School Readiness Skills | Teachable Moments

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Media Gallery

Grades: PreK-K, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grown-Ups and Educators

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Kindergarten Readiness

Getting ready for school is an exciting time. Did you know you can practice skills at home to get ready for the school year, and it is never too early to start? Beechwood Elementary Kindergarten teacher, LeeAnne Kreuger, lists some activities to try at home.

The Importance of Being Organized

How can you make your life simpler and less stressful? By staying organized! Nancy Martin, youth services assistant at the Bethel Park Public Library, talks about the importance of organization not only in the library but in our everyday lives.

Modeling Mistakes

Jen Ford, guidance counselor at Wylandville Elementary School in Eighty-Four, PA, explains the power of talking about mistakes, and how this can be a valuable tool in teaching children how to approach their own missteps in life.

Finding Your Center

Being thoughtful can help us find peace when we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Felicia Savage Friedman of Yoga Roots on Location teaches us a simple concentration exercise that we can practice whenever we are feeling these emotions.

How to Make a Stress Ball

Stress balls can help promote mindfulness, increase focus, and ease stress. In this Teachable Moment, Ja’Nya and Jackson, students from WQED/Steeltown Film Academy teach us how to make a stress ball using the supplies that we have at home.

Putting Your Dreams into Motion

What ideas do you have? What do you dream about starting? Vida Kuhns, the owner of Saving Grace Country Store and Consignment in Bakerstown, PA, shares her tips on what you can do right now to achieve your goals.

Support Materials

Modeling Mistakes – Extension Resource
Kindergarten Readiness – Extension Resource
Getting Organized – Extension Resource
Finding Your Center – Extension Resource
Dreams into Motion – Extension Resource
How to Make a Stress Ball – Extension Resource

About

This media gallery of Teachable Moments videos focuses on school readiness skills and activities that you may have not thought about before. From getting organized to keeping centered, these skills help your child and classroom set up for success. Check out the support materials for additional resources to help develop these skills and extend the learning.

iQ: smartparent Teachable Moments are short vignettes that “extend the learning” at home or in the classroom with additional information, resources, and ideas in the form of PDFs

iQ: smartparent is an Emmy Award-winning program about parenting in the digital age. WQED-TV created a television series and social network for parents to empower them with new knowledge, tools, and abilities to successfully guide their children in the use of digital media and technology. Our show is developed in partnership with WQED’s award-winning education, production, and interactive teams.

Credits: WQED

Standards

10.2 Healthful Living

10.2.3.A / 10.2.5.A — Identify personal decision‑making strategies.
10.2.3.B / 10.2.5.B — Identify strategies to reduce or avoid health risks.

Early Learning Standards (Kindergarten Readiness Skills)

Approaches to Learning

AL.1 — Demonstrate initiative, curiosity, and persistence.
AL.2 — Use problem‑solving strategies.

Social & Emotional Development

SE.1 — Regulate emotions and behaviors.
SE.2 — Establish and maintain relationships.

Language & Literacy

LL.2 — Use language to express ideas and needs.