6 years +
EARLY PRIMARY SCHOOL
YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
Follow complex instructions
Understand the concepts of ‘right’ and ‘left’
Use complex sentences, explaining themselves in a logical and clear manner
Grammar is correct, including irregular verbs (broke, fell)
Use specific vocabulary, relevant to topics
Ask different questions, to maintain a conversation
Listen and attend to stories
Can retell what happened in a story that was told to them or that they read
Break words in syllables
Hear the first, middle and last sounds in word
Recognise all letters and sounds
Spell basic sight words and starts to learn some rules of spelling (vowels and consonants)
Understand rhyming words
Break and blend words into individual sounds (dog d, o, g)
Later developing sounds ‘th’, ‘r’ and ‘v’ are clear in words
WARNING SIGNS
Not following all instructions
Not able to spontaneously say all the parts in multisyllabic words (computer com-put-er, hospital hos-pit-al)
Difficulties in retelling events or telling a story
Unable to blend sounds together and break up words into sounds (dog d, o, g)
Cannot write letters from hearing sounds
Cannot identify sounds or letters
Easily distracted at school or displays frustration (may be classified as being naughty)
Avoidance behaviours with certain academic activities (reading)
Consistently not finishing work and activities in class.
At home is not able to produce work within an appropriate time period.
LATER PRIMARY SCHOOL
YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
Follow instructions to complete all academic activities in the classroom
Use complex written and oral sentences, including conjunctions (then, until, but)
Write basic text types (narratives, recount, procedure) and advanced text types (expositions, persuasive texts)
Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of spelling
Has a large sight word vocabulary
Employ strategies to read and spell unfamiliar and longer words
Read grade level texts fluently and answer comprehension questions
WARNING SIGNS
Problems creating sentences, using conjunctions (while, before, until, so, but)
Difficulties expressing themselves in a clear, logical manner
Difficulties giving instructions
Reading is not fluent or at the level expected for their age
Unable to answer questions correctly about texts they have heard or read
Difficulties constructing text types
Poor or limited sight word vocabulary, which may lead to disfluent reading
Reluctant to participate in group activities and discussions
Displays challenging or sometimes ‘naughty’ behaviour (refusing to participate, disrupting the class)
Consistently not finishing work and activities in class.
At home is not able to produce work within an appropriate time period.
Your Next Steps
Call our clinic on (02) 4555 1870 to invest in your child’s development.
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