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What VPK/Pre-K Students Need to Learn in the Second Half of the Year (and How to Make It Easy for You!)
- Andrea Alvarez
- Dec 5, 2025
- 3 min read
The second half of the VPK/Pre-K year is a crucial time. Students have settled into routines, explored early learning foundations, and are ready to build skills that prepare them for kindergarten. As teachers, we want to make sure our students are mastering the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards while also feeling confident and excited about learning.
Here’s what children should focus on in the second semester—and how you can feel confident covering everything without spending hours on planning.
1. Literacy Skills
Students should be able to:
Recognize uppercase and lowercase letters.
Identify letter sounds.
Recognize rhyming words and syllables in spoken language.
Begin writing letters.
2. Math Skills
Children should:
Count and write numbers up to at least 20.
Recognize patterns, shapes, and simple graphs.
Compare quantities using terms like “more,” “less,” and “equal.”
Explore measurement concepts like length, weight, and size.
3. Social-Emotional Development
By now, students should:
Follow multi-step directions.
Demonstrate independence and self-care.
Cooperate, share, and solve problems with peers.
Recognize and express emotions.
4. Physical Development
Students should continue to:
Use scissors, pencils, and paintbrushes.
Coordinate gross motor skills like running, jumping, and balancing.
Participate safely in active play and group games.
5. Cognitive Development
Students should be learning to:
Solve problems and think critically.
Observe, question, and explore their world.
Connect new knowledge to what they already know.
Understand cause and effect, sequences.
The second half of the school year can feel exciting… and a little overwhelming. As VPK/Pre-K teachers, we want to make sure our students master the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards and feel confident when it’s time for the FAST assessment.
But planning it all—weekly lessons, activities, assessments, small groups, literacy practice—takes hours.
If you’ve ever thought,“I want to start strong, but I don’t know if I have everything my students need…”—You’re not alone.
That’s exactly why I created the VPK Lesson Plan Bundle...
This bundle was designed by a VPK/Pre-K instructor who understands the pace, expectations, and realities of the classroom (yes—that’s me!). It gives you a complete roadmap for the next half of the school year so you can walk into January feeling prepared, organized, and confident.
Why This Bundle Makes Your Life Easier
✔️ Fully aligned to the Florida VPK Standards
Every lesson, activity, and center is intentionally aligned so you can teach knowing you’re covering exactly what the state expects.
✔️ Built with FAST preparation in mind
The literacy and math components help strengthen the skills students will need for a strong performance on the FAST assessment—without making your classroom feel like “test prep.”
✔️ Step-by-step weekly plans
No more guessing what to teach or spending hours scrolling through Pinterest. You’ll have weekly guidance that flows naturally and builds skills over time.
✔️ Useful activity suggestions
Hands-on, engaging, age-appropriate activities that help children learn through play—because VPK success should be joyful.
Give Yourself the Gift of Confidence This Semester
When you start the second half of the year with a clear plan, something amazing happens:
✨ Your teaching feels easier
✨ Your students stay engaged
✨ You know they’re mastering the standards
✨ You reduce stress around the FAST assessment
✨ You feel proud of the learning happening in your classroom
You deserve to start the semester feeling prepared—not scrambling!
If you’re ready for a smoother, more confident VPK experience, click below to explore the bundle and see everything included:
Happy Teaching!
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