Preschool

Preschool covers ages 2 and 3. Below is a list of what you can expect your child to know by the end of each school year.

Age 2

  • Know ten basic colors: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, black, white, brown, white and pink
  • Stand quietly in a line
  • Recognize the letters of the alphabet in upper- and lowercase forms
  • Recognize the names of squares, rectangles, circles and triangles
  • Know the relationship between letters and the sounds they make
  • Recognize sight words (such as I, a, me, are, see, like, and, etc.) and read simple sentences
  • Spell his first and last name
  • Know vowels, consonant blends and digraphs
  • Count aloud to 100, and backwards from 10, by twos, fives & tens
  • Know basic shapes such as a square, triangle, rectangle, and circle
  • Read 25 books for pleasure
  • Understand how words work by following along while he or she listens to simple books
  • Follow simple directions
  • Print numbers, letters of the alphabet and a few simple words.
  • Write numbers from 0 to 21 in order
  • Know the days of the week and months of the year
  • Can count in Spanish from 1 to 20
  • Knows alphabet in Spanish
  • Complete homework and bring it back the next day

Age 3

  • Follow class rules
  • Can alphabetize three letter words and other sight words
  • Separate from a parent or caregiver with ease
  • Take turns
  • Cut along a line with scissors
  • Follow directions agreeably and easily
  • Pay attention for 30-45 minutes
  • Hold a crayon and pencil correctly
  • Share materials such as crayons and blocks and other toys
  • Recognize and write the letters of the alphabet in upper- and lowercase forms
  • Write consonant-vowel-consonant words such as bat and fan
  • Retell a story that has been read aloud
  • Identify and write numbers up to 100 or higher
  • Count to 1000
  • Count by twos, fives, and tens to 100
  • Know their address and phone number
  • Read 100 books or more for homework/pleasure and to gather information
  • Understand how words work by following along while he or she listens to simple books
  • Know basic addition and subtraction (for example, 2+3=5, 1+4=5, 5-3=2, etc.)
  • Measure objects using non-standard units (for example, the table is four teddy bears high)
  • Use the terms “longer,” “shorter,” “equal,” “more” and “less.”
  • Recognize and name pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and their values.
  • Recognize simple patterns (such as a/b/a/c or red/yellow/red/blue)
  • Can tell time by the hour, half hour, quarter and minute
  • Understand time concepts like yesterday, today, and tomorrow
  • Understand the difference between right and wrong
  • Establish left- or right-hand dominance
  • Be able to see things from another person’s point of view so you can reason with your child and teach her empathy
  • Problem-solve disagreements
  • Crave affection from parents and teachers
  • Have some minor difficulties with friendships and working out problems with peers
  • Read and write high-frequency words such as where and every
  • Comfortable with using a computer