CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.3

ELAKindergartenPhonics 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 common letters and letter patterns to sounds. They blend sounds to read simple words and recognize common high-frequency words.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a short list, a student can say common letter sounds, blend simple consonant-vowel-consonant words, and read familiar high-frequency words. The student notices changed letters and sounds in words like map and mop.
Common Misconceptions: Students may say letter names instead of letter sounds. They may guess from the first letter or picture instead of blending every sound. They may confuse similar words, such as map and mop.
How to Assess It: Give each student six cards: m, s, a, map, mop, and the. Ask the student to say the letter sounds, read each word, and explain what changed between map and mop.

Lesson moves

Have students build CVC words with magnetic letters, tap each sound, then slide a finger under the word while blending.
Write map and mop; ask, "Which letter changed, which sound changed, and how did that change the word?"
Play word-card bingo with simple decodable words and familiar high-frequency words, requiring students to read each claimed square aloud.
Use a simple snack menu; students sound out words like jam and dip, then match each word to a picture.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.3, 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

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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