South Dakota ELA 1.RF.2.e

ELA1st GradeReading Foundational Skills

The Standard

1.RF.2: Demonstrate proficiency of identifying, blending, and segmenting phonemes (sounds) in spoken words.

Categorize words based on shared phonemes (e.g., sorting words with the same initial sound).

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students listen to spoken words and sort them by a sound they share. They say the sound that connects each group.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student puts cat and kite together because both begin with /k/, even though the first letters differ. They can explain their choice by saying the words aloud.
Common Misconceptions: Students may sort by first letter instead of first sound, putting cat with city. Others may group words that rhyme when asked to listen for the first sound.
How to Assess It: Say cat, kite, sun, and sock. Ask students to make two groups by first sound and tell you the sound for each group.

Lesson moves

Give pairs picture cards for cat, kite, sun, and sock, and have them sort the cards by first sound.
Ask, “Why do cat and kite belong together even though their first letters differ?” Have students say both words before answering.
Play a quick sort game: say one word at a time and have students point to a /k/ or /s/ sound card.
At snack, say cup, carrot, spoon, and sandwich aloud, then sort the words by first sound before handing out supplies.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.RF.2.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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