Language and Literacy Development

Language Milestones for Pre-K and Kindergarteners

In kindergarten, most kids understand and can use thousands of words, usually in sentences five to eight words long. Many 5-year-olds have the language development needed to:

  • Use words to argue and try to reason with people; because is an oft-used word
  • Use most plurals, pronouns and tenses correctly
  • Tell stories, jokes and riddles; may understand simple puns
  • Use language to talk about opposites and compare things (“That black cat is smaller than the white one.”)
  • Talk about things that are going to happen as well as things that have already happenedFollow simple multi-step directions
  • By the end of kindergarten, most children can recognize common words, such as the and me, and they can begin reading three-letter words, like hat.

Language Milestones for 1st graders

By this age, your child may use language in long and complicated sentences to tell about past, present and future. He may start combining spoken language with reading and writing this year. First graders typically:

  • Start sounding out words; understand the relationship between letters and sounds
  • Know, use and understand thousands of words
  • Stop reversing letters (by the end of first grade)

Language Milestones for 2nd and 3rd graders

Language development typically continues at a steady pace these two years. Vocabulary grows and kids start trying out words they have read but not heard. By the end of third grade, most children can do these things:

  • Comprehend what they’re reading and begin to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”
  • Learn vocabulary through reading
  • Use words to talk through problems, both socially and academically
  • Start playing with words to make puns; understand jokes and riddles
  • Test out “bad” words for shock value
  • Use all letter sounds correctly; don’t substitute w for r anymore when speaking
  • Use writing as a way to express feelings, tell stories and summarize information

Language Milestones for 4th and 5th graders:

  • Listen to and understand information presented by others
  • Form opinions based on evidence
  • Listen for specific purposes
  • Use words appropriately in conversation
  • Use language effectively for a variety of purposes
  • Understand some figurative language
  • 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