Goals and Skills

Each goal in the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence and Teacher Handbook is comprised of one or more specific, measurable, and sequential skills children need to learn in order to achieve the stated goal. The specificity of the Preschool Sequence facilitates a comprehensive alignment with state and other standards and guidelines.

The goals stated in many standards and guidelines that are available to early childhood educators are written in broad and or vague terms. Although indicators of achievement of these goals are sometimes provided, often no additional guidance is provided regarding how to support children's learning of these goals.

For example, a typical state standard might say, “Preschool learners develop increasingly complex and abstract use of language.” There are over twenty skills in the Preschool Sequence that more clearly define what complex and abstract use of language is for a preschooler and which specific skills should be addressed by the teacher.

The specificity of the Preschool Sequence also enables teachers to better individualize for each child's particular needs. The class as a whole may be making progress toward a particular goal, while individual children are being supported in mastering different skills on the path to the goal.

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