Goals for end of Year 3

Before even choosing any kind of curriculum or setting up any kind of basic plan for teaching, there are two important tasks to complete. #1 is to set a list of goals that you want accomplished for the year. (#2 is to figure out what learning style works best for your child-- whether they learn visually, audibly, etc. I haven't really worked on that much, yet, but that will be an ongoing process since mine are still so young!)

So, I wrote these goals with L in mind, but I'm hoping they can be easily adapted for A-- or any other kid for that matter-- when he is 3. Since "school" at this age really won't be as formal as it will be in the future, the goals really incorporate more "life" skills than academic skills. I'm hoping I'm not setting my standards too high with these, especially since I really haven't been around a lot of 3-year-olds, but I did get most off of websites created by people who have actually had 3-year-olds, and L is well on her way to many of these already, so I don't think I am being too lofty.

- Recognize and know the sounds of all letters A-Z

- Recognize the numbers and be able to count from 1-15

- Recognize & be able to form the letters of her/his own first name

- Know her/his full name, as well as the full name of her/his mother & father

- Be able to tell how old she/he is, and compare that to the age of others

- Be able to properly use scissors to cut various shapes

- Be able to properly control a paintbrush to create pictures

- String 4 or more beads

- Understand basic "opposite" concepts, such as over/under, in/out, up/down, etc.

- Recognize & name basic shapes and colors of objects (Leah can already do this for the most part!)

- Be able to re-tell in her/his own words a short story or poem she has just heard

- Recite the days of the week and months of the year

- Be able to correctly use pronouns & tense (I, he, him, her, it, etc.)

- Be able to express thoughts & emotions in a constructive manner

- Be able to sit still and focus his/her attention on something (other than TV) for more than 5 minutes

- Understand the difference between a want and a need and begin to understand the concept of money

- Be completely toilet-trained

- Be able to fully dress on her/his own, including shoes (velcro) & socks.

- Be able to brush teeth and wash hands independently.

- Understand household responsibility & be able to perform several household chores (making his/her own bed, cleaning up her toys, helping put away laundry, and setting the table for meals).

- Know 2-3 Bible verses from memory

- Know 5-6 hymns from memory (we already know 3)

- Know 1 or 2 nursery rhymes from memory (If you read the post on Classical Education, you will see that memorization is a huge part of the Grammar Stage-- ages 5 up to about 10. This is the key age to be able to memorize facts, even if they don't completely understand them-- our brains are wired to be able to remember things when we are younger. I believe this is completely reasonable to expect and will expect even more in K-4 and K-5!)