Language Arts

Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

Reading Foundations
Skills Block
 EL Education Language Arts Curriculum

K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block: Differentiation Pack: Kindergarten

EL Education Language Arts Curriculum is published by:

EL Education

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New York, NY 10001

www.ELeducation.org

ISBN 978-1683622802

FIRST EDITION

© 2016 EL Education Inc.

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Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/
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Licensed third party content noted as such in this curriculum is the property of the respective copyright owner
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Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and
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license located at http://www.corestandards.org/public-license/.

Illustrations by Stacey Posnett and Anna Loring

Cover art from “First Come the Eggs,” a project by third grade students at Genesee Community Charter School.
Used courtesy of Genesee Community Charter School, Rochester, NY. For more information about this project, visit
http://modelsofexcellence.ELeducation.org/projects/first-come-eggs.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Table of Contents

Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

About EL Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Instructions for Decodables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Differentiation Pack Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Instructional Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Assessment Conversion Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cycle Overviews and Cycle Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

EL Education Curriculum iii

About EL Education

“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it,

perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle
for less.” – Kurt Hahn

EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) is redefining student achievement in diverse

communities across the country, ensuring that all students master rigorous content, develop
positive character, and produce high-quality work. We create great public schools where they
are needed most, inspiring teachers and students to achieve more than they thought possible.

EL Education’s portfolio of instructional materials and coaching services draws on 25 years of

success in more than 150 schools in the EL Education network, serving over 4,000 teachers and
50,000 students in 30 states. Based on our founding principles of meaningful work, character,
and respect for teachers, EL Education’s offerings transform teaching and learning to promote
habits of scholarship and character that lead to high student achievement, regardless of student
background. In addition to success on standardized tests, EL Education students demonstrate
critical thinking, intellectual courage, and emotional resilience; they possess the passion and the
capacity to contribute to a better world.

EL Education’s curriculum is a comprehensive, standards-based core literacy program that

engages teachers and students through compelling, real world content. The first edition of our
Language Arts curriculum is being used in more than 44 states, and has been downloaded close
to 8 million times. The curriculum has received the highest marks from EdReports.org and
Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products (EQuiP).

For more information, visit www.ELeducation.org.

iv
Getting Started

Getting Started with the Reading Foundations

Skills Block Materials

Welcome to EL Education’s curriculum. This is your guide to get started

with the materials for the Reading Foundations Skills Block.
Start with your K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block: Resource Manual. The first thing you
will need to do is to get oriented to the assessment structure and materials. Our framework for
understanding how students are progressing as readers may be different from what you are used
to. The assessments will help you accurately identify your student’s Phase of Reading and Spelling
Development so you can provide targeted instruction based on strengths and areas of need.

Check out the Benchmark Assessments section.

Read the Assessment Overview.
Identify assessments for your grade level (in
addition to any district mandated assessment).
Create an assessment plan
Gather your assessment materials from the
Resource Manual.
Administer the assessments to your students.
Score to identify the student’s Phase.
Use the Assessment Conversion Chart to
identify cycles of lessons that would best meet
students’ needs during differentiated small
group instruction

EL Education Curriculum v
Reading Foundations Skills Block

Prepare to teach: now you’re ready to prepare your lessons.

Full lessons and supporting materials are found in your Teacher Guide and Supporting
Materials.

The K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block: Resource Manual contains key guidance on
assessments, handwriting, syllabication, independent and small group work, along with an
Activity Bank with ideas and materials for differentiated small group instruction.

Refer to your Differentiation Packs if you have identified students who need instruction
above or below their grade level. These materials will support your differentiated small
group instruction for those students.

Learning Letters is geared toward the early stages of literacy, for students in Kindergarten
or in later grades who need support learning or re-learning letter names, letter sounds,
letter formation, and handwriting. Learning Letters contains all of our keyword cards for
your ABC line or word wall, letter formation charts and handwriting sheets, and letter
stories and activities for students who need more time with a certain letter.

As you plan for the year, the Year at a Glance chart in the front of your Module 1 Teacher
Guide and Supporting Materials will help you understand how the Reading Foundations
Skills Block unfolds over the year.

Instructional Practices are routines used over and over with your students. Take note of
the Overview of Instructional Practices in Module 1 of each grade level. Here you’ll find
a list and explanation of each instructional practice that will be used over the whole year,
and Module and Cycle Overviews let you know when each will be introduced.

vi
 Learning Letters: Getting Started

Turn to the Module Overview in your Teacher Guide and Supporting Materials to understand
where you will begin and where you will end each module. The introduction to the Module
Overview outlines where students should be at the end of the module to help you understand
where you’re going. The Cycle at a Glance lays out all the steps you will take to get there.

