Is your little one ready to progress to the next grade?

We know that you want to set your little one up for success. That’s why it’s essential to start with a solid foundation. Our dedicated Foundation Phase expert, Hilda Erasmus, shares tips on what to look out for when considering whether your child is ready to progress to the next grade.

Grade R

In Grade R, play should be a learner’s only task. Your little one should focus on playing, drawing, cutting, colouring, and painting to help them develop their gross and fine motor skills. These skills are crucial to ensure that a learner is ready for Grade 1.

Grade 1

The shift from Grade R to Grade 1 is an exciting time for most little ones, but as a parent, you may wonder if your child is ready to take the next step in their learning journey. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind before your little one starts Grade 1:

1. Language development

Your child should be able to communicate fluently in their home language. This will help them identify and pronounce phonics, one of the key focus areas in Grade 1. Basic words and phonic recognition are a good sign that they are ready to tackle the language requirements. Eagerness to read will also help learners to work harder towards their language development.

Also read: Raising Readers: Tips for Parents

2. Mathematics and numeracy

At the end of Grade R, learners should be able to count to 10 and have mastered number sense up to number 5. They should be able to understand and use basic mathematical concepts like adding, taking away, more, less, the same, bigger, smaller, etc. This terminology forms the foundation of mathematical development, and learners should show an interest in numbers before starting with formal mathematical assessments.

3. Social development

In terms of their social development, learners should show self-confidence and self-worth. They should show eagerness and curiosity towards learning, playing, and sharing with their peers.

4. Emotional development

Emotional intelligence is one of the most critical skills needed to cope with the various challenges that form part of your child’s learning journey. Help your little one to manage their emotions by understanding and expressing what they are experiencing.

5. Physical development

Regarding gross motor skills, your child’s core muscles should be developed so they can sit still for more than 15 minutes at a time. Physical play like running and jumping will help them strengthen these muscles. Avoid fatigue and frustration by helping them develop their fine motor skills, allowing them to hold a pencil correctly and complete written activities.

Also read: Preparing for Big School: Practical exercises to do at home

Grades 2 & 3

The following grades are a repetition of Grade 1. The building blocks will be set in Grade 1; after that, the work will mostly be the same – getting more advanced as the learner progresses.

In Grades 2 and 3, it is essential to note whether the learner can do all the work with confidence or if the learner needs a little more practice. Remember that each phase will have its own challenges and new concepts to master, so it is vital that learners grasp the basic skills in Grade 1 to build on those skills in the following grades.

The Intermediate Phase (Grade 4)

When your learner is ready to progress to Grade 4, they will enter a whole new chapter in their learning journey: the Intermediate Phase. Here, learners will have more subjects and will write tests and exams. More self-discipline is expected from the learner, and they should start to create their own ways of learning.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when considering whether your child is ready to progress to Grade 4:

1. Language development

Your learner should be able to read with comprehension as they must read fluently and understand everything they read. This skill will be beneficial when reading questions in tests or exams as learners will know exactly what is being asked of them.

2. Mathematics and numeracy

In Mathematics, everything comes down to numerical comprehension. Numeracy is learned by representing numbers visually. Collect five pebbles, organise them into different groups, and help the learner visualise the amounts in their head. The learner must be able to do mental math at the end of Grade 3.

If the learner still counts on their fingers, finds ways to get answers by drawing pictures, or uses a 100-chart or abacus to do simple equations, it could be a warning sign that they might not be ready to move to Grade 4.

School readiness test

If you are uncertain if your child is ready for the next phase of their learning journey, consider a school readiness test by a registered therapist or psychologist. The school readiness assessment will help determine whether your child is ready to progress or whether they need a little more practice or additional support. Your little one needs to understand the basic concepts before moving to the next phase in their academic career.