Senior Kindergarten (Ages 5–6) — Preparing Your Child for Grade 1
Senior kindergarten is the year of all milestones: children begin decoding syllables, write script letters, and calculate to 30. It's the direct bridge to Grade 1. Here's the complete curriculum with term-by-term goals and printable tools.
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🖨️ See the full Senior Kindergarten guideWhy use this worksheet?
Decoding and reading
Reading simple syllables (ma, pa, li...), recognizing complex sounds. Script writing worksheets.
Math to 30
Simple addition and subtraction, number decomposition. Mental math prep for Grade 1.
Script lowercase letters
Tracing all lowercase script letters. Writing short simple words.
Term-by-term curriculum
T1: advanced phonology. T2: script letters + math 20. T3: syllable reading + math 30.
How to use it?
- 1Check the senior kindergarten term objectives
- 2Work on phonemic decoding daily
- 3Practice script writing with adapted worksheets
- 4Consolidate math to 30
- 5Use the guide to prepare for Grade 1
Frequently asked questions
What reading level is expected at the end of senior kindergarten?
By end of senior kindergarten, a child should decode simple consonant-vowel syllables (pa, ma, li) and read some high-frequency words. Full sentence reading develops in the first half of Grade 1.
My kindergartener can't write lowercase letters yet — what to do?
Lowercase script writing is a late kindergarten / early Grade 1 goal. Strengthen fine motor skills (playdough, cutting, tracing) and practice gradually with level-appropriate worksheets.
Should I teach multiplication tables in senior kindergarten?
No. Senior kindergarten math goals are counting to 30 and simple addition/subtraction. Multiplication tables start in Grade 2 and are consolidated in Grade 3.
How to prepare for Grade 1 after senior kindergarten?
Keep daily read-alouds, practice decoding simple syllables, review alphabet letter sounds. Starting mental math and writing worksheets in July/August helps children start Grade 1 confidently.