Skills to Help you Prepare your Child

Dropout Prevention starts before the child enters school. The following list is a good place to start! Thank you to the Decatur-Morgan County, Alabama Chamber of Commerce for sharing!

Suggested K5 Readiness Skills

    Personal Information:

    ° Knows full name

    ° Knows age

    ° Knows mother’s and father’s first name

    ° Begins to learn address and telephone number

    ° Begins to learn birth date

    Reading/Language Skills:

    ° Holds a book and turns pages one at a time

    ° Identifies parts of a book (ex. front, back, title, pictures)

    ° Pays attention to a short story when it is read and can answer simple questions about it

    ° Retells parts of a story after listening to it

    ° Recognizes letters in name

    ° Identifies rhyming words

    ° Identifies beginning sounds in words (ex. b says “buh”)

    Writing Skills:

    ° Recognizes name

    ° Writes first name

    ° Begins to draw pictures that are recognizable

    ° Works left to right

    Math Skills:

    ° Recognizes shapes (ex. square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval)

    ° Understands positional words (ex. up, down, behind, beside, in-front, first, middle, last)

    ° Sorts items by color, shape, size

    ° Understands words related to size (ex. more, less, big, small, long, short)

    ° Recognizes colors

    ° Counts 10 objects

    ° Counts from 1 to 10

    ° Begins to recognize numbers 1 to 10

    ° Extends a simple pattern (ex. red, yellow, red, yellow, red…)

    Fine Motor Skills:

    ° Holds scissors correctly

    ° Holds a pencil or crayon correctly

    ° Cuts with scissors

    ° Begins to zip, button and snap

    Gross Motor Skills:

    ° Runs, jumps, skips, climbs, hops and claps

    ° Walks backward

    ° Walks up and down stairs unassisted

    ° Begins to bounce, catch, throw, and kick a ball

    Social and Behavioral Development:

    ° Solves problems while interacting with peers

    ° Speaks so an adult can understand

    ° Plays appropriately with other children

    ° Follows simple directions

    ° Waits turns and shares

    ° Speaks in simple sentences

    ° Asks questions about things around him/her

    ° Works for short periods of time without disturbing  others

    ° Cleans up after activities

    ° Participates in groups activities

    ° Practices self-control

    ° Exhibits respect for others

    ° Goes to restroom by himself/herself

    ° Practices good health habits (ex. washes hands)

    ° Practices good manners (ex. says “please”, “thank you”)

    ° Spends supervised time away from parents or guardians without anxiety

    ° Obeys rules

    ° Uses appropriate voice level

    ° Works independently

    ° Names body parts (ex. head, arms, legs)

    ° Begins to make healthy food choices

    ° Begins to practice personal safety

    ° Begins to manage time

    ° Uses fork or spoon at meal time