• By the end of kindergarten your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Follow 1-2 simple directions in a sequence
    • Listen to and understand age-appropriate stories read aloud
    • Follow a simple conversation

    Speaking

    • Be understood by most people
    • Answer simple "yes/no" questions
    • Answer open-ended questions (e.g., "What did you have for lunch today?")
    • Retell a story or talk about an event
    • Participate appropriately in conversations
    • Show interest in and start conversations                                                                              
    By the end of first grade your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Remember information
    • Respond to instructions
    • Follow 2-3 step directions in a sequence

    Speaking

    • Be easily understood
    • Answer more complex "yes/no" questions
    • Tell and retell stories and events in a logical order
    • Express ideas with a variety of complete sentences
    • Use most parts of speech (grammar) correctly
    • Ask and respond to "wh" questions (who, what, where, when, why)
    • Stay on topic and take turns in conversation
    • Give directions
    • Start conversations

    By the end of second grade your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Follow 3-4 oral directions in a sequence
    • Understand direction words (e.g., location, space, and time words)
    • Correctly answer questions about a grade-level story

    Speaking

    • Be easily understood
    • Answer more complex "yes/no" questions
    • Ask and answer "wh" questions (e.g., who, what, where, when, why)
    • Use increasingly complex sentence structures
    • Clarify and explain words and ideas
    • Give directions with 3-4 steps
    • Use oral language to inform, to persuade, and to entertain
    • Stay on topic, take turns, and use appropriate eye contact during conversation
    • Open and close conversation appropriately

    By the end of third grade your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Listen attentively in group situations
    • Understand grade-level material

    Speaking

    • Speak clearly with an appropriate voice
    • Ask and respond to questions
    • Participate in conversations and group discussions
    • Use subject-related vocabulary
    • Stay on topic, use appropriate eye contact, and take turns in conversation
    • Summarize a story accurately
    • Explain what has been learned


    By the end of fourth grade your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Listen to and understand information presented by others
    • Form opinions based on evidence
    • Listen for specific purposes

    Speaking

    • Use words appropriately in conversation
    • Use language effectively for a variety of purposes
    • Understand some figurative language (e.g., "the forest stretched across…")
    • Participate in group discussions
    • Give accurate directions to others
    • Summarize and restate ideas
    • Organize information for clarity
    • Use subject area information and vocabulary (e.g., social studies) for learning
    • Make effective oral presentations

    By the end of fifth grade your child should be able to do the following:

    Listening

    • Listen and draw conclusions in subject area learning activities

    Speaking

    • Make planned oral presentations appropriate to the audience
    • Maintain eye contact and use gestures, facial expressions, and appropriate voice during group presentations
    • Participate in class discussions across subject areas
    • Summarize main points
    • Report about information gathered in group activities

    Adapted from  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association