The Pacing Guidance gives you important information about time management, to help you
stay on track and also understand where you have time to fit in extra practice, review, or other
necessary breaks in the routine.

You’ll start a new cycle every week. The Cycle Overview will give you a summary of what’s
coming up, and is where you’ll find the Word Lists, with word patterns that your students will
be learning in that cycle. The Teaching Notes in the cycle overview are intentionally highly
scaffolded to give you all the information you need to adapt the lessons to your classroom. At the
end of the Cycle Overview is a list of all the materials you’ll need for those lessons.

Meeting Student Needs is where you’ll find additional adaptations for students who may
require extensions or supports to reach the rigor of the grade-specific lesson. There are specific
supports for different learning modalities from the Universal Design for Learning framework.

EL Education Curriculum vii

Reading Foundations Skills Block

Habits of Character is where social-emotional learning is embedded within every module, to

guide students as they work independently, collaborate with peers, and care for one another and
their classroom. You’ll find the character focus for each module in module overview. Refer to this
focus in the closing and reflection section of each lesson.

There are a few useful resources you’ll likely want to reference throughout
the year.
The Independent and Small Group Work section of the Resource Manual explains the purpose
and structure of the Differentiated Small Group instruction and Independent Rotations portions
of the block. It includes sample schedules, descriptions of suggested rotations and activities, and
a variety of other resources for small group planning.

The Activity Bank in the Resource Manual is a collection of games and activities, searchable by
skills and standard, to be used during Differentiated Small Group instruction and for independent
rotations (once students are familiar with the activity).

The Syllabication section of the Resource Manual covers syllable types: what they are and how
to teach them to your students.

The Letter Formation section of Learning Letters contains essential instructions about forms
when teaching a letter to your students for the first time.

Additional Resources
Read Your Curriculum Companion: The Essential Guide to the EL Education K-5 Language
Arts Curriculum, a complete guide to implementing our curriculum, available on ELeducation.
org and through booksellers.

Watch instructional videos showing our instructional practices at work in real classrooms on
Curriculum.ELeducation.org.

Dig into our online set of Reading Foundation Skills Block implementation resources along
with open online versions of the K-2 Skills Block Resource Manual, Learning Letters, and the
Differentiation Packs on Curriculum.ELeducation.org.

viii
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack: Student Decodables

Instructions for Decodables

A Book of
Animals
Cycle 13 Decodable
Student Reader
Title page

3
5
7

1. Fold the front/back cover page in half 2. Fold the remaining book pages in half with
with the folded edge on the left (like you the folded edge on the right. Place in them
would a typical book). Illustrations should in numerical order with the title page first.
be on the outside.

A Book of
k of Animals
A Boo s
al
Anim le
Cycle 13 Decodable
codab Student Reader
13 De
Cycle t Reader
d en
Stu
staples
Title page

3
5
7

3. Insert the stack of pages into the cover so 4. Square up the edges of all the pages. Staple
that the open edges are tucked into the the pages together on the left side.
fold of the cover.

EL Education Curriculum 1
Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

Overview
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Differentiation Pack: Kindergarten

Overview

Purpose: Differentiated small group instruction is critical to meeting students’ varying

needs. After using the Benchmark Assessments to determine students’ microphases,
teachers can choose from three resources in the curriculum for differentiated small group
instruction:

Resource Best for students who... Where to find

Re-teaching of Whole are somewhat above or below In Differentiated Small Group Instruction section of
Group Lesson grade level the lesson
Activity Bank activities are significantly below grade Activity Bank (in the K-2 Skills Resource Manual)
level
Lessons from the K-2 are significantly above or below Grade level books (online or hard copy)
Continuum grade level1

The last option (lessons from the K-2 continuum) requires the teacher to potentially access
full lessons from a grade other than the one he or she currently teaches. If a teacher would like
to take advantage of this option, but does not require or does not have (easy) access to the full
continuum of lessons, this document and accompanying condensed grade level materials can
be used instead.

How to Use
Steps to Take after determining a student’s microphase:
Use Assessment Conversion chart to identify some possible cycles for instruction.
Locate the student’s microphase on the Assessment Conversion Chart (see K-2 Skills
Resource Manual) and look over the suggested cycles of instruction. Locate those cycles in
the Differentiation Packet.
Look over the cycle overviews to determine best cycle(s) based on student need.
Based on the focus of each cycle, based on the student’s microphase and specific assessment
information, determine the best cycle(s) of instruction. For example, if the student (or group
of students) have still not mastered CVCe words, choose a cycle that includes instruction on
this skill.
Use the Instructional Practice chart (see next page) to determine appropriate
instructional practices, using words (and/or similar words) from the Cycle Overview
Word List.

