JP ENGLISH: K to 1 Level skills

Pre-School and Kindergarten:

The assessment consists of a play-based interview, at which time the applicant is assessed in
the areas of fine motor skills, language use and development, social skills, ability to follow
instructions, and general program readiness.

Motor Skills:
1. holding a pencil
2. maneuvering a pencil
3. scissor skills
4. pushing Lego blocks together (and pulling them apart)
5. manipulating play dough
6. getting dressed with belts, buttons, zippers and snaps
7. using silverware while eating
8. opening and closing latches
9. technology/mouse manipulation
Example Activities :

Social Skills:

1 – Sharing

This Kindergarten social skill probably seems like a given, but it’s so important for Kindergarten
success! Students spend a lot of time in free play with their peers and working alongside one
another. Sharing toys and sharing materials is a must. Click here to read more about a sharing
activity I do in my social skills group.

2 – Taking Turns

Taking turns goes hand in hand with sharing, but there’s a distinct difference that many
incoming Kindergarteners don’t know just yet. When we’re sharing, we have common materials
that are available to everyone at the same time. For example, students might be sharing a box
of Legos while they all build independently or together.

3 – Accepting No

Newsflash: sometimes kids will hear no, especially at school. Sometimes, they might ask for a
turn with something and someone might say no. Or they may want to do something in the
classroom and hear a no from a teacher. Accepting no is another important Kindergarten social
skill! We can teach kids calming strategies to use in the moment when they experience
disappointment, frustration, or anger over a no answer.

4 – Listening & Following Directions

Listening and following directions are huge skills for not just Kindergarten success, but school
success as a whole – and we end up teaching this way beyond Kindergarten sometimes! First,
we teach kids what listening actually looks and feels like in their bodies. Eyes on the speaker,
body still, mouth closed, hands empty, and ears ready to listen. Our bodies feel calm, open, and
in anticipation!

5 – Following Rules

Following rules probably also seems like a given, but this doesn’t just apply to school rules. Kids
will have the freedom to play with one another during recess. Following game and social rules
will be a learning experience for many Kindergarteners, and they may need explicit instruction in
social rules. We practice this by playing games, changing rules to familiar games, and talking
about how we feel when others don’t follow the rules.

6 – Stating Needs

Need some personal space? Ask for it with words. Need help? Let an adult know. That phrase
“use your words,” comes up a lot in Kindergarten, but sometimes our newest students need
explicit instruction in this because they don’t have the words yet. Practicing asking for a break,
some space, or help is big for Kindergarten success!

7 – Transitioning Activities

It’s hard to stop doing something we enjoy and move on to something else – even for some
adults! We can help students tune in to transition signals like teacher reminders, visual
calendars, and timers so that they aren’t surprised by transitions. And when it is hard to move
on, we can use some of those calming strategies we use to deal with no responses too.

8 – Being Flexible

Not getting what we want is hard. But being able to accept alternatives, roll with changes, and
accept mistakes are all important Kindergarten social skills! Setting up an accepting and safe
classroom environment where upcoming changes are communicated and mistakes are
welcomed is key!

Social Skills:

1 – Sharing
This Kindergarten social skill probably seems like a given, but it’s so important for Kindergarten
success! Students spend a lot of time in free play with their peers and working alongside one
another. Sharing toys and sharing materials is a must.
2 – Taking Turns
Taking turns goes hand in hand with sharing, but there’s a distinct difference that many
incoming Kindergarteners don’t know just yet. When we’re sharing, we have common materials
that are available to everyone at the same time. For example, students might be sharing a box
of Legos while they all build independently or together.

3 – Accepting No
Newsflash: sometimes kids will hear no, especially at school. Sometimes, they might ask for a
turn with something and someone might say no. Or they may want to do something in the
classroom and hear a no from a teacher. Accepting no is another important Kindergarten social
skill! We can teach kids calming strategies to use in the moment when they experience
disappointment, frustration, or anger over a no answer.

