Recognizes self in photos or in a mirror

Benchmark 2- Expresses likes and dislikes. Expresses simple ideas about self in relation to others such as family.

Benchmark 3-

When given two to three options, chooses his/her most desired option.

Benchmark 4-

Describes and compares preferences of self and others.

Communicates wants and needs verbally, e.g. “pick me up”

Benchmark 2-

Engages in pretend play to manage uncertainty and fear, ex: plays doctor and gives someone a “shot”

Benchmark 3-

Recognizes personal feelings. Controls impulses with reminders. With support, negotiates ways to handle nonroutine transitions.

Benchmark 4-

Names some personal feelings and uses strategies to manage behavior. Anticipates a change in routine and begins to prepare self by finding a desired thing or person.

Participates in daily routines or familiar activities. Attends to what others are looking at or pointing to.

Benchmark 2- Focuses on an engaging activity for a short period of time independently or with an adult. Asserts a desire to start or end an activity. Asks for help as needed.

Benchmark 3-

Initiates an activity and seeks help to complete it. Practices or repeats an activity many times until successful.

Benchmark 4-

Sustains focus for at least five minutes, persisting even if there are problems or distractions. Independently completes a familiar activity.

Walks and climbs. Carries, drags, kicks, and tosses objects.

Benchmark 2- Runs and balances on a wide beam. Throws objects in an intended direction. Catches objects against the body.

Benchmark 3-

Balances and hops on one foot. Throws both overhand and underhand. Catches or kicks moving objects.

Benchmark 4-

Hops from one foot to the other. Begins to skip. Coordinates multiple movements in simple sequences.

Purposefully grasps objects with finger and thumb. Uses hands to accomplish tasks such as feeding self.

Benchmark 2-

Opens, closes, twists, and pulls objects with one or both hands.

Benchmark 3-

Manipulates objects with hands doing different things. Snips with scissors. Begins to string large beads

Benchmark 4-

Follows a straight line when cutting and drawing. Buttons, zips, buckles, and laces.

Plays with water and sand tables; explore by pouring, digging, and filling.

Benchmark 2-

Adjusts approach to the environment, ex: changes volume of voice to adjust to the noise level in the environment

Benchmark 3-

Imitates familiar adults when coloring; draws lines and/or circles

Benchmark 4-

Adjusts approach to unknown objects, ex: presses harder on a lump of clay. Perceives and acts accordingly when holding a fragile object, both in the actual environment and in play, ex: walks carefully when holding a pretend teacup

Shows understanding of a variety of single familiar words. Points at named objects or body parts. With prompts and gestures, follows a one-step direction.

Benchmark 2- Shows understanding of a wide variety of phrases and sentences. Responds to simple statements and questions. Follows related two-step directions given verbally

Benchmark 3-

Shows understanding of some complex vocabulary. Asks what objects are called. Listens to a story or request and then responds appropriately. Follows unrelated two-step directions given verbally.

Benchmark 4-

Listens and understands inferred requests. Follows multi-step directions given verbally.

Says one- to two-word sentences. Repeats words heard frequently in the environment. Uses a few words and word-like sounds to communicate.

Benchmark 2- Says two- to four-word sentences and repeats short phrases. Identifies familiar people, places, and objects. Asks what a specific person or object is called. Communicates needs, desires and ideas.

Benchmark 3-

Speaks in sentences but does not follow grammatical rules. Describes familiar people, places, and objects. Asks simple questions and stays on topic for two to three exchanges.

Benchmark 4-

Speaks in simple complete sentences. Uses question words. Includes technical words and asks what unfamiliar words mean. Tells stories and engages in conversations through multiple exchanges

Imitates sounds and tones.

Benchmark 2- Shows awareness of separate words in spoken language. Recognize own name and common signs and labels in the environment.

Benchmark 3-

Identifies words that have a similar beginning sound. With assistance, recognize and match words that rhyme. Demonstrate ability to segment and blend syllables in words (e.g., “trac/tor, tractor”).

Benchmark 4-

Identifies the beginning and ending sounds of words. With assistance, blend sounds (phonemes) in one-syllable words (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ = cat). With assistance, begin to manipulate sounds in words (e.g., changing cat to hat to mat).

Identifies a familiar object or person when shown a drawing or photo. Points at words printed on a page and pretends to read aloud.

Benchmark 2-

Recognizes the difference between pictures, letters, and numbers in print. Recognizes the sound of the first letter in his/her name.