1
Two exceptions: Kindergarten students reading below grade (Early Pre-Alphabetic or below) level and Grade 2 students reading
above (Middle and Late Consolidated Alphabetic or higher). Grade level lessons do not explicitly address the needs of these readers.
Consider using the Activity Bank for Early Pre-Alphabetic and extension suggestions in the Differentiated Small Group instruction
portion of Grade 2 lessons for Middle and Late-Consolidated Alphabetic students).

4
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Overview

Instructional Practice Chart

Based on the student’s or group’s phase, choose from the instructional practices in the table for differentiated small
group instruction. Use words from the appropriate Cycle Overview Word List. For readers in the Pre-Alphabetic
Phase, also use Letters of Focus from the Cycle Overview (letters still not mastered by the student). If any of the
instructional practices are unfamiliar, please refer to the introductory lesson for the practice in parentheses (e.g.,
G1M2L36: refer to Grade 1, Module 2, Lesson 36).

Phase Instructional Practices to Use

Pre-Alphabetic Getting to Know the Letters

– Letter Story
– Handwriting (letter formation)
– Poem Launch and Letter Search
– Letter Sound Chant

Partial Alphabetic Phonemic Blending and Segmentation

Chaining
Spelling to Complement Reading
Interactive Writing
Decodable Student Reader

Full Alphabetic Spelling to Complement Reading

Interactive Writing and Editing
Decodable Student Reader
Syllable Sleuth
Magnanimous Magician (Late Full Alphabetic)

Consolidated Alphabetic Decodable Student Reader

Interactive Writing: Silly Sentences
Syllable Sleuth
Magnanimous Magicians
Words Rule
Work Workouts
Word Parts
Fluency

EL Education Curriculum 5
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Other Considerations
Grade level and Phase
Overview

Take into consideration students’ developmental levels in relation to his or her phase when
determining the amount of teacher support, time spent on a task, etc. For example, if a teacher
is working with a kindergarten group reading in the late Full Alphabetic phase, the teacher
will be using instructional practices from Grade 1 and Grade 2 lessons. Although these stu-
dents are advanced, they will likely need strong teacher modeling and support, at least at first,
even though they might not require strong teacher support with grade level materials.

Management
Using this document as a guide, consider implementing a predictable routine and materials
for the work students do with the teacher. Consider releasing students to practice familiar
instructional practices independently as a way to review taught spelling patterns.

6
Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

Instructional
Practices
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Kindergarten Instructional Practices Overview

T
his document summarizes the instructional practices that form the backbone of the
Reading Foundations Skills curriculum for kindergarten, and shows which routines are
introduced in which module. Teachers should familiarize themselves with these routines
to gain a broad understanding of the type and sequence of instructional practices used throughout
the year in kindergarten.
Instructional Practices

Instructional Practices for Lesson Opening

Below are the instructional practices that are used specifically during the Opening portion of
lessons. The practices are listed in the order in which they are introduced in the year.

Poem Launch: Students hear/read a poem that includes keywords for each letter
introduced in the cycle. The verses incorporate new high-frequency word(s) and words
that feature the cycle’s new graphemes (letters) and phonemes (sounds). This poem is used
throughout the cycle for different purposes.

Poem Launch: Students explore the already-introduced cycle poem for a new purpose: to
search for specific letters.

Letter-Sound Chant: Students chant the names of letters and accompanying letter sounds
in this ongoing routine (used in multiple lessons throughout a cycle) that reinforces taught
graphemes (letter) and phoneme (sound) connections and keywords. This chant connects
the keywords and phonemes in students’ memories to support quick recall of phonemes for
decoding and encoding.

Poem: Articulatory Gestures: Students use articulatory gestures to support their learning
of letters from the current cycle. The teacher might provide students (or partners) hand
mirrors to see their mouth movements as they pronounce each phoneme.

Letter Story and Digraph Story: Students hear Letter Stories read aloud for vowel
letters and digraphs. (Note: Letter Stories for consonants can be used during Small Group
Differentiated Instruction or other times.) This underscores the importance and challenge
of continually practicing vowel and digraph sounds and provides another mnemonic
through which students can commit them to memory.

Mystery Word Search: Students explore the cycle poem for a new purpose: to search for
previously taught high-frequency words.

Make a Match: Students match rhyming words together.

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 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack: Instructional Practices

Question Cards: Students review skills taught in the first two modules with a fun card game.

Engagement Text: This text serves to pique students’ interest about the Decodable Reader,
introduced in Work Time B, by incorporating the topic and words from this cycle into an
engaging read-aloud.

Write the Letter to Match the Sound: Students use knowledge of phoneme segmentation
to isolate and identify the initial, middle, and final sound in a word. As they identify each
sound, they must connect it to its written representation (grapheme) and practice proper
letter formation.