4 – Listening & Following Directions

Listening and following directions are huge skills for not just Kindergarten success, but school
success as a whole – and we end up teaching this way beyond Kindergarten sometimes! First,
we teach kids what listening actually looks and feels like in their bodies. Eyes on the speaker,
body still, mouth closed, hands empty, and ears ready to listen. Our bodies feel calm, open, and
in anticipation!

Kindergarten is a big transition for kids! Practice these 8 Kindergarten social skills that
contribute to school and social success. These social skills activities are perfect for
Kindergarten and first grade school counseling groups. Social skills group counseling activities
for kids!
Of course, listening has to come before following directions! And lots of directions will be coming
to them. Some of our students may need a little extra instruction & practice following one-, two-
and multi-step directions that they will undoubtedly receive in the classroom.
5 – Following Rules
Following rules probably also seems like a given, but this doesn’t just apply to school rules. Kids
will have the freedom to play with one another during recess. Following game and social rules
will be a learning experience for many Kindergarteners, and they may need explicit instruction in
social rules. We practice this by playing games, changing rules to familiar games, and talking
about how we feel when others don’t follow the rules.

6 – Stating Needs
Need some personal space? Ask for it with words. Need help? Let an adult know. That phrase
“use your words,” comes up a lot in Kindergarten, but sometimes our newest students need
explicit instruction in this because they don’t have the words yet. Practicing asking for a break,
some space, or help is big for Kindergarten success!

Kindergarten is a big transition for kids! Practice these 8 Kindergarten social skills that
contribute to school and social success. These social skills activities are perfect for
Kindergarten and first grade school counseling groups. Social skills group counseling activities
for kids!

7 – Transitioning Activities
It’s hard to stop doing something we enjoy and move on to something else – even for some
adults! We can help students tune in to transition signals like teacher reminders, visual
calendars, and timers so that they aren’t surprised by transitions. And when it is hard to move
on, we can use some of those calming strategies we use to deal with no responses too.

8 – Being Flexible
Not getting what we want is hard. But being able to accept alternatives, roll with changes, and
accept mistakes are all important Kindergarten social skills! Setting up an accepting and safe
classroom environment where upcoming changes are communicated and mistakes are
welcomed is key!

Language Skills:
write and use a combination of writing, drawing, and dictating to describe their experiences and
to give information.

Reading & writing

Matching letters to sounds

Name upper and lowercase letters and match them to their sounds.

Recognizing and blending sounds

Recognize beginning sounds and blend sounds into simple words.

Common words

Quickly read short, common words (e.g. a, the, and, to) “by sight.”

Understanding books and writing

Develop basic understandings about books and writing.

Example:

Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page while reading or being read to.
Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.
Name the author and illustrator of a story and explain what each does.
Recognize and name periods and question marks.
Simple books

Read simple books with understanding.

Engaging with many books and materials

Actively engage with many different kinds of books and printed materials.

Some sample texts:

"Over in the Meadow" by John Langstaff

"Pancakes for Breakfast" by Tomie DePaola
"Kitten’s First Full Moon" by Kevin Henkes
"Truck" by Donald Crews
"I Read Signs" by Tana Hoban
"Amazing Whales!" by Sarah L. Thomson
Asking and answering questions

Ask and answer questions about stories and informational books.

Example:

What or who is this story about? What happens in the story? How does the story end?
What is this article or book about? What is the author explaining? What did we learn from this?
Retelling familiar stories

Retell familiar stories- identify characters, settings and major events.

Understanding words and pictures

Get information from the words and the pictures in a book.

Uppercase and lowercase letters

Print most uppercase and lowercase letters.

Capitalizing and punctuating

Capitalize the first word in a sentence and end each sentence with a period or question mark.

Spelling words the way they sound

Use knowledge of letters and sounds to spell words the way they sound.

Stories, information, and opinions

Use a combination of drawing, speaking and writing to:

tell a story
give information
state an opinion
Listening & speaking
Understanding and using new words

Understand and use many new words.

