What your child learns in Kindergarten in Texas
Kindergarten in Texas is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to at least 20, and start adding and taking away. Science looks at the five senses, weather and living things, and social studies covers rules, jobs, and the flags and symbols of the United States and Texas.
Kindergarten subjects in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: counting to 20, comparing numbers, adding and subtracting within 10, and naming coins
- Algebraic reasoning: counting to 100 by ones and tens
- Geometry, measurement and data: shapes and solids, comparing lengths and weights, and picture graphs
12 units, including Count to 10, Numbers to 20, See It Fast, More, Less, Same.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Foundational language skills: letters and sounds, rhymes and syllables, and first words
- Comprehension, response and genres: retelling stories, characters, settings, fairy tales and nursery rhymes
- Author's purpose and craft, and composition: pictures and words that help readers, and sharing ideas in drawing and writing
14 units, including Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat.
Science
Focus areas
- Physical properties, magnets and light
- Day and night, weather, rocks, soil, water and air
- What plants and animals need, and plant structures and life cycles
11 units, including What Living Things Need, Animal Features, Materials, Weather & Seasons.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- History: national holidays and people who shaped Texas and the nation
- Geography: location words, maps and globes, weather and the land
- Economics and government: needs and wants, jobs, rules and authority figures
14 units, including All About Me, Families, Needs & Wants, My Jobs, Rules & Leaders.
Printable Kindergarten sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Expect comments on letters and sounds, counting, following routines, getting along with classmates and how your child shares ideas.
Texas has no statewide report-card scale in Kindergarten, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
The TEKS process skills apply in every grade. Read about Process skills.
The four practice steps in Kindergarten
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Common questions
Kindergarten covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Kindergarten in Texas is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to at least 20, and start adding and taking away. Science looks at the five senses, weather and living things, and social studies covers rules, jobs, and the flags and symbols of the United States and Texas.
Texas has no statewide report-card scale in Kindergarten, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
About 10 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Count everyday things out loud: stairs, grapes, steps to the car. Read aloud every day and let your child finish familiar phrases. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice Kindergarten skills with Gradelings
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