Mastery Series Scope & Sequence
Nursery, Preschool and Kindergarten Mathematics & Phonics
The Mastery Series Scope & Sequence provides a clear view of what children learn and how learning develops progressively across Nursery, Preschool and Kindergarten.
The scope identifies the major areas of learning addressed across the series. The sequence shows how children's knowledge and skills develop from foundational experiences in Nursery, through development and application in Preschool, to increasingly advanced integration, reasoning, early reading and writing in Kindergarten.
Nursery: Foundation → Preschool: Development & Application → Kindergarten: Integration & Mastery
Mathematics Scope & Sequence
Mathematics in the Mastery Series develops from concrete exploration and recognition toward increasingly symbolic, relational and applied mathematical thinking.
| Curriculum Strand | Nursery — Foundation | Preschool — Development & Application | Kindergarten — Integration & Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number Sense & Numeration | Recognize and explore numbers 1–10 and connect numerals with quantities. | Develop number understanding 0–10 and connect numerals, quantities and number words. | Develop number understanding 0–20; represent, compare and apply number relationships, with additional counting experiences extending beyond the core range. |
| Counting & Quantity | Count objects and connect spoken numbers with quantities. | Count, match and represent quantities with increasing accuracy. | Count, quantify, compare and apply number knowledge in increasingly complex activities. |
| Number Representation | Experience numerals through recognition, tracing, movement and manipulatives. | Trace and form numerals and connect numerals, number words and quantities. | Write and represent numbers and connect symbols, number words and quantities. |
| Number Words | Hear, recognize and use number language in context. | Recognize, read, trace and work with number words. | Read, write and apply number words within broader number activities. |
| Number Sequence & Order | Experience counting order, number sequence and early number-line activities. | Sequence numbers and identify correct numerical order. | Order numbers, identify missing numbers and apply number sequence within mathematical activities. |
| Comparison & Number Relationships | Match and distinguish objects and quantities through concrete experiences. | Develop early comparison through sorting, matching and quantity experiences. | Compare numbers and quantities and work with relationships such as more, less, greater and smaller. |
| Early Operations | Build foundations through counting and concrete quantity experiences. | Strengthen quantity relationships and early number reasoning. | Apply early addition through concrete, visual and written activities. |
| Patterns & Sequencing | Experience and continue simple patterns and sequences. | Extend sequencing and recognition of relationships. | Recognize, continue and apply patterns within mathematical activities. |
| Geometry & Shape | Recognize, name and explore familiar shapes through hands-on experiences. | Identify, describe, trace, draw, cut, sort and work with shapes. | Recognize, classify, compare and apply shape knowledge within increasingly complex activities. |
| Color & Attributes | Recognize and name colors and match or classify objects by color. | Identify, match, sort and apply color knowledge and work with color names. | Apply color and other observable attributes within matching, sorting and classification. |
| Sorting & Classification | Match and group objects according to visible characteristics. | Sort and classify objects according to shared attributes. | Apply classification to increasingly complex visual, logical and mathematical tasks. |
| Spatial Concepts | Develop spatial awareness through movement and hands-on activities. | Strengthen direction and spatial orientation through guided experiences. | Apply spatial understanding within geometry, measurement and problem-solving activities. |
| Measurement | Explore comparative attributes informally through objects and experiences. | Develop foundations for comparison and descriptive measurement. | Measure and compare objects, including guided use of rulers and centimeters. |
| Ordinal Position | Experience order and position through routines and sequencing. | Strengthen concepts of sequence and position. | Identify and apply ordinal positions, including first through fifth. |
| Time & Calendar | Experience sequence and everyday routines. | Develop awareness of sequence and everyday time-related language. | Work with calendar concepts and telling time to the hour. |
| Money | — | — | Develop introductory awareness of money and coin relationships through practical activities. |
| Mathematical Language | Hear and use number, color, shape and positional vocabulary. | Use mathematical vocabulary to identify, describe, compare and explain. | Use increasingly precise mathematical language to communicate relationships and solutions. |
| Reasoning & Problem Solving | Observe, match, identify and make simple choices. | Classify, sequence, identify relationships and solve guided problems. | Compare, analyze, classify, measure, calculate and solve increasingly complex mathematical problems. |
| Recording & Representation | Trace, color, match and represent learning visually. | Trace, write, draw, sequence and represent mathematical understanding. | Record numbers, measurements, operations and mathematical relationships with increasing control. |
Mathematics Developmental Pathway
Nursery — Foundation
Experience → Recognize → Name → Match → Count → Trace
↓
Preschool — Development & Application
Recognize → Count → Match → Sort → Sequence → Compare → Represent
↓
Kindergarten — Integration & Mastery
Represent → Compare → Order → Measure → Operate → Apply → Reason → Record
The Mathematics pathway develops from concrete mathematical experience toward increasingly symbolic, relational and applied mathematical thinking.
