Libby Fleury,
5, laughs with Madison Summer Club leader Katie Stone during
a summer program class at Madison Rose Lane School in Phoenix.
(Russell Gates/The Arizona Republic)
What to expect, academically and socially, at every age
By KELLY ETTENBOROUGH
The Arizona Republic
Whether your child is going into kindergarten, 12th grade or
a grade in between, parents can worry about whether their children
measure up.
Are they ahead? Are they behind? What should parents do to help
ensure success?
With that in mind, we consulted experts to define the major social
and health milestones along with academic expectations for language
arts and mathematics to help you handle the coming school year
with a little more peace of mind.
Kindergarten
Even for children who have spent time in preschool, kindergarten
is the first big step into the world of big kids. They get to
ride the bus and go to the cafeteria.
Academics: Kindergarten is a time when kids
get ready to learn, not become proficient at math and reading,
although some kindergartners read well and can add and subtract
simple equations.
At this level, pupils should understand that a number can be
represented in different ways — by a number, such as 3; by a word,
such as three; or by a set of objects, such as three blocks.
Kindergartners should be able to count and understand that an
object has different attributes, such as size, color and texture.
They begin learning phonetic skills to sound out simple words,
and they should be able to listen to a story and retell it.
Social: Elementary school nurse Jolene Costello
sees more stomachaches from kindergartners than any other grade.
She considers it a part of the social adjustment.
"A lot of it is because it's a new routine, and they're away
from their parents. I give them a little extra reassurance and
maybe a saltine cracker and some juice," she says.
Health: Pupils must have up-to-date immunizations
before enrolling. Before the first day of class, schools will
schedule a hearing and vision screening. Your child already should
be going to the dentist and eye doctor.
Grades 1 to 3
Although critical thinking and problem-solving skills are taught
at every grade level, the focus of early elementary school is
to build a solid foundation in reading and math.
Academics: By first and second grades, pupils
should be reading simple sentences. Students should be able to
alphabetize a series of words, decode words with phonetics and
be improving their reading comprehension. Math milestones will
be the ability to understand fractions; solve word problems; and
understand addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Social: Children enjoy school at this age,
and parents and teachers can set the tone to maintain that attitude
through future grades.
"If you have learning that is challenging but not frustrating
to them, it helps them build a willingness to persevere," says
32-year veteran educator Melinda Romero.
Kids can learn through role playing at this age, Costello says.
If young children practice what to do in situations to keep them
safe, from a stranger approaching them to another child being
mean, then they have the tools to react in real life without panicking.
Health: A child with no vision problems should
see an optometrist every two years. There are ways for parents
to tell whether their child's eyes have changed in the meantime,
says optometrist Jack Hostetler. Red flags would be a child squinting
or holding a book too close, or if a child who reads at grade
level has a sudden drop in reading-comprehension scores.
"They struggle so much to see what they are reading, they forget
what they're reading," he says.
Grades 4 to 6
Older students build on the basics, and they begin to become
serious problem solvers and more sophisticated readers. They branch
out to chapter books and easier classic novels.
Academics: Students should be able to identify
the speaker or narrator in a literary selection, distinguish between
major and minor characters, identify the main problem or conflict
in a book, describe the plot and its components, and analyze the
influence of setting. In writing, they should be able to pay more
attention to first drafts, the revision process and the completed
version, both for research and creative-writing projects.
In math, they will work on more complicated fractions, begin
solving pre-algebraic problems and fully understand multiplication
and division.
Social: Homework begins in earnest and could
affect a child who is used to more unstructured time with friends.
Parents should help children be efficient, not by doing their
kids' homework but by making sure there's a quiet place and a
schedule, Romero says.
Health: It's time for the "Talk."
Typically, fifth-graders have the first version of a special
health class about changes in their bodies during puberty. Sixth-graders
get a more detailed version, and students also get more information
about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Middle school
If you thought the transition to kindergarten was tough, just
wait. Going into middle school or junior high is the toughest
time of all, for parents and students.
Students might juggle six teachers, lockers and multiple options
for extracurricular activities. They deal with changing classes
and changing hormones.
"They were coming from being the top dogs to being the newbies,"
says Janie Horton, a teacher and math department chairwoman at
Rhodes Junior High School in Mesa, Ariz. "They're the youngest
and the smallest, obviously. They're intimidated just by the presence
of older kids."
Academics: In math, students will take on algebra.
In language class, they will get more analytical. For example,
they may analyze the characteristics and structural elements of
different forms of poetry.
Social: This is the most important transition.
Horton advises parents to encourage children to find a club, activity
or sport and get involved from the beginning.
Parents can help by being involved in their children's lives
at school at a time when parent volunteering typically drops,
Romero says.
Parents need to offer homework support, write encouraging notes
to their children and make sure teachers communicate expectations
with them and their children. Parents should check the class syllabus
and ask lots of open-ended questions, even if the children aren't
receptive to the queries, Romero says.
At Rhodes, as at most junior high and high schools, public displays
of affection are banned. Students are encouraged to go to football
games and dances in groups but not to date.
Health: Junior high students get more specific
information about puberty in health and science, and they talk
about sexual harassment, sexual assault and what's appropriate
and inappropriate behavior. Many schools require children to get
a physical before starting after-school sports.
High school
In junior high, your child has declared independence but still
depends on you for money, rides and everything else.
In high school, all that changes. They drive. They get part-time
jobs. They participate in more extracurricular activities. They
get ready for college.
The separation from Mom and Dad really begins, and it's natural.
Parenting might be trickier, but it's far from unneeded.
"They may still need your support to learn to talk for themselves,"
Romero says. "They're at so many different levels emotionally
that, as a parent, you need to read that."
Academics: High school students are expected
to develop critical-thinking skills and advanced writing and research
capabilities, and they will take higher math such as geometry
and calculus. They will learn advanced statistical and data analysis.
In language arts, they are expected to determine accuracy and
truthfulness in a source of information, identify unsupported
arguments, evaluate the effectiveness of an author's arguments
and an author's adherence to ethics.
Social: In your child's social revolution,
he or she might disagree with you about everything, Romero says.
That's OK. Go to the school's open house. Volunteer. Know the
due dates for long-term projects and put them on the family calendar.
Have frank discussions about sex and dating, drugs and alcohol,
and what happens at school.
Health: Students are most likely to choose
meals themselves, and parents should talk to them about nutrition
and exercise. Health classes at school will cover these topics,
too. Students also might learn about sexually transmitted diseases.
When sex topics are discussed, most schools encourage abstinence.
Many teens don't get enough sleep. Most experts recommend at least
eight hours a night. This is important for growth and development.
