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

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/kindergarten.htm

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