Benchmark 3-

Recognizes some common words in print; such as his/ her name, mom, and dad. Identifies six to seven letters and their sounds.

Benchmark 4-

Names all upper- and lowercase letters when presented in random order and identifies at least 15 letter sounds. When shown a two- or three-letter word can find it in print.

Recognizes if pictures are right-side up. Turns pages from front to the back of the book.

Benchmark 2-

Identifies the front/back and top/bottom of a book. Indicates where to start reading on each page.

Benchmark 3-

Identifies letters, words, spaces, and some punctuation. Follows the direction of the text.

Benchmark 4-

Touches a written word on the page for each spoken word (but not necessarily the correct word). Tracks print from the end of one line to the beginning of the next line.

Points to pictures and repeats words from familiar stories. Answers “where” questions by pointing.

Benchmark 2-

Talks about pictures and ideas in familiar stories. Answers “what” questions about stories and books. Recalls the name of the main character.

Benchmark 3-

Anticipates what comes next in familiar stories. Expresses likes or dislikes within the story. Participates with others in the retelling of a story by pointing at pictures or role-playing with props.

Benchmark 4-

Relates to the characters or events of the story and shares a similar experience or object from their own life. Retells portions of a story. Asks and answers simple questions about characters, setting, and events.

Experiment with writing tools and materials. Makes random marks with writing tools. Make handprints or fingerprints.

Benchmark 2-

Holds drawing/writing tools with the whole hand and may use the whole arm to make intentional marks. Scribbles or draws marks as a representation of an object or person.

Benchmark 3-

Uses fingers to grasp and manipulate drawing/writing tools with increasing control. Draws lines, circles, or shapes and explains who or what they represent.

Benchmark 4-

Uses a mature tripod grip with drawing/writing tools. Uses a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to express and record an event or idea.

With assistance, begin to use increasingly complex sentences.

Benchmark 2-

With assistance, use new words acquired through conversations and book-sharing experiences.

Benchmark 3-

With assistance, explore word relationships to understand the concepts represented by common categories of words (ex: food, clothing, vehicles).

Benchmark 4-

With assistance, use adjectives to describe people, places, and things.

Show interest in reading or in a written text by enjoying listening to books read aloud.

Benchmark 2-

Describe what they see while looking at the pictures in a book.

Benchmark 3-

Engage in book-sharing experiences with purpose and understanding.

Benchmark 4-

Look at books independently, pretending to read. Tell a story while looking at the pictures in a book.

Recognizes the numeral one and sees other numerals around the room. Repeats number words when heard. Demonstrates an understanding of one, two, and more.

Benchmark 2-

Recognizes numerals to three. Points to one object at a time while counting (not always in correct order). Creates groups of objects. Adds to and removes from the group as prompted.

Benchmark 3-

Identifies numerals to five. Counts up to ten objects. Creates and counts groups of up to five objects. Removes objects from the group as prompted and recounts.

Benchmark 4-

Identifies numerals to 10. Solves addition and subtraction problems within ten. Counts up to 20 objects.

Purposely turns or spins objects. Follows simple positional directions such as on/off, over/under, and up/down. Fills container then dumps out the contents.

Benchmark 2-

Recognizes objects that are upside down and turns them right-side up. Finds or places objects next to, between, in front of, or behind self. Puts together three pieces to create a whole object.

Benchmark 3-

Matches two objects even if turned in different ways. When prompted, places objects next to, between, in front of, or behind objects not related to self. Uses a guide to assemble 12 puzzle pieces.

Benchmark 4-

Identifies and corrects the orientation of familiar objects and symbols. Explains the location of an object in relation to another object. Assembles a puzzle without using a guide.

Matches two identical shapes.

Benchmark 2-

Identifies a few basic shapes.

Benchmark 3-

Identifies four to six basic geometric shapes.

Benchmark 4-

Describes basic and complex two- and three-dimensional shapes using own words.

Explores size and weight of objects in relation to self.

Benchmark 2-

Determines which object is bigger (heavier, longer) when given two objects.

Benchmark 3-

Uses nonstandard measurement tools to estimate approximate size or volume. Verifies estimation with help.

Benchmark 4-

Estimates (not always logically) size and volume. Measures and describes findings.

Attempts to mimic vocal and physical patterns.

Benchmark 2-

Copies patterns with two steps, such as red-blue, red-blue.

