To be successful in kindergarten and ready for first grade your child should be accomplishing the following benchmarks by the months

To be successful in kindergarten and ready for first grade your child should be accomplishing the following benchmarks by the months listed below. You can help by being aware of these important school learnings and reinforcing them at home.

NOVEMBER

show independence
take care of supplies
follow a three step direction
stick to a task for 15 minutes
participate in discussions
recognize name in print
name each letter in his/her name
write name using only a capital at the beginning
draw pictures
hold scissors correctly to cut
distinguish between letters and numbers
recognize and name 50% of all alphabet letters, capital and lower case
listen for beginning sounds of words
understanding the counting process and count to 10
recognize and name numerals 0-10
play freely on the playground
know that print has meaning

JANUARY

handle scissors independently to cut objects
solve problems on his/her own
begin to make social contacts
participate by sharing information and answering questions
make up and tell stories in order
begin to write familiar words
identify words and spaces in a line of print
name all capital and lower case letters
follow written work in Q left to right, top to bottom order
identify beginning sounds of words
identify and generate rhyming words
count and make sets 0-20
order numerals 0-20 in counting order
describe properties of objects (large/small, tall/short, heavy/light, thick/thin)
copy and extend a 2 to 3 part pattern

APRIL

cut objects out easily
attend in group for 20-30 minutes
freely participate in any activity
show independence in thinking
match letters to sounds and generate other words that begin the same
write letters
write stories using letters and words
read the names of the children, color, and number words
read simple sentences
know and give the following information: name, address and telephone number
understand the concepts of addition and subtraction
use objects to find the answers to addition and subtraction problems

LJD 4-8-03