- Writes name from memory 鈥 all letters written correctly most of the time and in correct order聽
- Draws shapes and simple pictures 鈥 can draw more shapes from memory and create simple recognizable pictures, such as a person, house or sun聽
- Uses fingers to grasp a pencil 鈥 uses fingertips, more like adults, to grasp a pencil, rather than using his whole hand聽
- Shows clear left- or right-handedness 鈥 definitely prefers one hand for writing, drawing and eating聽
Reading Readiness Milestones for 5-Year-Olds
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- Knows most letters and their sounds聽
- Reads several words and phrases 鈥 should be able to remember a growing 鈥渂ank鈥 of simple words that he sees frequently (the, he, she, this, it, a, an)聽
- Sounds out simple words 鈥 sounds out and blends sounds for simple consonant and vowel combinations (cat, hat, bag, big, sun, nut)聽
- Matches and names words with the same beginning or ending sound (ball/wall; bell/will)聽
- Can name words that rhyme when asked 鈥 for example, if you ask for a word that rhymes with pig, your child might say dig, big, rig, or a silly word like tig.聽
- Uses growing vocabulary and sentence structures 鈥 language is becoming more precise and grammar is more and more accurate, such as feet, not foots, or went, not goed聽
- Retells a sequence of recent events 鈥 can describe your trip to the zoo or beach or tell you what he did at school today聽
- Read longer stories and have discussions about the characters and events.聽
- Encourage your child to write simple lists or notes. Ask him to help make a short grocery or party list or write a simple thank-you note to a relative.聽
- Show how you use reading and writing to accomplish tasks. Show your child how you read a recipe to know how to cook, look in the newspaper for sports scores or look on the Internet for movie times.聽
- Encourage 鈥渋nvented鈥 spelling attempts. Ask your child to figure out the first letter of a word he wants to write. Over time, ask him to write any other letters he thinks may be in a word. Simple invented spelling examples are lo for yellow; tk for truck; wdr for water. The thinking process for invented spelling helps children understand phonics and build writing confidence.聽
- Struggles with letter names and sounds聽
- Does not read several words 鈥 words that he has seen many times in print (it, the, boy, cat, dog, is)聽
- Does not understand rhyming or words that have the same beginning sound 鈥 cannot tell you two words that rhyme or start with the same sound聽
- Dislikes reading and writing 鈥 complains about school and reading, and avoids reading at home聽
- Struggles with phonics 鈥 cannot sound out simple words, even with practice (cat, mat, big, sun)聽