something that Eid al-Fitr about a time you Picnic makes you happy. (Last day of Ramadan) were surprised.

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 FIRST Father’s Day First Day of Summer National Pink Day With Mom or an older sibling, make Dad breakfast 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 FULL Tell a story Sunglasses Day Tell a story Play a ball game about something that about something that with neighborhood makes you sad. makes you angry. friends and family. Include everyone who wants to play. On to First Grade!

I can I love to I want to

My friend is I am good at I learned

Visit readyfreddy.org for more great ideas. Getting ready July 2018 for First Grade. Celebrate Me Month

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 THIRD Independence Day Draw a red, white, and blue picture! Towards the end of the month, put the Watch a parade, or first day of school on the calendar. fireworks, or both!.

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NEW Read together with a Celebrate! family member. I know my shapes.

Practice your writing and spelling. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 FIRST Celebrate! National Hot Dog Day National Lollipop Day Library Visit Day! Visit your local park – I can count to _____. Find a book about make a new friend. first grade or starting a new school year. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FULL Parents’ Day Celebrate! I know my colors.

Work on your motor skills all summer. 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 Celebrate! We can read together. 2017-18 Holidays & Events

A u g u s t 2 0 17 D e c e m b e r 2 0 17 Immunization Awareness Month Human Rights Month A p r i l 2 0 1 8 Aug. 6 Friendship Day Dec. 3 Advent Begins School Library Month Aug. 13 Left-Handers Day Dec. 12 Hanukkah – Festival of Lights Apr. 1 Easter Sunday / April Fools’ Day Aug. 31 Eid al-Adha – Festival of Sacrifices ends Dec. 21 First day of winter Apr. 7 Passover ends Dec. 25 Christmas Apr. 8 Orthodox Easter S e p t e m b e r 2 0 17 Dec. 26 Kwanzaa Begins Apr. 22 Earth Day Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Apr. 27 Arbor Day Sept. 4 Labor Day Sept. 10 Grandparents’ Day J an u a r y 2 0 1 8 M a y 2 0 1 8 Sept. 15 POW/MIA Recognition Day Blood Donor Month Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month Sept. 16 Stepfamily Day Jan. 1 New Year’s Day May 4 Star Wars Day Sept. 20 Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset) Jan. 7 Orthodox Christmas May 5 Cinco de Mayo Sept. 21 Muharram – Begins Islamic liturgical year Jan. 14 Orthodox New Year May 13 Mother’s Day Sept. 22 First day of fall Jan. 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day May 15 Ramadan (begins at sunset) Sept. 23 Native Americans Day Jan. 24 Belly Laugh Day May 19 Shavuot (begins at sunset) Sept. 29 Yom Kippur (begins at sunset) May 20 Pentecost F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8 May 28 Memorial Day O c t o b e r 2 0 17 Bullying Prevention Month Feb. 2 Women’s Heart Health – Wear Red Day / J u n e 2 0 1 8 Oct. 9 Columbus Day Groundhog Day Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Oct. 19 Muharram ends Feb. 12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday Jun. 1 National Doughnut Day Oct. 31 Halloween Feb. 13 Mardi Gras () Jun. 8 Best Friend Day Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day / Ash Wednesday Jun. 14 Flag Day / Eid al-Fitr (Last day of Ramadan) N o v e m b e r 2 0 17 Feb. 16 Jun. 17 Father’s Day Native American Heritage Month Feb. 19 President’s Day Jun. 21 First day of summer Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day Feb. 22 Washington’s Birthday Nov. 2 All Soul’s Day / Day of the Dead J u l y 2 0 1 8 Nov. 5 Daylight Savings Time ends (Fall back) M a r c h 2 0 1 8 Make a Difference to Children Month Nov. 7 Election Day Women’s History Month Jul. 4 Independence Day Nov. 10 Mar. 1 Purim (begins at sunset) Jul. 18 National Hot Dog Day Nov. 18 National Adoption Day Mar. 2 Read Across America Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Mar. 11 Daylight Savings Time starts (Spring ahead) Nov. 30 Mawlid al-Nabi (begins at sunset) Mar. 17 St. Patrick’s Day If you and your family observe an official religious Mar. 20 First day of spring ­holiday that falls on a school day, talk to your Mar. 25 Palm Sunday teacher or principal and ask for the day off. Mar. 30 Good Friday / Passover (begins at sunset) The ABCs of My Child Parent or Guardian Information Date Completed ______Name______

Child’s Name ______Phone ______Alternate Phone ______Child’s Birthday ______Email ______Allergies (if any) ______Best time(s) to contact me: Is afraid of ______Paste a photo of your child here.

I am proud that my child knows: I think my child is good at: My child really likes:

I am most concerned about: I am excited for my child to learn: The people who live with my child are:

My child enjoys when we read this book My child and/or our family I would like to be involved in my child’s or sing this song: could use help with: education in these ways: This page intentionally left blank. The Ready Freddy Activity Calendar was created by the Ready Freddy Team © 2017 University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development at the Office of Child Development with consultation from Sarah Perlmutter. All rights reserved. Design: Michael Tarquinio For more information about Illustration for February: Erin K. Reddy Quality Transitions to Kindergarten contact: Illustration for April: Michael Tarquinio Illustrations/Photos for Front Cover, March, July, August, September, November, and December John Kim, Director of Programs are derivative works from Thinkstock. [email protected]

Visit our website at: readyfreddy.org

Ready Freddy – Pathways to Kindergarten Success Office of Child Development University of Pittsburgh 400 North Lexington St., LL104 Pittsburgh, PA 15208 readyfreddy.org

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