Vowels Have Something Important to Say: Students sing a song: “The Vowels Have
Something Important to Say.” This song communicates, in a playful way, the fact that vowels
produce sounds that match their names, and it provides examples of words that contain
those sounds. Students listen to a spoken word in the song and use their knowledge of
phoneme segmentation to isolate and name the vowel sound it contains.

Spelling to Complement Reading: Students work through a series of scaffolded steps to

successfully spell single-syllable CVC words. They first isolate and identify the individual
phonemes (sounds) in the spoken word, then apply their growing knowledge of letter-
sound connections to identify the grapheme (letter) that matches each individual phoneme
(sound) (RF.K.3a, RF.K.3b). Finally, they use that information to encode (spell) the word.

Instructional Practices for Lesson Work Time

Getting to Know the Letters (Part 1): Students “meet” each new letter for the cycle,
exploring the following about each: its name (grapheme), its sound(s) (phoneme), and a
consistent keyword that represents the letter. This practice includes a Letter-Sound chant
component (see Opening Instructional Practices for more details), using only the newly
introduced letters.

Getting to Know the Letters (Part 2): Students use the same letters as in Part 1, but now
get to know the shape and formation of each, practicing first with their bodies and then on
paper.

Mystery Word (Clues to the Mystery Word and Introducing the Mystery Word):
Students explore the already-introduced poem for a new purpose: searching for a “mystery”
high-frequency word. Students are given clues about the number of letters in the word
and then search for words with the same number of letters, encouraging student inquiry.
They also listen for a word as the teacher reads the words of the poem, clapping when they
hear it. This practice is a vehicle for introducing kindergarten high-frequency words that
students will later see in poems and Decodable Student Readers.

EL Education Curriculum 9
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Feel the Beats: Students explore the already introduced poem for a new purpose: to listen
for and identify each syllable (beat) in a spoken word. They count the number of syllables in
the spoken word, pronounce each one, and manipulate them by segmenting and blending.
(Note: Starting in Module 3, this Work Time instructional practice transitions to a shorter,
Opening practice.)

Rhyme Time: Students explore the already-introduced poem for a new purpose: identifying
rhyming words. They begin with a game that provides an introduction to the concept of
rhyming and then revisit the poem, listening for words that rhyme (have the same ending
sound). Rhyming develops this phonemic awareness, teaching students to group words
Instructional Practices

together according to larger sound units. Rhyme Time guides students to analyze sounds in
spoken words.

Phonemic Blending and Segmentation: Students segment and blend single-syllable words
with three phonemes. This practice continues to refine students’ ability to focus on and
analyze the sounds within words.

Interactive Sentence Building: Students synthesize their ability to rhyme with their
knowledge of letter identification by identifying a missing word in a poem and matching it
to its representation in print.

Comprehension Conversation (optional): Students answer suggested (or similar) text-

based comprehension questions about the engagement text.

Decodable Reader Partner Search and Read: This short text incorporates high-frequency
words introduced in prior Mystery Word lessons, which students search out in the text with
a partner before reading the text. Students receive practice with concepts of print (e.g., one-
to-one match and return sweep) and apply knowledge of taught graphemes and phonemes
as they decode simple one-syllable words.

Chaining: Students begin by identifying each phoneme they hear in a CVC word and
connect each of those sounds to the letter (grapheme) that matches it. Once they have
encoded the word in this way, they then decode it by making each individual sound and
blending them to pronounce the word.

Interactive Writing: Students apply their growing knowledge of letter-sound connections

to writing words by working on a shared sentence. Students apply their knowledge of
high-frequency words and letter-sound knowledge to spell familiar words and also practice
correct letter formation and punctuation.

Assessment and Goal Setting (during cycle assessments): Students take on-demand
assessments at the end of each cycle. Teachers score immediately to track students’ progress
and possibly revise their personal goals for the module accordingly.

10
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack: Instructional Practices

The chart below shows when each instructional practice is used throughout the year. The top row of each
cycle includes instructional practices for openings and the bottom row includes instructional practices for
work time. Bold indicates the first time a specific instructional practice is used.

Refer to the tables below to identify where the instructional practices are introduced in lessons.

Cycle 1
Module 1

A variety of activities introduce and review material and routines during this introductory cycle.

