All Kindergartners Need to Know….

Kate Grossman:

The state laid out Tuesday what it wants every kindergarten student to know, an exhaustive list that includes everything from writing letters and identifying shapes to understanding that hurting others is wrong and the value of a sense of humor.
Illinois has had broad learning goals for all students since 1997 but until now hadn’t specified what that meant for kindergarten students. Specific goals for clusters of other grades and preschoolers already have been established.
The 172 new “benchmarks,” or skills, cover language arts, math, science, social science, physical development and health, fine arts, foreign language and social/emotional developme