Even though graduation is still a few weeks away, elementary schools and academies across the county are getting ready for next year.

Kindergarten registration is not yet available for the city and county schools, but that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t be ready.

“I know we are waiting to see what happens with the state as far as the number of school days there will be next year,” Dallas County School System’s Don Willingham said. “When parents come to pre-register they want to know things like when you are starting, so we are trying to hold off until we get all of that information.”

While registration hasn’t started yet, Meadowview Elementary Kindergarten teacher Katie Godbold said there was things parents could begin working on with their children to make the transition easier.

“The self-help skills like buttoning their pants and putting on and buttoning coats is a big thing,” Godbold said. “Those are the things that take up a lot of time when you are doing them for 18 to 20 students.”

Along with those self-help skills, basic knowledge of colors, shapes, numbers and writing are also helpful according to Morgan Academy’s Tina Cox.

“We like for them to be able to recognize letters and numbers form one to 10,” Cox said. “Also, a knowledge of how to write their own name and properly use scissors and glue.”

Morgan has already ended their first pre-registration, but continue to allow registration for $200 through May 2, Cox said.