Phonics Scope & Sequence
Phonics in the Mastery Series develops from alphabet and sound foundations toward increasingly detailed sound analysis, early word reading, writing and comprehension.
| Curriculum Strand | Nursery — Foundation | Preschool — Development & Application | Kindergarten — Integration & Early Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Knowledge | Recognize and name uppercase and lowercase letters. | Strengthen recognition, naming and retrieval of alphabet letters. | Consolidate alphabet knowledge and apply it within words and literacy activities. |
| Uppercase & Lowercase Letters | Match uppercase and lowercase forms. | Identify, discriminate and match uppercase and lowercase letters. | Apply knowledge of letter forms during reading, writing and word activities. |
| Letter-Sound Relationships | Hear and produce target sounds associated with letters. | Strengthen connections between letters and their corresponding sounds. | Apply letter-sound knowledge to analyze and construct words. |
| Beginning Sounds | Associate target letters and sounds with familiar beginning-sound vocabulary. | Identify and discriminate words and pictures according to beginning sounds. | Analyze beginning consonant sounds within words and apply them during word activities. |
| Middle Sounds & Short Vowels | — | — | Identify and work with short-vowel sounds within simple words. |
| Ending Sounds | — | — | Identify and discriminate ending consonant sounds within words. |
| Sound Discrimination | Listen for target sounds and distinguish familiar sound-picture relationships. | Strengthen auditory and visual discrimination through letter and beginning-sound activities. | Distinguish beginning, middle and ending sounds and compare sound relationships within words. |
| Sound Blending | — | — | Blend sounds smoothly to form and read simple short-vowel words. |
| Early Word Reading | — | — | Read familiar simple words within taught phonics activities. |
| Rhyming | Experience sound and language through songs, stories and rhymes. | Continue sound and language experiences through songs, stories and rhymes. | Identify, match and read rhyming words and recognize shared sound patterns. |
| Word Families | — | — | Recognize and work with recurring word patterns, including taught word families such as -an and -at. |
| Vocabulary | Learn familiar vocabulary associated with target letters and sounds. | Expand letter-related vocabulary and discuss words in context. | Apply phonics vocabulary during word reading, writing, discussion and sentence activities. |
| Oral Language | Name objects, repeat vocabulary and use target words in simple language. | Use vocabulary and simple sentences during teacher-guided activities. | Use familiar words within increasingly developed sentences and oral-language activities. |
| Pre-Writing Skills | Develop fine-motor control through tracing, manipulation and multisensory letter experiences. | Practice pencil grip and controlled vertical, horizontal, slanting, zig-zag, curved and circular strokes. | Apply developing fine-motor control to letter, word and sentence-related writing. |
| Letter Formation | Experience and begin forming letters through tracing and multisensory activities. | Trace and write uppercase and lowercase letters with increasing control. | Write uppercase and lowercase letters and apply letter formation within words. |
| Word Writing | — | — | Complete and write familiar simple words within taught phonics activities. |
| Alphabet Sequence | Experience alphabet order through cumulative letter activities. | Arrange, recite and write increasingly extended alphabet sequences. | Consolidate and apply alphabet knowledge within broader literacy activities. |
| Cumulative Review | Revisit previously introduced letters and sounds. | Review alphabet knowledge cumulatively through increasingly extended letter sequences. | Retrieve and apply previously learned sounds and letter knowledge within word-level activities. |
| Sentence Development | Use target vocabulary in simple oral contexts. | Develop simple phrases and sentences using lesson vocabulary. | Use familiar vocabulary and words in simple sentences. |
