Maryland ELA RF.4-5.3.d

ELAGrades 4–5Reading Foundational Skills

The Standard

RF.4-5.3: Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in reading (decoding) and writing (encoding) words. Know and apply phonics skills to read (decode) and write (encode) words. Read (decode) and write (encode) multi-syllable words. Read (decode) and write (encode) words with prefixes and derivational suffixes. Read (decode) and write (encode) words containing Greek combining forms. When appropriate, consider the etymology (word origin) of unknown words to support reading (decoding) and writing (encoding). Use knowledge of spelling rules, syllable types, morphology, and etymology to Write (encode) words with accuracy and automaticity.

Read (decode) and write (encode) words containing Greek combining forms.

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use Greek word parts to read unfamiliar words and spell words they hear. They notice that ph often spells the /f/ sound in words like photograph.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student reads telescope and photograph aloud without relying on a picture. When they hear photograph, they write it with both ph spellings and mark photo and graph.
Common Misconceptions: Students may read ph as separate p and h sounds. They may spell photograph as fotograf because they write only the sounds they hear.
How to Assess It: Say “photograph” aloud and have students write it, then circle photo and graph. Show “telescope” and ask them to mark tele and scope before reading it aloud.

Lesson moves

Give pairs photo, tele, graph, and scope cards to build photograph and telescope, read each word, then write it without the cards.
Ask, “Why does photograph have ph twice?” Have students underline both examples and explain the spelling in one sentence.
Play word-part bingo: call out “far” or “write,” and students cover tele or graph, then write a word using that part.
Show a telescope product listing; students read the product name, mark tele and scope, then write telescope after you hide it.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to RF.4-5.3.d, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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

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