CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.2.3e

ELA2nd GradePhonics and Word Recognition

The Standard

Identify words with inconsistent but common spelling-sound correspondences.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students read common words whose letters do not make the sound expected from a familiar phonics pattern. They notice the unusual part and remember the word’s correct pronunciation.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student reads words such as said, have, does, and were accurately and quickly. The student can point to the unexpected letters and give the correct pronunciation without using a picture.
Common Misconceptions: Students may read said to rhyme with paid, have to rhyme with gave, or does to rhyme with goes. They may assume the same letter pattern always makes the same sound.
How to Assess It: Give this exit ticket: “Read said, paid, have, gave, does, and goes. Circle the word in each pair with the unexpected pronunciation, then read it aloud.”

Lesson moves

Give pairs of word cards, such as said and paid, and have students sort them by whether the shared spelling makes the same sound.
Ask students to explain why said and paid do not rhyme, then underline the letters tied to each vowel sound.
Play word detective: show a word, let partners predict its pronunciation, then award a point for reading it correctly and naming the surprising part.
Use the lunch menu or morning message, and have students circle common words whose pronunciation does not match the pattern they first expect.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.2.3e, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

If students are struggling here, check these first.

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