CHECK READNESS (See the Pre-K teacher’s guide.

)
1. Name six Pictures Ask, “What is this?” Apple_____ Carrot_____ Banana_____ Tree_____ Jeans/Pants_____ Grapes_____
2. Name six Colors Ask, “What color is this crayon?” Red_____ Orange_____ Yellow_____ Green_____ Blue_____ Purple_____
3. Color two Pictures Child uses "fill-in" coloring: Yes_____ Somewhat_____ Not Yet_____
Attempts to stay in lines: Yes_____ Somewhat_____ Not Yet_____
4. Crayon Grip Standard_____ Alternate_____ Palm_____ Hand Preference L_____ R_____ ?____________ Holds Paper While Coloring Yes_____ Sometimes_____ No_____

5. Name and Trace Shapes Ask, “What is this?” Line_____ Line_____ Circle_____ Cross_____ Square_____ Triangle_____
6. Copy Shapes Tell child, “Copy this here.” Line_____ Line_____ Circle_____ Cross_____ Square_____ Triangle_____

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 CHECk READINESS (See Pre–K Teacher’s Guide pg. 94) Name_______________________________________ Date___________________

Draw
7. 7. Drawaaperson
Person Use
Usea blank page.
a blank Name
page. Nameand date
and date page.
thethe page. Say, “Draw
Say, “Draw a picture
a picture
of of
youyou someone
or or else.
someone Draw
else. Draw whole
thethe person.”
whole person.”
Head
Head_____
_____Eyes _____
Eyes _____Nose _____
Nose _____
Mouth
_____Mouth Ears
_____Ears hair
or or _____
Hair _____Body _____
Body _____
Arms
_____Arms _____
Hands
_____Hands _____
_____LegsLegs _____
_____FeetFeet_____
Extras? Extras? _______________________________________
_______________________________________

Name
8. 8. Name10
0Letters
Letters Ask, “What
Ask, letter
“What is this?”
letter is this?” E_____
E_____ O_____
O_____ A_____
A_____ T_____
T_____ N_____
N_____ S_____
S_____ H_____
H_____ I_____
_____ L_____
L_____ R_____
R_____

EE O
O AA TT NN SS HH II LL RR
Name
9. 9. numbers
Name9 0 Numbers Ask, “What
Ask, number
“What is this?”
number 3_____
is this?” 3 _____ 5_____
5_____ I_____
I_____ 4_____
_____ 8_____
8_____ 2_____
2_____ 6_____
I0_____ 7_____
6_____ 9_____
7_____ 9_____

3
3 55 11 44 88 22 10
6 67 7
9 9
10. Try
10. TrytotoWrite
WriteName—Say,
Name Say,“Write
“Writeyour
yourname
namehere.
here.Use
Usecapital
capitalletters.”
letters.” a dot
PutPut where
a dot child
where begins
child each
begins letter.
each letter.

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© 2008 Handwriting Without Tears® Get Set for School 93
More About Color
Use this 1-on-1 informal assessment during the year to evaluate skills and guide your teaching. Share the results
with parents. These are key readiness and writing skills expected when children enter kindergarten.

CHECK READNESS (See the Pre-K teacher’s guide.)

1. Name six Pictures Ask, “What is this?” Apple_____ Carrot_____ Banana_____ Tree_____ Jeans/Pants_____ Grapes_____
2. Name six Colors Ask, “What color is this crayon?” Red_____ Orange_____ Yellow_____ Green_____ Blue_____ Purple_____
3. Color two Pictures Child uses "fill-in" coloring: Yes_____ Somewhat_____ Not Yet_____
Attempts to stay in lines: Yes_____ Somewhat_____ Not Yet_____
4. Crayon Grip Standard_____ Alternate_____ Palm_____ Hand Preference L_____ R_____ ?____________ Holds Paper While Coloring Yes_____ Sometimes_____ No_____

5. Name and Trace Shapes Ask, “What is this?” Line_____ Line_____ Circle_____ Cross_____ Square_____ Triangle_____
6. Copy Shapes Tell child, “Copy this here.” Line_____ Line_____ Circle_____ Cross_____ Square_____ Triangle_____

© 2021 Learning Without Tears

General Directions: Check each correct item. Write in other answers and observations.