Cycle 2-4

Poem: Articulatory
Poem Launch Poem Letter Search Letter-Sound Chant Letter-Sound Chant
Gesturesnd

Clues to the Mystery

Getting to Know Getting to Know
Word
Letters Letters Feel the Beats Rhyme Time
(Part 1) (Part 2)
Mystery Word

Cycle 5-9
Module 2

Poem Launch Poem Letter Search

(cycles 5, 7–8) (cycles 5, 7–8)
Poem: Articulatory
Letter-Sound Chant Letter-Sound Chant
Gestures
Letter Story Poem Launch
(cycles 6, 9–11) (cycles 6, 9–11)

Clues to the Mystery

Getting to Know Getting to Know
Word
Letters Letters Feel the Beats Rhyme Time
(Part 1) (Part 2)
Mystery Word

EL Education Curriculum 11
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Module 3 Cycle 12

Digraph Story Digraph Story Poem: Articulatory

Make a Match Question Cards
(Part 1) (Part 2) Gesturesnd

Getting to Know the Getting to Know the Interactive Sentence

Mystery Word Feel the Beats
Letters (Part 1) Letters (Part 2) Building
Instructional Practices

Cycle 5-9

Engagement Text Letter Chant

Mystery Word Search Make a Match Feel the Beats

Setting Purpose:
Introducing Phonemic Blending
Interactive Sentence
Engagement Text to and Segmentation Mystery Word Chaining
Building
Decodables

Cycle 14-18

Engagement Text Letter Chant Mystery Word Search Make a Match Feel the Beats

Setting Purpose:
Introducing Phonemic Blending Interactive Sentence
Mystery Word Chaining
Engagement Text to and Segmentation Building
Decodables

12
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack: Instructional Practices

Module 4 Cycle 19-22

Write the Letter to Phonemic Blending Spelling to Complement

Letter-Sound Chant Mystery Word Search
Match the Sound and Segmentation Reading (Review)

Setting Purpose: From

Engagement Text and Assessment and Goal
Mystery Word Interactive Writing Chaining
Decodables Setting

Cycle 23-25

Vowels Have
Letter-Sound Chant Mystery Word Search Phonemic Blending Spelling to Complement
Something Important
and Segmentation Reading (Review)
to Say

Setting Purpose:
Engagement Text and Assessment and Goal
Mystery Word Interactive Writing Chaining
Decodables Setting

EL Education Curriculum 13
Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

Assessment
Conversion Chart
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Purpose: First, determine a student’s micro-phase (“early,” “middle,” or “late” within a phase;
e.g., Early Partial Alphabetic) based on assessment results (for details, see Benchmark: Teacher
Administration Guidance and Student Scoring sheets). Then use this Assessment Conversion
chart document to identify cycles of lessons within the K–2 Continuum that best meet the
specific needs of a student or group of students for differentiated small group instruction.

Note: The Assessment Conversion chart below directs teachers to resources to use for re-
mediation or extension during differentiated small group instruction. If a student’s phase
aligns with the approximate grade-level expectation, then this chart is not necessary (in that
case, simply use the suggestions for differentiated small group instruction provided in the daily
lesson/cycle for that phase).

Directions for Use:

1. Focus on the results from one or more of the three priority assessments (the assessments
that give the clearest information for identifying a student’s micro-phase): ABC Recognition,
Spelling, and Decoding.
2. For the particular priority assessment, refer to the Student Scoring sheet for guidance to
determine a student’s approximate micro-phase (e.g., Middle Partial Alphabetic or Late Full
Alphabetic).
3. Once a student’s micro-phase is determined, group that student with other students in that
Conversion Chart

same micro-phase.
Assessment

4. Use the Assessment Conversion chart below to identify an approximate starting point (a
range of cycles) that may be most useful to use with that student or group of students during
differentiated small group instruction.
5. Then refine your analysis (e.g., find a few cycles that address specific spelling patterns) based
on results from other assessments (beyond the three priority assessments above).*

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Analyze results Use Scoring Group students Use Assessment Refine analysis
from a priority Sheet guidance in the same Conversion
assessment to determine microphase Chart to
microphase together identify cycles

Notes:
The Assessment Conversion Chart gives just an approximation. The suggested lessons will
not necessarily cover all of the skills that you identify as a student’s areas of strengths or
needs. To ensure that instruction fully targets a particular student’s needs, dig into that stu-
dent’s specific assessment results.
To monitor student progress, continue to use ongoing assessments (cycle and daily assess-
ments). Revisit the Assessment Conversion chart as needed to determine new lessons to use
for differentiated small group instruction.

16
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack: Assessment Conversion Chart

Assessment Conversion Chart

This chart helps teachers move quickly from a student’s assessment results to identifying the specific cycles and
lessons that include the most appropriate targeted support for re-teaching and extension.

