Common Core ELA (K–2): Kindergarten ELA Exam Survival Guide

Must-do

• Foundational: letter names/sounds; rhyme; blend/segment 3-phoneme words; high-frequency words.
• Reading: ask/answer about key details; retell with beginning/middle/end.
• Writing: draw/dictate/write labels & simple sentences.
• Speaking/Listening: turn-taking; describe familiar people/places.
• Language: capitalization at beginning; end punctuation; nouns/verbs.

Top traps

• Letter names vs sounds; b/d/p/q reversals.
• Memorizing sight words without phonics.
• Run-on speech in writing (no spaces/punctuation).

Quick checks

• Phoneme fist: say /c/-/a/-/t/ → “cat”.
• Picture retell: 3 cards in order with who/what/where.
• Dictated sentence: “I see a red bus.” (capitals/spaces/period).

You will make

• Sound-Box (Elkonin) Cards (3 boxes + counters).
• Retell Rope (3 knots: B-M-E).
• Word Wall Rings (portable HF words).

Daily (15–20 min)

• 5 phonemic awareness, 5 phonics, 5 reading aloud, 5 writing quick-write.