what your child needs to know before starting school

Be able to state first and last name when asked.
Be able to write first name with first letter upper case and remaining letters lower case.
Use appropriate three-finger grasp when using writing instruments (pencils, crayons and scissors)

Count to at least thirty and tells what number comes before or after a given number to 20.
Know all the letters in their first name.
Identify basic geometric shapes (triangle, circle, square, rectangle, oval, star, rhombus (diamond) and heart)
Know basic colors (red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, black, white, brown, pink)
Identify numerals 1-10 in random order.
Make most letter/sound matches.

Identify most upper and lower case letters.
Use finger to accurately touch count items to ten.
Knows concepts of print (front and back of book, which page comes first, track words left to right).
Be able to rhyme words.
Retells simple stories in sequence.
When given a word (“man”) and a new beginning sound (/f/), creates the familiar word (“fan”)