Listening & Speaking:

• Understand and follow simple directions

• Use sentences of 4-6 words to express ideas

• Ask and answer simple questions

• Retell familiar stories or events in sequence

Pre-Reading Skills:

• Recognize some letters of the alphabet

• Begin to identify letter sounds (phonemic awareness)

• Understand that print carries meaning (book handling skills)

• Recognize own name in print

• Enjoy listening to stories and rhymes; begin to recognize rhyme and rhythm

Early Writing:

• Scribble, draw, and use letter-like forms

• Begin to copy or write letters (especially those in their name)

• Use writing tools with increasing control (crayons, pencils)

• Count to 10 (and often beyond)

• Recognize some numbers and associate them with quantity

• Understand basic concepts: more/less, big/small, same/different

• Sort objects by color, shape, or size

• Recognize and name basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle)

• Begin to understand positional words (in, on, under, next to, between)

• Begin to recognize simple patterns (AB, ABB, ABC)

• Participate in simple measurement activities (e.g., compare lengths)

• Explore natural world using five senses (look, touch, listen, taste, feel)

• Identify basic living things (plants, animals)

• Recognize weather changes and seasons

• Ask questions about how things work or why things happen

• Participate in simple experiments (e.g., mixing colors, floating/sinking)

• Play cooperatively with peers; share and take turns

• Express feelings with words instead of actions

• Follow simple classroom routines and rules

• Demonstrate growing independence with tasks (getting dress, washing hands)

• Show curiosity and eagerness to learn new things

• Begin to recognize own and others’ emotions

• Focus on tasks for short periods (5–10 minutes)

• Transition between activities with some support

• Show persistence in solving simple problems

• Follow one- and two-step directions

• Use classroom materials responsibly.

• Hold a pencil or crayon with a proper grip

• Use scissors to cut along straight or curved lines

• Trace shapes, letters, shapes, and simple words

• Begin to draw people with multiple parts (head, arms, legs, face)

• Complete simple puzzles (5–10 pieces)

• Uses glue, stamps, stickers, and manipulatives appropriately

• Strings beads or laces through holes

• Runs, jumps, hops, and skips

• Balances on one foot for a few seconds

• Throws and catches a ball

• Climbs playground equipment

• Walks in a straight line

• Pedals a trike or bike with training wheels

• Can separate from parents with minimal distress

• Take turns, shares, and plays cooperatively

• Use words to express needs or emotions

• Begin to manage frustration and follow classroom rules

• Shows empathy and concern for others (e.g., knowing when someone is sad)

• Knows and follows basic safety rules (e.g., don’t run indoors)

• Can solve minor conflicts or ask an adult for help

• Engages in pretend play and imaginative thinking

• Uses the bathroom independently

• Washes and dries hands

• Can dress self (put on jacket, shoes, zip/button)

• Can clean up toys and materials after use

• Can open a lunchbox or snack container

• Understands how to ask for help or tell an adult

• Recognizes own belongings (e.g., coat, backpack)

• Understands the difference between day & night

• Can follow a daily routine

• Knows the days of the week

• Knows some sight words (“the,” “a,” “and”)

• Can read simple CVC words (cat, dog, mom, dad)

• Can write more than just their name

• Has been introduced to basic addition and subtraction with objects

• Understand simple science concepts (seasons, animals, weather)