don't freak out! Play games, read to your child and spend time with her. DON'T turn into a drill sargent asking constantly what letter is what and what sound does it make.
She should be to able recognize her name and hopefully write it by kindergarten. by write it I mean the chicken scratch that goes for writing. Don't expect perfect letters. "s"s will be backwards and even B, D N etc. When you do practice, make sure that you go over both upper and lower case letters so she gets used to them. Don't freak out until she gets to kindergarten and then, let the teacher help you.
Most kids are not reading at Kindergarten and the attempt to force them to is ridiculus.

Ease up and enjoy your time. They'll be plenty of school pressure later.

My son is in preschool and we had the same issue because he was not rememebering what we went over. I was over doing it which actually wears them out. The teacher even was like make it fun and not too much pressure. You don't want them to hate school before they even really start. 4 is young and she will get it so relax.

i understand what you are both saying. I'm not being hard on her. I don't drill her I just ask her here and there like at dinner tonight I said "hey Natalie, what word starts with c and she couldn't think of one. I help her along but I just wonder if its her or all kids. I was able to read when I was 4(my father was a drill sargeant with school) and I feel pressure to have her be the same way. But I do make it fun for her.

hi, when my daughter started school at 4 I couldnt get her to remember anything!!! It wasnt till she started 'big school' that she started.
6 months later she is reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, she is always bugging me for ways to spell things for her and to buy her new books she can write in. all kids have a differnt pace they learn at. Im sure you remember what it was like having your father on your back when you were 4, and I know you wouldnt like your child to feel the same.I know we always want better for our children then we had ourselves, but try not to get too worked up about it, she will see that and when she gets to school she will be lacking in confidence because no matter how hard you try to cover your fustrations she will see and think she isnt good at it so why try?

Repetition is a part of learning. I think it's totally normal at this age to need things to be gone over lots of times. My older boy couldn't read very well when he started kindergarten but he had a big surge in learning and now reads at a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. What website are you using for practice?? Maybe I can use it for my almost 4 year old!
Keep it fun and read to her every day. She's loving the time you're devoting to her. She will be ready.

Your daughter is only 4, I wouldn't stress about it right now. I truly believe in a "developmental learning approach." When your daughter shows signs of reading and writing "readiness" than I would dive in but for now, I would just play fun games and read to her a lot.

They will teach your daughter to read and write in Kindergarten. They do not expect children to already know these sills. When entering kindergarten, social skills and separation readiness is much more important than knowing how to read.

I hope this helps.

She will be ready in time for school. But maybe she just isn't ready now. And that is perfectly normal.

my main concern is sending her to kindergarten too early. She turns 5 in july. Which is very close to the new school year. I'm not sure if she should go so soon. Should I hold her back until she is 6? She does well in school, I just worry if she could end up being behind all the other children.
I'm really stressing over the whole thing.

How is she doing socially? Is kindergarten in your area 1/2 day for full day? I wouldn't worry about the academic aspect when deciding on whether to hold her back or not. Also a 1/2 day program might be an easier transition. Ask yourself if she's ready for the social independence needed for kindergarten and go from there.

I have been a kindergarten teacher for the past 8 years. I also have a four year old that will be in kindergarten next fall. Don't push too hard. You can't force a child to remember when they are not interested in learning about what you are trying to teach. I teach in Michigan and there is no "screening" for kindergarten. We only ask that the child be able to recoginze their name and be able to "write" it. There is a wide variety of academic and social levels in my class each year. I have kids not being able to recognize the letter in their names, and others reading chapter books. By 3rd grade, the range is no longer so wide. Please don't worry. When your child is interested and "ready" the progress you will see is AMAZING!
P.S.- I don't push my own daughter. It will all come in time. If you want some specific strategies or ideas of fun, playful ways to help her, let me know.

right now she goes to preschool 3 days a week from 9-3. she loves it! she can write her name, an exceptional "artist", and she makes friends easily. I won't push her, i wouldn't want her to start something she isnt ready for.
But, how will I know if she is or isn't??

I hope all these women have showed you that your daughter is normal. Also, you said that you asked 'what word starts with c.' That's a really difficult question. Asking her to identify letters visually is first. AFTER that they do letter sounds. AFTER that they start to pick out letter sounds FROM words. MUCH later they can take a letter sound and pick out a word.

Start with her name. if you want to work with other words have her find the words that start with the same letter that starts her name.
Your daughter is doing fine. If she plays fairly well with others and has no social issues, you should send her to school in the fall.
good luck to you!!