Just can't seem to focus

My daughter is five and just finished pre-school. She is extremely smart, and has always been very social. Throughout her school year her teachers and I noticed that she has a very hard time focusing. When the teachers are asking the class to look at the calendar, she can't seem to do so... she wiggles around and looks at every other thing in the classroom. However, when we are at home- she can sit down and completely focus on a cartoon. Or if she is playing in her room- she is very tedious, and will make sure to complete what it is she is trying to do before moving on to something else. I thought for a long time that she was just being a normal kid. But, at her end of the school year program- I sat and watched as she was the only one in her class who seemingly- could not focus. The teacher had the students sit "on their spot" on the mat  while she addressed the parents. The other kids were able to sit and for the most part look at the teacher while she was talking and understand that they should not talk at that time. My daughter, could not look at the teacher, could not focus on what she was saying, seemed as though she was a step behind all the other kids- because when the teacher said stand up- everyone else did, but she acted as though she couldn't even hear what she had said. It was almost as if she wasn't aware of the situation in the room- the fact that parents were watching, the fact that this was a special school program.
At home, we try to be good parents. We enforce rules, we follow through with punishment. We play together, we work on learning games together. We work at home on focusing to complete a task as well. If she knows she is going to be rewarded with something after she completes a task- she usually can complete it. But, she almost never finishes her dinner even if there is a promise of reward. And it takes her usually around 2 hours to eat even some of what is on her plate.
I am concerned because she is supposed to go to all day kindergarten next year, and from what I have seen- I don't think she will be able to handle it. Is there anything I can do- and I do not mean riddalin.

[jdtm]

I suspect that your daughter suffers from anxiety - not sure which kind, though.

Children who suffer from anxiety have the "hesitant factor" and this is very clear in your posting.  I suspect she is so anxious that she needs to "process" this anxiety before she is able to "process" the instructions of the teacher.  Children with anxiety tend to have difficulty attaining "rewards'" - after all, the expectation of a reward only makes them more anxious.  Children with anxiety often appear to suffer from ADD/ADHD, when in fact, it is the anxiety which is so upsetting and distressing. Also, (even though you did not mention this), children with anxiety tend to have toiletting and sleeping isues.  If anxiety is the issue, be assured that this is a genetic trait and is not caused from life experience or methods of parenting.  

I might suggest you google words/phrases as "childhood anxiety" or "anxiety behaviors" or similar words/phrases to better understand this issue.  You might wish to speak to your family doctor about this issue re further advice.  If he/she is unable to help you, then ask for a referral to a medical specialist with experience in anxiety disorders.  If it is any consolation, it appears that your child does not suffer from severe anxiety but that does not mean you should ignore it.  Your daughter will have difficulty in kindergarten, but as time goes on and she learns how to "manage her fears" and her school experience will become easier and easier.  Anxiety is very common and highly treatable in young children.  I wish you the best ....