Developmental Stages Outline1st Grade

I. Intellectual Development A. Can understand time and days of the week B. Able to learn difference between left and right C. Enjoy creating elaborate collections D. Longer attention span; still short, but enough to enjoy involved stories E. Interested in real life tasks and activities; less imaginative play F. Interested in magic and tricks G. Increased problem-solving ability H. Love to ask questions I. Reading is a major interest J. Significant increase in speaking and listening vocabularies K. Enjoy planning and building L. May reverse printed letters (i.e. b/d) M. Learn mainly by creating things, talking about events, listening to stories N. Learn best through discovery and active involvement with people and materials O. Have a vocabulary of a thousand words P. Enjoy talking about books they read or listen to Q. Recognize many words by sight R. Learn phonics; sounds of letters and letter combinations Physical Development A. Perpetual motion: squirming, gesturing, running, tumbling B. Full of energy and often restless C. Fidget and have trouble sitting still D. Enjoy copying designs, shapes, letters, and numbers E. Can catch small balls F. Good sense of balance G. Oral development of permanent teeth H. Skilled at using scissors and small tools I. Enjoy testing muscle strength and skills J. Can tie shoelaces K. Long arms and legs; sometimes gawky awkward appearance L. Often clumsy due to poor coordination and rapid growth spurts M. Great differences in size and abilities from other children may affect self-concept N. Aware of and interested in physical gender differences O. When tired, may not rest P. Many physical hurts, real and imagined Psychological and Emotional Development

II.

III.

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R.

Enjoy being with friends Care for and play with other children Seek a sense of security in groups, clubs, organized plays Interested in rules and rituals Like structure and dislike changes in routine Prefer to play with children of same sex Have a best friend and also an enemy Strong desire to perform well Find criticism or failure difficult to handle Thrive on encouragement View things as black and white, right or wrong; very little middle ground Love to talk, even exaggerate Work hard to please teachers, parents, and other adults Have a strong need for love and attention from parents and teachers Sensitive to adult evaluation More independent, but still rely heavily on teacher More emphasis on fairness Compare self to others; can be self-critical

Bibliography
GCISD-Curriculum Guides and Developmental Characteristics. 2002. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. 7 Dec. 2007 Oesterreich, L. (1995). Ages and stages six through eight year olds. Retrieved from http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/ages.stages.6y.8y.html Stanberry, K. (2012). First grade milestones: Is your child on track?. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/print/first-grade-milestones-your-child-track/