Pre-requisites for incoming First Graders
Language Arts
- Recognizes/identifies alphabet letters in sequence and in isolation
- Knows upper/lower case letters
- Matches all consonant and short vowel sounds to appropriate letters
- Understands/recognizes similarities and differences in initial/final consonant sounds
- Understands/recognizes similarities and differences in short/simple vowel sounds
- Blends sounds into words
- Recognizes/produces rhyming words
- Blends vowel-consonant sounds orally to make words or syllables
- Counts the number of sounds in syllables and syllables in words
Reading
- Knows words go from left to right, top to bottom of a page
- Knows words are separated by spaces
- Reads simple one-syllable words
- Begins to read simple sentences
- Uses descriptive words
- Identifies frequently used words
- Identifies action words
- Understands main idea from a story read aloud
- Asks Òhow, why, who, whenÓ questions
- Understands the terms author and illustrator
- Identifies parts of a story: beginning, middle, end
- Recalls/retells facts and details from a story
- Recalls sequence of events
- Uses picture clues and context to obtain meaning
- Relates story to personal experiences
- Makes predictions based on pictures and word clues
- Begins to draw conclusions about what is read
- Distinguishes real and imaginary
- Synthesizes literary experience through drawing, drama, etc.
- Identifies characters, settings, and important events
- Begins to develop grade level appropriate sight word vocabulary
Writing
- Writes letters of the alphabet in both upper/lower cases
- Uses upper/lower case letters in appropriate places
- Writes with correct directionality: left to right; top to bottom
- Uses appropriate spaces between words
- Uses correct initial sound in inventive spelling
- Recognizes and names period and question mark
- Correctly spells age-appropriate high frequency words located within grade level appropriate text
- Uses Pictures to express ideas
- Generates ideas for writing based on personal experiences
- Understands concept of sentence
- Begins to use parameters of space and line placement within written work
- Writes first and last name
- Accepts suggestions from adults and peers
- Reads and discusses own work
- Begins to see self as a writer
- Offers positive feedback after listening to the writing of peers
- Adds detail or descriptive words to picture and/or text
Listening
- Exhibits age-appropriate attention span
- Listens to and follows simple one/two-step directions
- Remembers sequence of ideas
- Listens independently with understanding
- Listens while others share
- Appreciations the contributions of others in group settings
Speaking
- Expresses ideas in complete sentences
- Sequences ideas in a simple story
- Speaks audibly, freely, naturally, and spontaneously in all situations
- Contributes to group discussions to express views and solve problems
- Reads orally with appropriate fluency
- Describes people, places, things, locations, and actions
- Follows rules of conversation
- Understands simple nonverbal cues
- Asks and responds to questions
- Begins to use eye contact and appropriate gestures to enhance oral delivery
Math
- Reads, writes, names, represents, orders, and counts (forward and backwards) numbers up to 100
- Compares two or more sets of objects using mathematical language such as more than, less than
- Understands that larger numbers describe sets with more objects smaller numbers
- Investigates patterns by counting by 2Õs, 5Õs and 10Õs to 30 or more using concrete objects
- Represents equivalent forms of the same number up to 10 or more with concrete materials (2 beans + 5 beans is the same as 3 beans + 4 beans)
- Computes and understands basic addition and subtraction facts through 10 with or without concrete materials
- Makes reasonable estimates and is able to explain the reasonableness of a solution
- Determines strategies to solve problems and provides evidence of reasoning
- Identifies, explains, and extends simple repeating patterns using concrete materials
- Sorts, classifies, identifies, and orders objects by size, number, and other attributes
- Constructs simple charts, picture graphs, and bar graphs using paper/pencil or concrete objects to display data
- Interprets data in concrete or pictorial graphs and shares conclusions orally
- Identifies, names, draws, sorts, and compares two-dimensional shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles by attributes (color, size, sides, corners, curves)
- Identifies, names, sorts, and compares three-dimensional objects by attributes or according to their geometric shape: cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones
- Describes, names, and interprets position in space using mathematical language such as beside, between, left, right, above, below, top, middle, bottom
- Identifies standard tools for measurement including clocks, thermometers, calendars, rulers, and balances
- Uses a ruler to measure to the nearest inch
- Describes passage of time through mathematical vocabulary (yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week)
- Uses a digital and analog clock to tell time to the nearest hour
- Sorts and orders objects by length and height and uses appropriate vocabulary
- Compares two or more temperatures to determine hotter and colder
- Compares the capacity of two or more containers to determine which holds the most or the least
- Recognizes names and values of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters
Science
- Recognizes that there are various bodies of water on the Earth
- Understands that water found in the ocean is different from the water we drink
- Knows that ice is frozen water
- Explains ways to care for the Earth at home and at school
- Knows that weather changes from day to day and season to season
- Understands that the moon and stars are part of the night sky
- Knows that the sun appears to move across the daytime sky
- Identifies plants and animals as living things
- Understands the basic needs of living things
- Knows names of animal offspring
- Understands that living things grow and change
- Recognizes that animals obtain food from plants and other animals
- Understands that living things are often dependent on other living things for survival
- Knows learning comes from careful observation
- Knows five senses allow us to take in and respond to information in order to learn about our surroundings
Social Studies
- Describes the people and events honored in commemorative holidays
- Puts events in temporal order using a calendar, placing days, weeks, and months in proper order
- Places objects using near/far, up/down, and left/right
- Uses simple maps, globes, and other three-dimensional models
- Identifies community symbols such as traffic signs, traffic lights, etc.
- Identifies the differences between needs and wants
- Takes turns and shares
- Identifies examples of honesty, courage, and patriotism
- Identifies examples of rules and the consequences of breaking them
- Accepts responsibility for many personal needs and duties
- Identifies and appreciates work done by other
- Identifies self by most of the following: name, street address, telephone number, gender, physical characteristics, month and day of birth
- Recognizes that all people, including themselves, are unique in some way and have their own ideas and feelings
- Knows and understands the symbols, icons, and traditions of the United States
- Identifies the President as the leader of the United States
PE/Wellness
- Describes influences on health (food, rest, exercise, hygiene/cleanliness)
- Identifies specific feelings by name (anger, fear, happy, sad, nervous)
- Verbalizes feelings
- Accepts and carries out personal responsibilities
- Recognizes the importance of shared play
- Accepts personal differences in classmates
- Participates willingly in group activities
- Shares space and equipment with others
- Develops listening skills and the ability to follow instructions in sequence during a game situation
- Understands why it is important to keep foods and their containers clean
- Understands why it is important to keep hands clean, using appropriate cleaning techniques
- Develops movement control for safe participation in games and sports
- Demonstrates mature form of walking and running
General
- Can tie shoes, zip coat, and blow nose
- Has mastered toileting issues
- Washes hands for sanitary reasons