Overview
Social and Emotional Development: Birth -to age 5
Illinois Early Learning Project
Pre-K Benchmark Index
Illinois Early Learning Project
Early Learning Benchmark Videos
Illinois Early Learning Project
Kindergarten
Kids get ready to learn.
Math
Understands numbers can be represented
▪ by a number, such as 3
▪ by a word, such as three
▪ by a set of objects, such as three blocks
Should be able to count and recognize object
attributes
▪ size
▪ color
▪ texture
Reading
Learns phonetic skills to sound out simple
words
Listens to a story and retells it
Social
Stomachaches are part of social adjustment.
Health
Immunizations must be up to date before
enrolling
Schools schedule a hearing and vision screening.
Grades 1 to 3
Early Elementary School
The focus is to build a solid foundation in
reading and math.
Reading
Read simple sentences
Alphabetize series of words
Decode words with phonetics
Improve reading comprehension
Math
Understand fractions
Solve word problems
Understand addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Social
Enjoy school
Find learning challenging, not frustrating
Role playing gives tools to react in real life.
Health
Vision problems
▪
squinting
▪ holds book too close
▪ sudden drop in reading-comprehension scores
Grades 4 to 6
Builds on
basics ∙ Problem solvers and more sophisticated readers ∙ Branch to
chapter books and easier classic novels.
Reading
Literary Elements
▪
Identify speaker or narrator in a literary selection
▪
Distinguish between major and minor characters
▪
Identify the main problem or conflict in a book
▪
Describe the plot and its components
▪
Analyze the influence of setting
Writing
Research and creative
▪
First drafts
▪
Revision process
▪
Completed version
Math
More complicated fractions
Begin solving pre-algebraic problems
Fully understand multiplication and division
Social
Parents should help children by making sure there's a quiet place and a
schedule to do their homework
Health
It's time for the "Talk."
▪
Typically, fifth-graders have the first version of a
special health class about changes in their bodies during puberty.
▪ Sixth-graders get a more detailed version, and students also get more
information about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Middle School
Child declares independence but depends on you for
money, rides and everything else.
▪ Toughest transition
▪
Multiple teachers
▪
Lockers
▪
Extracurricular activities
▪
Changing classes
▪
Hormones
▪
Top dogs to "Newbies"
Math
Algebra
Language Arts
Analyze the characteristics and structural elements of different forms
of writing.
Social
Parents should:
▪ Encourage children to find a club, activity or sport and get involved
from the beginning.
▪ Stay involved in their children's lives at school
▪ Offer homework support
▪ Write encouraging notes to their children
▪ Make sure teachers communicate expectations with them and their
children
▪ Check the class syllabus
▪ Ask lots of open-ended questions, even if the children aren't
receptive to the queries
▪ Encourage students to go to football games and dances in groups but
not to date.
▪ At most junior high and high schools, public displays
of affection are banned.
Health
More specific information about puberty in health and science
Discuss sexual harassment, sexual assault and what's appropriate and
inappropriate behavior.
Many schools require children to get a physical before starting
after-school sports.
High School
Separation from Mom and Dad really begins
▪ They drive.
▪ They get part-time jobs.
▪ They participate in more extracurricular activities.
▪ They get ready for college.
Parenting is trickier, but not unneeded.
▪ They need your support to learn to talk for themselves.
▪ They're at many different levels emotionally.
Academics
Develop critical-thinking skills
Advanced writing and research capabilities
Language Arts
Expected to determine accuracy and truthfulness in a source of
information
Identify unsupported arguments
Evaluate the effectiveness of an author's arguments and an author's
adherence to ethics
Higher Math
Geometry and Calculus
Advanced statistical and data analysis
Social
Might disagree with you about everything
Go to the school's open house
Volunteer
Know the due dates for long-term projects
Have frank discussions about sex and dating, drugs and alcohol, and what
happens at school.
Health
Many teens don't get enough sleep. Most experts recommend at least eight
hours a night. This is important for growth and development.
Most likely to choose meals themselves
Talk to them about nutrition and exercise
Classes at school might cover sexually transmitted diseases
Might encourage abstinence
Additional Resources
Reading Timeline: Not a Moment, But a Process
School-Home Links Reading Kits: K-3
Research-based activities designed to help families reinforce the
reading and language arts skills that their children are learning at
school.
Read more
K-6 Milestones
More about Benchmarks |