| Listening & Comprehension | Listen and respond to stories, songs, rhymes and teacher questions. | Strengthen listening and oral response through stories and discussion. | Extend listening into story sequence, story sense, prediction and early comprehension. |
| Sequencing & Story Sense | Participate in simple sequence-based language experiences. | Strengthen sequencing through alphabet and classroom activities. | Determine what comes before and after, arrange story events and identify likely next events. |
| Multisensory Literacy | Learn through movement, songs, art, sensory materials and manipulatives. | Apply letters and sounds through movement, writing, art, sensory and fine-motor experiences. | Combine sound, print, movement, writing, games and hands-on experiences to reinforce phonics and early reading. |
Phonics Developmental Pathway
Nursery — Letter & Sound Foundations
Hear → Recognize → Name → Match → Say Sound → Associate → Begin to Form
↓
Preschool — Sound Discrimination & Application
Recognize → Discriminate → Connect → Match → Form → Apply → Sequence → Review
↓
Kindergarten — Sound Analysis, Blending & Early Reading
Identify → Analyze → Discriminate → Blend → Read → Write → Use → Sequence → Understand
The Phonics pathway develops from alphabet and sound foundations toward analysis of sounds within words, sound blending, simple word reading and writing, rhyming, word families, sentence development and early comprehension.
Curriculum Progression at a Glance
| Developmental Stage | Nursery | Preschool | Kindergarten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Build foundations | Develop and apply | Integrate and extend |
| Child's Learning | Experience, notice, recognize, name and respond. | Identify, discriminate, classify, sequence, represent and apply. | Analyze, compare, read, write, reason and apply. |
| Mathematics Development | Concrete experience, recognition, counting, matching and early representation. | Representation, classification, sequencing, comparison and early reasoning. | Number relationships, operations, measurement, application and mathematical reasoning. |
| Phonics Development | Letters, sounds, beginning-sound vocabulary and emerging letter formation. | Stronger letter-sound discrimination, formation, sequencing and cumulative application. | Sound analysis, short vowels, blending, simple word reading, rhyming, word families, writing and early comprehension. |
| Teacher Support | Highly guided and experiential. | Teacher-guided with increasing application. | Teacher-guided instruction with increasingly complex application. |
| Student Book Application | Recognize, match, trace, color, count and respond. | Match, classify, sequence, trace, write and represent. | Analyze, complete, write, solve, read and apply. |
A Connected Curriculum from Nursery to Kindergarten
The Mastery Series is designed so that learning develops across levels rather than beginning again each year.
Nursery establishes the foundation.
Preschool develops and applies the foundation.
Kindergarten integrates and extends the foundation into increasingly advanced Mathematics and early literacy.
Across Mathematics, children progress from experiencing numbers, quantities, colors and shapes toward representing, comparing, ordering, measuring, operating and reasoning mathematically.
Across Phonics, children progress from recognizing letters and hearing sounds toward analyzing sounds within words, blending sounds, reading and writing simple words, recognizing rhyming relationships and word families, and using developing literacy skills for meaning and communication.
This developmental continuity provides teachers, administrators and curriculum leaders with a clear view of what children learn, how expectations increase, and how each Mastery Series level prepares children for the next stage of learning.
Explore the Detailed Mastery Series Scope & Sequence
Detailed Scope & Sequence information is available for each of the six Mastery Series programs.
Mathematics
- Nursery Mathematics Scope & Sequence
- Preschool Mathematics Scope & Sequence
- Kindergarten Mathematics Scope & Sequence