Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Physical & Motor 8 › Sensory 8 › Executive 7 › Cognitive 6 › Language 5 › Communication 5 › Emotional 5 › Social 6 › Self-Care 7 › Literacy 4 › Math 5 › Creative & Artistic 5 › World & Science 5 ›
by Robert Pankowecki
Literacy & Pre-Reading/Writing

Foundational skills for reading and writing including print concepts, alphabet knowledge, comprehension, and early writing.

Sources (6)
  • Head Start ELOF (Literacy)
  • UK EYFS (Literacy)
  • US Common Core (ELA-K)
  • Montessori (Language Area)
  • E.D. Hirsch ("What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know")
  • HighScope
4 Subdomains
Print Awareness & Concepts › Alphabet Knowledge › Reading Comprehension (Listening Level) › Early Writing & Composition ›
Early Writing & Composition

Expressing ideas through marks, drawings, letters, and words on paper or other surfaces.

Examples & Achievements

  • Writes own first name from memory
  • Copies simple words
  • Draws pictures to communicate a story or idea
  • Uses invented/phonetic spelling to write simple words
  • Dictates stories or ideas for an adult to write down
  • Writes some letters from memory

How to Measure

  • Writes first name legibly from memory (most letters correctly formed)
  • Writes 5+ recognizable letters from memory
  • Produces a drawing with a dictated/written label or caption
  • Writes at least 3 CVC words using phonetic spelling (e.g., "kat" for cat)
  • Teaching Strategies GOLD Objective 19 (writing)
Sources (4)
  • Head Start ELOF
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • EYFS

Childhood Map › Literacy & Pre-Reading/Writing

Early Writing & Composition

Expressing ideas through marks, drawings, letters, and words on paper or other surfaces.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources