What your child needs to succeed in school

As I mentioned earlier, kindergarten teachers complain about children starting school not knowing the very basic stories and nursery rhymes that make up our cultural heritage, and that they must know to understand references that will be made in literature later on. E.D. Hirsch's series of books, from kindergarten through 5th grade, give an overview of the basics of cultural literacy. Unless your child's school uses the Core Knowledge curriculum, or every teacher happens to use these books as a supplement to the school's curriculum, he will not learn all these essentials. These books are useful as a "shopping list" when you go to the library or bookstore, or look for books on Amazon. Look for quality books, with good illustrations, that teach your child these concepts in an enjoyable way. What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know: Preparing Your Child for a Lifetime of Learning (Core Knowledge Series)begins the series.