Reading and Math Skill Checklists

Kindergarten

Phonological & Phonemic Awareness

☐ Can recognize and produce rhyming words☐ Can identify words that begin with the same sound

☐ Can clap or count syllables in words

☐ Can identify the first sound in a word

☐ Can identify the final sound in a word

☐ Can blend sounds together to make a word☐ Can segment simple words into individual sounds

Letter & Phonics Skills

☐ Recognizes uppercase and lowercase letters

☐ Knows common letter sounds

☐ Can connect letters to their sounds

☐ Can read simple consonant-vowel-consonant words (cat, sun, map)

☐ Can read some common high-frequency words

Early Reading

☐ Reads simple sentences

☐ Uses pictures and letter sounds to help figure out unfamiliar words

☐ Can retell a simple story

☐ Can answer basic questions about a story

Grade 1

Phonics & Word Reading

☐ Reads short-vowel words accurately

☐ Reads words with common consonant blends (stop, flag, swim)

☐ Reads words with common digraphs (ship, chop, thin)

☐ Reads common long-vowel patterns

☐ Reads words with silent-e

☐ Reads common two-syllable words

☐ Recognizes many high-frequency words automatically

Fluency

☐ Reads simple texts with increasing accuracy

☐ Reads familiar text with appropriate phrasing

☐ Does not need to sound out every familiar word

Comprehension

☐ Can identify the main topic or idea

☐ Can retell important events in order

☐ Can answer who, what, where, when, and why questions

☐ Can make simple predictions

☐ Can explain basic details from a text

Grade 2

Phonics & Word Reading

☐ Reads common vowel teams

☐ Reads words with r-controlled vowels

☐ Reads common prefixes and suffixes

☐ Reads two- and three-syllable words

☐ Uses syllables and word parts to decode unfamiliar words

☐ Recognizes common irregular words

Fluency

☐ Reads grade-level text with reasonable accuracy

☐ Reads with appropriate phrasing and expression

☐ Can read familiar passages smoothly

Comprehension

☐ Identifies the main idea

☐ Identifies supporting details

☐ Retells or summarizes a story

☐ Answers questions using information from the text

☐ Makes reasonable inferences

☐ Can describe characters, setting, and major events

Grades 3–5

Word Reading & Vocabulary

☐ Reads unfamiliar multisyllabic words using strategies

☐ Recognizes common prefixes, suffixes, and roots

☐ Uses context to determine word meaning

☐ Understands common academic vocabulary

☐ Can use a dictionary or other reference tool when needed

Fluency

☐ Reads grade-level text accurately

☐ Reads at an appropriate pace

☐ Uses phrasing and expression

☐ Can read silently and maintain understanding

Comprehension

☐ Identifies the main idea or theme

☐ Identifies relevant supporting details

☐ Summarizes informational and narrative texts

☐ Makes inferences using evidence

☐ Compares information across texts

☐ Explains cause and effect

☐ Determines an author's purpose

☐ Uses evidence from the text to support an answer

☐ Can distinguish important information from minor details

When Might Additional Reading Support Help?

Consider talking with your child's teacher or an educational professional if your child:

☐ Frequently avoids reading

☐ Has difficulty remembering letter sounds or common spelling patterns

☐ Guesses at words rather than decoding them

☐ Reads significantly more slowly than expected

☐ Has difficulty understanding what they have read

☐ Struggles to retell or summarize a story

☐ Becomes frustrated or loses confidence during reading

☐ Continues to struggle despite regular reading practice

Want a closer look at your child's skills?

Chalkboard to Change provides personalized reading instruction designed to identify skill gaps and provide targeted practice.

Reading • Phonics • Fluency • Comprehension • Intervention

Visit chalkboardtochange.com to learn more.