Benchmark 3-

Creates and extends two-step patterns.

Benchmark 4-

Creates and extends three- and four-step patterns and plays complex memory games.

When shown one object, finds the match. Identifies and names familiar people, characters, and animals.

Benchmark 2-

Sort objects by one feature, such as size or color. Groups objects by common characteristics.

Benchmark 3-

After sorting objects by one feature sort again by a different feature.

Benchmark 4-

Sorts objects by more than one feature and explains why.

Experiments with cause and effect.

Benchmark 2-

Recognizes a problem and asks for help.

Benchmark 3-

Tries out many possible solutions to a problem.

Benchmark 4-

Uses previous knowledge to determine which solution to try first when solving a problem.

Asks one- to two-word questions. Uses senses to explore the environment.

Benchmark 2-

Identifies personal interests and seeks more information. Investigates an object or group of objects in multiple ways. Shares discoveries with others.

Benchmark 3-

Observes and describes changes that occur to familiar objects and people. When given a question, guesses a possible answer or outcome. Uses past knowledge to explain observed changes.

Benchmark 4-

Asks questions or shows curiosity about a scientific phenomenon. Predicts a few outcomes. Explores and records observations by drawing. Describes and compares observations.

Plays with rocks, sand, dirt, or water. Reacts to animals or insects in the immediate environment. Understands hot and cold. Points at clouds and explores the feel of rain and wind.

Benchmark 2-

Identifies familiar animals, plants, or rocks in the immediate environment. Groups living things by common characteristics. Notices changes in temperature or weather.

Benchmark 3-

Demonstrates an understanding that all people have needs. Identifies if an object can grow, eat or move. Identifies the climate and weather in the immediate environment.

Benchmark 4-

Recognizes that all living things have similar basic needs. Sorts organisms as living or nonliving and explains why. Identifies current season and explains how weather affects personal life.

Reacts to changes in texture, smell, sound, or sight. Uses body to push or pull toys.

Benchmark 2-

Explores motion by moving, rolling, blowing on, or dropping a toy.

Benchmark 3-

Explains how common vehicles, animals, and people move. Sorts objects by the type of movement. Describes basic physical properties of objects and materials in the immediate environment.

Benchmark 4-

Experiments with and explains invisible forces, ex: ramps, and magnets. Manipulates matter and observes any physical changes that may occur.

With help, participates in family traditions and customs.

Benchmark 2-

Recognizes familiar symbols or artifacts of family traditions or customs. Identifies differences between self and others.

Benchmark 3-

Describes the routines, familiar stories, traditions, foods, and celebrations of own family and community. Describes family and community members, their roles, and their relationship to self.

Benchmark 4-

Explains the meaning and importance of own traditions and customs. Begins to learn about other cultures. Identifies roles and responsibilities of self and others to contribute to the community

Recognizes familiar places. Finds ways to move around obstacles in a familiar environment.

Benchmark 2-

Identifies a variety of familiar places, such as the store, car, home, or Grandma’s. Follows a path.

Benchmark 3-

Identifies different types of water bodies, streets, buildings, and landmarks in own community. Recognizes symbols and landmarks.

Benchmark 4-

Explains the purpose for different types of structures, such as bridges and buildings. Asks questions about landmarks. Identifies what is represented on a map. Draws pictures of the current location.

Observes events and begin to participate.

Benchmark 2-

Describes events as they happen. Uses words such as first, then.

Benchmark 3-

Recalls information and events from the past.

Benchmark 4-

Uses language of time to describe familiar sequences of events.

Uses hands and feet to explore a variety of media. Scribbles, colors, or paints intentionally on paper.

Benchmark 2-

Explores a variety of artistic tools and media. Uses materials to create shapes and symbols.

Benchmark 3-

Chooses an object or art tool to use with a given medium for the desired effect. Makes choices throughout the artistic process.

Benchmark 4-

Uses artistic tools and media to create intentional designs or images. Plans, designs, and seeks materials to make a creation.

Mimics observed behaviors and words. Mimics the use of familiar objects.

Benchmark 2-

Uses words, actions, and props to pretend. Uses realistic toys as replacements for real objects. Distinguishes between real and pretend.

Benchmark 3-

Plays a role in group dramatic play. Uses an object as a replacement for a realistic prop or real object.

Benchmark 4-

Assigns roles and plays out unscripted scenes in dramatic play. Uses a combination of real and imaginary props or characters to play out a scene.