Early Middle Late

Pre-Alphabetic

Not Applicable* Not Applicable* GKM1, C1–4: ABC sounds and recognition; syllable and
rhyme identification, concepts of print
– C1: “a,” “t”
– C2: “h,” “p”
– C3: “n,” “c”
– C4: “m,” “r”

GKM2, C5–11: ABC sounds and recognition, syllable

identification; rhyme identification and production,
concepts of print
– C5: “v,” “s”
– C6: “g,” “i”
– C7: “l,” “d,” “f”
– C8: “k,” “y”
– C9: “x,” “q,” “u”
– C10: “b,” “o,” “w”
– C11: “j,” “e,” “z”
Partial Alphabetic

GKM3, C12–18: digraphs, decoding CVC words, GKM4, C19–22: decoding CVC words and beginning to G1M1, C 1-4 are kindergarten review cycles, so would not
comparing short vowel sounds decode CVCC; comparing long and short vowel sounds be appropriate for readers in the Late Partial Alphabetic
– C12: “sh,” “ch,” “th” – C19: all short vowels; words with digraphs phase.
– C13: /a/ words – C20: “-am” and “-an” words G1M2, C5–6: continued review of phonemes taught in
– C14: /i/ words – C21: “-ank” and “-ink” words kindergarten
– C15: /u/ words – C22: “floss” words (double consonants)
– C16: /o/ words – C6: “o,” “b,” “j,” “w,” “x” in words with three or four
– C17: /e/ words phonemes
– C18: compare all short vowel words – C7: /e/ words in words with three or four phonemes

G1M2, C7–11: initial and final consonant clusters, “y”

as / /
– C7: “y” as / /
– C8: “wh” and “-ck”
– C9: “ll,” “-ss,” “-ff,” “-zz”
– C10: “bl-,” “cl-,” “fl-,” “gl-,” “pl-,” “sl-,” “sp-,” “spl-”
– C11: “-lt,” “-ft,” “-nd,” “-nk,” “-ng,” “-nt”; “-ed” as /id/
Full Alphabetic

G1M3, C12–17: syllable types: closed- syllable, open- G1M3, C18: two syllable, CVCe syllable-type words G1M4, C25: two-syllable words with long vowel patterns
syllable, and CVCe syllable-type words – C18: CVCe (two-syllable and with suffixes “-ing,” “-s,” – C25: two-syllable words with long vowel patterns
– C12: two-syllable with closed syllables and “-ed”)
– C13: repeat C12 with double consonants in middle G2M1, C1–6: review vowel patterns by learning spelling
and compound words G1M4, C19–20: introduction r-controlled vowel sounds generalizations, syllable types, and r-controlled vowels
– C14: open syllables – C19: r-controlled “a” and “o” from Grade 1
– C15: CVCe (mostly /a /) – C20: r-controlled “e,” “i,” and “u” – C1: open and closed syllables and CVCe
– C16: CVCe e(mostly /o/ and / /) – C2: “ay” vs. “ai”
– C17: CVCe (mostly /u / and /e /) o G1M4, C21–24: long vowel patterns – C3: “ee” vs. “ea” vs. “y” (as /e /) o
– C21: “oa,” “ea,” and “ai” – C4: “igh” vs. “ie”
– C22: “ay” and “ow” – C5: “oa” vs. “ow” and remaining vowel teams
– C23: “ee,” “oo,” and “y” (as /e /) o – C6: r-controlled vowels
– C24: “ie” and “igh”
Consolidated Alphabetic

G2M2, C7–C12: new vowel teams and spelling G2M3, C13–C19: consonant-le (C-le) word endings, other G2M4, C20–C26: “y” generalizations with plural endings,
generalizations, contractions, affixes: “-ed” suffix (three word endings, new vowel teams, and contractions schwa, homophones, compound words, new word
ways), “-tion” and “-sion” – C13: C-le words endings, and contractions
– C7: “oi,” “oy,” “ou,” “ow”; “not” contractions – C14: C-le words – C20: “y” generalizations with plural endings
– C8: “old,” “ost,” “ind,” “ild”; “is” contractions – C15: “-c” vs. “-ck” vs. “-ic” – C21: schwa with “a”
– C9: doubling with suffixes – C16: “-ge” vs. “-dge” and “eu” and “ei” – C22: schwa with “e” and “o”
– C10: “-ed” as /id/, /ed/, and /it/ – C17: “-ch” vs. “-tch”; “not” contractions – C23: schwa with “ate” and homophones
– C11: “oo,” “ou,” “ui,” “ue,” “ew”; “will” contractions – C18: “-able” vs. “-ible” – C24: compound words
– C12: “-tion” and “-sion” – C19: review of “aw” and “au” – C25: “-cal” vs. “-cle”
– C26: “-ous” vs. “-us”

*Students currently in the Early and Middle Pre-Alphabetic phase cannot yet identify letters. In the K–2 Continuum of whole group lessons, there
are no lessons that explicitly address the needs of these students. Instead, in the Kindergarten lessons, the differentiated small group instruction
includes suggestions for Activity Bank activities and some possible differentiation of the whole group content.

