School readiness: what a child should know before 1st grade

Parents of future first-graders split into two camps: some believe a child must read fluently and count to a hundred, others say “school will teach everything”. The truth, as usual, is in the middle.

What actually matters

Holding attention for 15–20 minutes, following a two-step instruction, holding a pencil, knowing letters and reading simple syllables, counting within ten. That's enough — the rest really is the school's job.

What matters more than knowledge

The ability to learn: to sit, listen, finish a task, and not fear mistakes. A child with this base will catch up and overtake a “reading” classmate who can't work through a lesson.

When to start

A year before school is comfortable; half a year works but gets intense. 25-minute lessons 2–3 times a week train both the knowledge and that very focus at the same time.

At a free trial lesson the teacher will assess your child against the full checklist and tell you honestly what to work on.