Example:

Understand and use question words (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).
Use common prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off,).
Understand words learned in science and social studies (e.g., hibernation, tradition)
K - 1 (Poli)
- Phonics (Long and short )
- ABC Lettering
- Basic greeting

Pride J (Grade 3)
- Writing (Main topic writing ex. School, Science, Non-Fictional facts)
- 1 page
- No assistants
- Given just the question
- Reading Comp.
- Spelling test ( Meaning given then ST writes the word)
- American style ST Text … Short stories with conversational critical thinking
-

First Grade Reading Skills

Building reading skills is an essential part of a first grader’s learning process and
academic success down the road. Even when students are not specifically
learning “reading,” they are constantly using this skill to learn other subjects—
which is why it’s crucial for your child’s success in all subjects. As first graders
develop their reading comprehension, they will talk more about certain topics and
gain a deeper understanding of what they read.

To build their reading skills, your first grader:

● Recognizes the features of a sentence (for example: first words, capitalization,

and ending punctuation).
● Recognizes the spelling and sound of two letters that represent one sound, such
as th, ch, wh (these are also known as digraphs).
● Learns to read regularly spelled one-syllable words.
● Understands how an “e” at the end of a word changes a vowel within the word.
● Breaks up longer words into syllables in order to read them.
 ● Reads grade-level words that have “irregular” spellings.
● Knows the difference between and reads fiction texts (such as Baby Shark) and
non-fiction texts (like LEGO Nonfiction: Super Sharks) with purpose and an
understanding of the plot and important ideas and characters.
● Talks about and answers questions about the text they read.
● Reads texts aloud at an appropriate speed and with expression.
● Compares different characters, events, or texts.
● Understands the purpose of and uses common features in a book, such as
headings, tables of contents, and glossaries.
● Begins to read grade-appropriate poetry (such as the poems in 100 Super Sight
Word Poems) and identifies words and phrases that relate to emotions and the
senses.

First Grade Reading Activities

Put on a Show: Read a favorite story or poem out loud as though it’s a play,
using different voices for the character and the narrator to help your child practice
pacing and expression. Your child can also read a dramatic book (like Giraffes
Can't Dance) to you!

Become Poets: Read small and simple poems together and talk about the
feelings they convey. Next, try writing your own poems together about objects,
people you know, or anything else you like!

Create Your Own Dictionary: As your child learns to read new words and
understand the meaning of those words, keep track of them in your own personal
dictionary. Your child can write them down, draw a picture to illustrate the word or
its definition, or write a sentence using the word.
1st Grade Writing Skills

Once your child has mastered writing letters and begins to improve their spelling
skills, they can begin to write longer pieces in a variety of genres. First grade is
that magical time in which your child progresses from simply writing words to
becoming a “writer,” and their spelling skills will improve in the meantime.
Students also begin to use technology in 1st grade, specifically for writing and
research. You can help by using the Internet and other technology at home with
your child in an appropriate and supervised manner.

As with reading, your child will use writing throughout the day in a variety of
subjects. For example, students may write about a math problem, explaining how
they solved it, or write about a topic they learned in science or social studies. All
of this work makes them a better writer—and learner—overall.

To build their writing skills, your first grader:

● Writes a variety of texts including, opinion pieces, narratives, and

explanatory/informational pieces.
● Writes with structure, including an introductory sentence, supporting or accurate
details, and some sense of closure.
● Begins to use digital tools, including computers, to practice and “publish” writing.
● Gathers information as a class, with the aid of a teacher, to answer a question or
create a shared research or writing project.

First Grade Writing Activities

Write Your Own Stories: After your child experiences an important moment or
event, ask them to write about it and illustrate it as though it is a story — and if
they'd like, they can then share it with your family and friends!

Answer a Question: When your child asks a question, research the answer
together using books like the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary or computers
(under your supervision). Then, work together to craft an informative poster or
collage with the question and the answer, using both text and pictures to show
what you learned.

Make a Family Magazine or Book: Task your first grader with illustrating a book
using drawings and text to describe different family members or friends. Each
person can have their very own page!

Shop the best resources for first grade below! You can find all books and
activities at The Scholastic Store.
1. What do you see in this picture?
2. Can you tell me where this is?
3. What is the (Robot, Boy, Girl,Cat, Dog) doing?
4. Why is it call “Be Careful”?