What Kids Learn in Kindergarten in Illinois

Kindergarten in Illinois follows the Illinois Learning Standards. By the end of the year, most children are expected to know all their letters and sounds, read simple books, write short sentences, count to 100, and add and subtract within 10. They also learn to work in a group, follow routines and manage their feelings.

Here is what that looks like in each subject, and how to support it at home without turning evenings into homework time.

Reading

By the end of kindergarten, children usually can:

• Name all upper and lowercase letters
• Match most letters with their sounds
• Hear and play with sounds in words, such as rhyming and clapping syllables
• Read common sight words, like "the," "and" and "is"
• Read simple books with support
• Retell a story with a beginning, middle and end

At home: read together every day. Point to words as you read. Play "I spy something that starts with /b/."

Writing

• Write their first and last name
• Write letters for the sounds they hear, such as "KT" for cat
• Write or dictate simple sentences about a topic
• Use drawing and writing together to tell a story

At home: let your child write grocery lists, cards and labels. Praise the effort, not the spelling.

Math

• Count to 100 by ones and by tens
• Count objects and know the last number tells how many
• Write numbers from 0 to 20
• Compare groups: more, fewer, the same
• Add and subtract within 10, and quickly within 5
• Name and describe shapes, including flat and solid shapes
• Sort and compare objects by size, length or weight

At home: count stairs and snacks, play board games with dice, and ask "How many more do we need?" while setting the table.

Science

Illinois uses science standards based on the Next Generation Science Standards. In kindergarten, children explore:

• Pushes and pulls, and how things move
• Weather and how it changes
• What plants and animals need to live
• How people change their surroundings

Most of this is hands-on: building ramps, watching seeds grow and keeping a weather chart.

Social studies

Children learn about families, rules, community helpers, maps of familiar places and holidays and traditions.

Social and emotional learning

Illinois also has social and emotional learning standards. In kindergarten that means:

• Naming feelings and calming down with help
• Taking turns and sharing
• Following classroom routines
• Solving small conflicts with words
• Keeping at a task even when it is hard

Teachers often say these skills matter most for a good kindergarten year. See building social confidence.

How progress is measured

• KIDS: the state's observation tool in the first weeks of school. See our KIDS assessment guide.
• Report cards: many districts use standards-based report cards that show progress on each skill.
• Reading and math checks: some schools use short computer-based tests, such as MAP Growth, a few times a year.

Frequently asked questions

Should my child read before kindergarten?

No. Kindergarten teaches reading. Knowing some letters, enjoying books and recognizing their name is a great start.

Is kindergarten more academic than it used to be?

Expectations for reading and math have risen over the years. Good kindergartens still teach through play, hands-on work and talk.

How much homework is there in kindergarten?

Usually little or none, beyond reading together at home.

What if my child is behind?

Children grow at different rates. Talk with the teacher early and ask what to practice at home.

Kindergarten at Children's Land

Our private kindergarten program combines reading, math and STEAM projects with fine arts led by specialists, a 1:10 teacher-child ratio, MAP testing twice a year, parent-teacher conferences and two Broadway-style performances each year. Ask your location whether kindergarten is offered there, or contact us.

Related reading: Kindergarten Addition Stories with Real Objects.