Common Core ELA Kindergarten Printables
Kindergarten reading, writing, and language printables organized by Common Core standard.
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Reading: Literature
9 standards
RL.K.1Ask And Answer QuestionsWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.See printables →RL.K.2Retell Familiar StoriesWith prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.See printables →RL.K.3Identify Characters And EventsWith prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.See printables →RL.K.4Questions About Unknown WordsAsk and answer questions about unknown words in a text.See printables →RL.K.5Recognize Types Of TextsRecognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).See printables →RL.K.6Name Author And IllustratorWith prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.See printables →RL.K.7Illustrations And The StoryWith prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).See printables →RL.K.9Compare Characters' AdventuresWith prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.See printables →RL.K.10Engage In Group ReadingActively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.See printables →
Reading: Informational Text
10 standards
RI.K.1Ask And Answer QuestionsWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.See printables →RI.K.2Identify Main TopicWith prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.See printables →RI.K.3Connections Between IdeasWith prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.See printables →RI.K.4Questions About Unknown WordsWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.See printables →RI.K.5Identify Parts Of A BookIdentify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.See printables →RI.K.6Name Author And IllustratorName the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text.See printables →RI.K.7Illustrations And The TextWith prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).See printables →RI.K.8Identify Author's ReasonsWith prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.See printables →RI.K.9Compare Two TextsWith prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).See printables →RI.K.10Engage In Group ReadingActively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.See printables →
Reading: Foundational Skills
17 standards
RF.K.1Print ConceptsDemonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.See printables →RF.K.1.aFollow Words Left To RightFollow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.See printables →RF.K.1.bSpoken Words As LettersRecognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.See printables →RF.K.1.cWords Separated By SpacesUnderstand that words are separated by spaces in print.See printables →RF.K.1.dRecognize And Name LettersRecognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.See printables →RF.K.2Phonological AwarenessDemonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).See printables →RF.K.2.aRecognize And Produce RhymesRecognize and produce rhyming words.See printables →RF.K.2.bCount And Segment SyllablesCount, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.See printables →RF.K.2.cBlend Onsets And RimesBlend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.See printables →RF.K.2.dIsolate Sounds In CVC WordsIsolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three-phoneme (consonant-vowel-consonant, or CVC) words. (This does not include CVCs ending with /l/, /r/, or /x/.)See printables →RF.K.2.eAdd Or Substitute SoundsAdd or substitute individual sounds (phonemes) in simple, one-syllable words to make new words.See printables →RF.K.3Phonics And Word RecognitionKnow and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.See printables →RF.K.3.aLetter-Sound CorrespondencesDemonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant.See printables →RF.K.3.bLong And Short Vowel SoundsAssociate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.See printables →RF.K.3.cRead High-Frequency WordsRead common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does).See printables →RF.K.3.dDistinguish Similarly Spelled WordsDistinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.See printables →RF.K.4Read Emergent-Reader TextsRead emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.See printables →
Writing
7 standards
W.K.1Write Opinion PiecesUse a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is...).See printables →W.K.2Write Informative TextsUse a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.See printables →W.K.3Write NarrativesUse a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.See printables →W.K.5Strengthen Writing With SupportWith guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.See printables →W.K.6Explore Digital ToolsWith guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.See printables →W.K.7Shared Research ProjectsParticipate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).See printables →W.K.8Recall And Gather InformationWith guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.See printables →
Speaking & Listening
8 standards
SL.K.1Collaborative ConversationsParticipate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.See printables →SL.K.1.aFollow Rules For DiscussionsFollow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion).See printables →SL.K.1.bContinue A ConversationContinue a conversation through multiple exchanges.See printables →SL.K.2Confirm Understanding Of TextConfirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.See printables →SL.K.3Ask And Answer For HelpAsk and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.See printables →SL.K.4Describe Familiar ThingsDescribe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.See printables →SL.K.5Add Drawings To DescriptionsAdd drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.See printables →SL.K.6Speak Audibly And ClearlySpeak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.See printables →
Language
21 standards
L.K.1Conventions Of GrammarDemonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.See printables →L.K.1.aPrint Upper- And Lowercase LettersPrint many upper- and lowercase letters.See printables →L.K.1.bUse Nouns And VerbsUse frequently occurring nouns and verbs.See printables →L.K.1.cForm Plural NounsForm regular plural nouns orally by adding /s/ or /es/ (e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes).See printables →L.K.1.dUse Question WordsUnderstand and use question words (interrogatives) (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).See printables →L.K.1.eUse PrepositionsUse the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with).See printables →L.K.1.fProduce Complete SentencesProduce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.See printables →L.K.2Conventions Of CapitalizationDemonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.See printables →L.K.2.aCapitalize First Word And ICapitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun ISee printables →L.K.2.bRecognize End PunctuationRecognize and name end punctuation.See printables →L.K.2.cWrite Letters For SoundsWrite a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).See printables →L.K.2.dSpell Words PhoneticallySpell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.See printables →L.K.4Determine Word MeaningsDetermine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.See printables →L.K.4.aIdentify New Word MeaningsIdentify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately (e.g., knowing duck is a bird and learning the verb to duck).See printables →L.K.4.bUse Inflections And AffixesUse the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.See printables →L.K.5Explore Word RelationshipsWith guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.See printables →L.K.5.aSort Objects Into CategoriesSort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.See printables →L.K.5.bRelate Words To OppositesDemonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).See printables →L.K.5.cReal-Life Word ConnectionsIdentify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).See printables →L.K.5.dShades Of Meaning In VerbsDistinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.See printables →L.K.6Use Acquired WordsUse words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.See printables →
Reading is built long before books
If your kindergartner isn’t reading yet, take a breath — that’s not really what this year is about. Reading gets built quietly underneath first: hearing that cat and hat rhyme, breaking “sun” into s-u-n, matching those sounds to squiggly little letters. That’s the actual work right now, and it happens on each child’s own timeline — some click early, others not until well into first grade, and both are normal.
Kindergarten reading questions, answered
What should my kindergartener be able to do in reading by the end of the year?
By spring, the goal is knowing all the letters (big and little) and the sounds they make, hearing rhymes, blending simple sounds into words, recognizing a handful of common words, getting how books work (left to right, spaces between words), and retelling a favorite story. A lot of this is brand-new in September, and it keeps developing well past kindergarten for plenty of kids.
Should my kindergartener be reading yet?
Maybe, maybe not — and both are completely fine. Some kids sound out little words by spring; plenty don’t until first grade or later, and they’re not behind. Kindergarten isn’t about cranking out readers; it’s about figuring out how words work. If your child is learning letters and sounds and still loves story time, they’re right where they should be.
What’s the difference between phonics and sight words?
You’ll hear both a lot, and kids need both. Phonics is sounding it out — what lets them tackle any new word. Sight words — you may also see them called “heart words” — are those super-common ones (the, was, said) that don’t sound out neatly, so kids learn to know them on sight. Phonics is the tool; heart words are the shortcuts for the words they’ll see a thousand times.
How can I help my kindergartener learn to read at home?
Honestly? Read together and play with sounds. Clap out syllables, go on a rhyme hunt, s-t-r-e-t-c-h words like taffy (“mmm-aaa-nnn”), and spot letters on signs and cereal boxes. Five silly minutes beats a serious lesson every time.
My child knows letters but can’t blend them into words — is that normal?
Totally normal, and really common. Naming letters and pushing them together into a word are two different skills, and blending usually shows up a little later — sometimes not until first grade. Knowing c, a, t doesn’t mean “cat” just pops out. Keep stretching and squishing sounds together out loud, with letters they can move around — it clicks for most kids with a little practice.