CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3

ELA1st GradePhonics and Word Recognition

The Standard

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students connect letters and letter groups to sounds, then blend those sounds to read words. They decode words with digraphs, short vowels, final e, and common vowel teams. They also use syllables and endings to read two-syllable words.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student reads unfamiliar one-syllable words by blending sounds without relying on pictures. They use digraphs, final e, vowel teams, syllables, and endings to decode. They also recognize common irregular words quickly.
Common Misconceptions: Students may guess a word from the picture or first letter instead of reading through it. They may read digraphs as separate sounds, ignore final e, or confuse vowel teams. They may also try to sound out every irregular word.
How to Assess It: Give students the words ship, make, rain, sunset, and helped. Ask them to read each word aloud and underline the letters or chunks they used.

Lesson moves

Build the words ship, chat, bike, rain, and jumping with letter tiles, then slide a finger under each word while blending.
Ask, “What changed when cap became cape?” and have students write and explain how the vowel sound changed.
Play a word-sort relay using cards for short vowels, final e, vowel teams, digraphs, and inflectional endings.
Read a simple lunch menu and circle decodable words, then mark the letters that show each vowel or consonant sound.

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