1. Name 6 Pictures Typically, this is easy for English speaking children. When asking a non-verbal child
to point, name the pictures in random order.
2. Name 6 Colors Use crayons with true colors. Ask a child to say the colors as you point.
3. Color 2 Pictures Let the child choose the pictures to color. Notice how a child picks up and
uses crayons. Record this on the next item.
4. Crayon Grip See pages 40–41 for information about these skills.
Hand Preference Note which hand is used. Mark a “?” if a child changes hands when coloring.
Holds Paper
5. Name and Trace Children may use other words, for example: one for line, or ball for circle. Simply
Shapes write a child’s words on the page. Tell the child to start on the arrow and trace
the shapes.
6. Copy Shapes As soon as a child finishes tracing each shape, make a dot to show the starting
place. This will make you aware of a child’s starting tendency.

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 CHECk READINESS (See Pre–K Teacher’s Guide pg. 94) Name_______________________________________ Date___________________

Drawaaperson
Draw
7. 7. Person Use
Use a blank
a blank page.
page. Name
Name and
and date
date thethe page.
page. Say,
Say, “Draw
“Draw a picture
a picture of of
youyou
or or someone
someone else.
else. Draw
Draw thethe whole
whole person.”
person.”
Head
Head _____Eyes
_____ Eyes _____Nose
_____ Nose _____Mouth
_____ Mouth _____Ears
_____ Ears
or or Hair
hair _____Body
_____ Body _____Arms
_____ _____Hands
_____
Arms _____LegsLegs
_____
Hands _____FeetFeet
_____ _____
_____
Extras?
Extras? _______________________________________
_______________________________________

Name10
Name
8. 8. 0Letters
Letters Ask,
Ask, “What
“What letter
letter is this?”
is this?” E_____ O_____
E_____ O_____ A_____
A_____ T_____
T_____ N_____
N_____ S_____
S_____ H_____
H_____ I_____
_____ L_____
L_____ R_____
R_____

EE O
O AA TT NN SS HH II LL RR
9. 9. Name9 0
Name Numbers Ask,
numbers Ask, “What
“What number
number is this?”
is this?” 3_____ 5_____
3_____ 5_____ I_____
I_____ 4_____
_____ 8_____
8_____ 2_____
2_____ 6_____
I0_____ 7_____
6_____ 9_____
7_____ 9_____

3
3 55 11 44 88 22 10
6 67 7
9 9
10. TrytotoWrite
Try
10. WriteName—Say,
Name Say,“Write
“Writeyour
yourname
namehere.
here.Use
Usecapital
capitalletters.”
letters.”
PutPut a dot
a dot where
where child
child begins
begins each
each letter.
letter.

© 2008 Handwriting Without Tears® © 2021

Get Learning
Set for School 93
Without Tears

7. Draw a Person Name, date, and save these. Check the 10 parts and note any extras.
8. Name 10 Letters Naming letters out of order shows true recognition. Write in any wrong answers.
When asking a non-verbal child to point, say the letters in random order.
9. Name 9 Numbers Write in any wrong answers. When asking a non-verbal child to point, say the
numbers in random order.
10. Try to Write Name Tell children to start at the . As soon as a child writes a letter, make a dot
to show the starting place.

For a printable copy of Check Readiness and other Pre-K assessments visit LWTears.com.

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Get Set for School®
Readiness & Writing: Observation Checklist

e
Directions:

am
N
1. Fill in child’s name.

’s
ild
2. Fill in observation date.

Ch
3. Mark child’s progress.

1. Participates mark
Participates in songs, finger plays,
and class activities date

2. D
 emonstrates mark
Demonstrates self care skills and desire
for independence (washes hands) date

3. P
 lays mark
Plays cooperatively, using words to
resolve most conflicts (sharing) date

4. Follows mark
Follows direction for class routines
and transitions date

5. Says mark
Says the alphabet and
counts to 10+ date

6. Uses mark
Uses names for colors, shapes, letters,
and numbers in play and conversation date
7. E
 stablishes mark
Establishes hand preference and uses
correct grip for coloring and writing date
8. Holds mark
Holds paper with helping hand when
coloring, drawing, and writing date

9. Traces mark
Traces and copies shapes, letters, and
numbers, using correct formation habits date
10. D
 raws mark
Draws generally recognizable pictures
using simple shapes and lines date
Progress Marks
11. W
 rites mark
Writes name with left-to-right — early, emerging
directionality date

12. W
 rites mark
3 growing
Writes letter-like forms, letters, or scribbles
to represent words and ideas date 3+ meets expectation

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