Maryland ELA RF.4-5.3.e

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.

When appropriate, consider the etymology (word origin) of unknown words to support reading (decoding) and writing (encoding).

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

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use word origins and familiar word parts to help read and spell unfamiliar words. They might use photo and graph to work out photograph, including its two ph spellings for /f/.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can build, read, and spell photograph from photo and graph. They can explain why it has two ph spellings without assuming every /f/ sound is spelled ph.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write fotograph because they spell only by sound. Some assume every /f/ sound is spelled ph, or that a word's meaning tells them exactly how to spell it.
How to Assess It: Write photo and graph on the board. Ask students to combine them into a word for a picture, read it aloud, and circle both spellings of /f/.

Lesson moves

Give students letter tiles for photo and graph; have them build photograph, underline both ph spellings, and read it aloud.
Ask, 'Why does photograph use ph twice instead of f?' Have partners point to photo and graph in their answers.
Sort photo, phone, graph, fish, and frog by their /f/ spellings; have students identify the Greek-derived words.
Have students label a picture from a phone camera as a photograph, then explain its two ph spellings.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to RF.4-5.3.e, 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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