EL Education Curriculum 17
Kindergarten: Differentiation Pack

Cycle Overviews
and Cycle Materials
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 1: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/t/, /a/

High Frequency Words

n/a

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide examples of spoken
words that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word.
The last five are spoken words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment
individual sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel,
consonant) words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some
sounds that have not yet been introduced.

apple tire cat at

animal turtle foot am
ant tape goat sat
alligator table hot rat
ambulance toe nut tap
Cycle Overviews

20
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

Alligator and Tern

Alligator went to the animal zoo.

He met a tiny tern and asked,
“How are you?”

“Terrific!” said the tiny tern.

“More than okay!”
“’Cause now it is time to play all day!”

So they played a fun game.

Would you like to do the same?
You have to look for “a” or “t” in more than
just your name!

EL Education Curriculum 23
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 1: Cycle 2: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/h/, /p/

High Frequency Words

“I”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and the short sound for each vowel. The following list of words
are representative of words that contain the sounds from this cycle in the initial or final position
and can be used in spoken form or written form for more advanced read-ers. The final five words
include words with two and three phonemes including phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters)
from this cycle as well as some from prior cycles. Words such as those can be used with students
who are ready to segment individual sounds within spoken and written VC and CVC words. Note
that there may be a few words in that final five that include letters and sounds that have not yet been
introduced.

hat pig cup at

house pencil hip hat
head penny lip pat
hamburger pizza sleep tap
Cycle Overviews

hand pants soap hop

24
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

A Pink Parrot Took My Hat!

I walked out of my house,

ready for the day

When I saw a big pink

parrot flying my way.

The bird swooped down and

took my hat,

Then gave my head a little pat.

I was so surprise I just

stopped and sat.

Have you ever heard of

anything quite like that?

EL Education Curriculum 27
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 1: Cycle 3: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/k/, /n/

High Frequency Words

“the”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and the short sound for each vowel. The following list of words is
representative of words that contain the sounds from this cycle in the initial or final position and can
be used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five words represent words with two and three phonemes including phonemes (sounds) and
graphemes (letters) from this cycle as well as some from prior cycles. Words such as those last five
can be used with students who are ready to segment individual sounds within spoken and written VC
and CVC words. Note that there may be a few words in that final five that include letters and sounds
that have not yet been introduced.

nest cat man an

hose candy green can
nut carrot barn pan
necklace cake robin cap
Cycle Overviews

notebook car horn nap

28
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

My Cat, Noodles

My cat, Noodles, and I went for

a hike one day

We walked near the creek and

began to play

We saw a cute newt on a rock

in the creek

We crept up slowly so we could

take a peek

Noodles tried to catch it, but

the newt was too fast!

It appeared again and I thought,

“We’ll capture it at last!”

But the newt was very sneaky

and still snuck past

EL Education Curriculum 31
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 1: Cycle 4: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/m/, /r/

High Frequency Words

“in”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and the short sound for each vowel. The following list of words is
representative of words that contain the sounds from this cycle in the initial or final position and can
be used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five words represent words with two and three phonemes including phonemes (sounds) and
graphemes (letters) from this cycle as well as some from prior cycles. Words such as those last five
can be used with students who are ready to segment individual sounds within spoken and written VC
and CVC words. Note that there may be a few words in that final five that include letters and sounds
that have not yet been introduced.

mouse rabbit car am

milk red home ran
moon rub gum man
money ring room rat
Cycle Overviews

music robot more ram

32
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

Mouse and Rabbit Share a Snack

Way up on a mountaintop

Where mountain animals run and hop

A little brown mouse ran out to find cheese.

In a hole, he saw Rabbit, and said, “If you

please,”

“I’m looking for something to have as a

snack.”

And just as he asked, Rabbit looked in his

sack.

“In here I have cheese, as well as red grapes.

And look at my crackers, in all kinds of shapes!”

And so they sat down and ate snacks until

night.

My, oh my…what a sight!

Way up on that mountaintop

Where mountain animals run and hop.

EL Education Curriculum 35
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 5: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/v/, /s/

High Frequency Words

“he”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and the short sound for each vowel. The following lists of words
are representative of words that contain the sounds from this cycle in the initial or final position
and can be used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers. Note that words such
“glass” and “love” have the final /s/ and /v/ sounds spelled ‘ss’ and ‘ve’ respectively. Because these
are spoken, not written, such words can be used to support students in identifying the position of
the /s/ or /v/ sound.
The last five words represent words with two and three phonemes. Words such as those final five
can be used with students who are ready to segment individual sounds within written spoken and
written VC and CVC words. Note that there may be a few words in that final five that include letters
and sounds that have not yet been introduced.

vulture snake cave Sam

vase sun glass sap
van sock love sat
Cycle Overviews

violin star save vat

vest swim class van

36
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

Victor the Sleepy Vulture

Victor the Sleepy Vulture sat in a very tall  tree

Enjoying the view and all he could see.

