Setting a Strong Foundation for Reading Success

The first 12 weeks of kindergarten are critical for building the foundational skills your child needs for a successful academic journey. These early weeks focus on basic literacy skills, helping children become confident readers and learners. Here are the key milestones your kindergartener should achieve during this period.

1. Mastering High-Frequency Words

High-frequency words, also known as sight words, are common words that children encounter in their daily reading. By the end of the first 12 weeks, your child should be able to read at least five tricky-to-sound-out words, such as the, for, was, are, is, you, to, and of. These words help build reading fluency.

2. Recognizing Letter Sounds

Letter sounds are the building blocks of reading. Children should be able to produce at least 12 letter sounds when shown the corresponding letter. For example, when shown the letter “a,” they should say the sound /a/.

3. Identifying All Uppercase and Lowercase Letters

Recognizing both capital and lowercase letters is an essential milestone. Your child should be able to identify all 26 letters of the alphabet. For instance, when shown a lowercase “b,” they should be able to say “B.”

4. Developing Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness is crucial for reading and spelling. By the end of the first 12 weeks, your kindergartener should:

• Blend three sounds together to form a word (e.g., /b/ /e/ /d/ = “bed”).
• Identify different vowel sounds in three-sound words (e.g., the /i/ in “pig” and the /a/ in “cat”).
• Isolate the beginning sound (e.g., /b/ in “bat”) and the ending sound (e.g., /n/ in “van”).

5. Tracking Print from Left to Right

Understanding the directionality of print is another essential skill. Your child should be able to follow text from left to right, touching each word and saying it aloud. For instance, while reading “I see a tree,” they should touch each word as they read.

Why These Skills Matter

These early skills are critical for reading success. They help your kindergartener develop confidence and build the foundation for more complex literacy skills. If your child is struggling with any of these milestones, don’t worry—consistent practice and support can help them catch up.

Conclusion

The first 12 weeks of kindergarten are an exciting time filled with growth and learning. By focusing on these key skills, you’ll set your child on the path to becoming a confident reader and learner. Save this list and check in with your child’s progress to ensure they’re meeting their early learning milestones.