He spotted a slithery snake down on

the ground.

He flew down to see if any food could

be found.

The slithery snake left in a snap.

Victor sighed and said, “It’s time for my nap.”

EL Education Curriculum 39
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 2: Cycle 6: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/i/, /g/

High Frequency Words

“on”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide exam-ples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

goose itch rug in

girl insect bug it
goat inch dog sit
gum ink leg gab
Cycle Overviews

gate iguana wig pig

40
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

The Grumpy Iguana

I spy an iguana grabbing insects on a gate.

He acts a little grumpy ’cause he’s

itchy and it’s late.

A goose glides on over, inspecting the scene.

The iguana ignores her. That’s really

quite mean.

The goose inches closer. She says,

“Good evening to you!”

“I’ll give you some grapes!

That’s what I’ll do!”

“Oh, thank you!” says Iguana.

“Now I don’t feel so blue!”

EL Education Curriculum 43
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 7: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/d/, /f/, /l/

High Frequency Words

“and”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide examples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

dog fish lion fan

duck flamingo ladder Dan
dollar fox lime map
mud feather smile lit
Cycle Overviews

bird off heel lip

44
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

An Afternoon Swim

Down by the riverbed on a hot

summer day,

Dog and his friend Lion said,

“Hey, let’s play!”

They played lots of games and

found a new hiding spot.

Later they were tired and feeling

very hot.

Dog said, “Let’s take a break and

get out of the sun

How about a swim? That would be

lots of fun.”

And as they took a dip, they looked

Cycle Overviews

for their friend, Fish.

Fish was so fast! He swam right by … SWISH!

The three friends all played until

the sky turned dark

And then Dog said, “Goodnight,” with a

soft, friendly bark

48
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Cycle Overviews

Grade K : Module 2: Cycle 8: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/k/, /y/

High Frequency Words

“up”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide exam-ples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

king milk yellow yarn

key desk yak kit
kite sock yard yap
kiss snack yoga kin
duck yes yo-yo yet

EL Education Curriculum 49
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Can a Yak Jump?

Kangaroo went out to play,

Jumping up and down all day.
Yak wanted to jump up too,
But all he could do was stay there, glued.
Yak looked down at his feet.
His face turned red like a beet.
Up jumped Kangaroo in the park.
Yak stayed still and watched till dark.
Cycle Overviews

52
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Cycle Overviews

Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 9: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/u/, /kw/, /ks/

High Frequency Words

“a”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide exam-ples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

quarter quick up fox

quiet quit under box
quill quiz uncle mix
queen umpire underwear six
quilt umbrella wax fix

EL Education Curriculum 53
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

A Fox and a Quail in the Rain

A fox on a box

And a quiet little quail

sat under an umbrella in the rain.

It was a quarter to six. They were in quite a

fix.

The water! It was rising so quick!

They climbed up a big tree, and who did they

see?

A queen with a bright golden crown!

So together they sat and had a long chat

and waited until the water went down.

EL Education Curriculum 57
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 2: Cycle 10: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/b/, /o/, /w/

High Frequency Words

“you”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide exam-ples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers. .
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

bear tub water on

bug bow wings bat
back web octopus rib
bird watch ostrich sob
Cycle Overviews

birthday worm olive wig

58
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Would You Ever?

Would you ever wrestle a bear

After he ate a juicy green pear?

Would you ever play a game of Go Fish

With a sad, lonely octopus, if that was

her wish?

Would you ever jump into water like ice,

If the bear and the octopus said it was nice?

Would you ever? What do you say?

Would that be a super-fun day?

Cycle Overviews

62
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Cycle Overviews

Grade K: Module 2: Cycle 11: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/j/, /z/, /e/

High Frequency Words

“see”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel. The following lists provide examples of words
that contain sounds taught in this cycle, found in the initial or final position of the word and can be
used in spoken form or written form for more advanced readers.
The last five are words with two and three phonemes. Students who are able to segment individual
sounds within written and spoken VC (vowel, consonant) and CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant)
words can use words from this list (or similar). Note that this list may contain some sounds that
have not yet been introduced.

elephant jump zipper zip

egg jelly zig-zag job
elf jeep zero jet
every junk buzz jug
exit January fizz zag

EL Education Curriculum 63
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

My Camera

I looked in my camera, and what did I see?

Two African animals looking back at me.

I looked in my camera, and what did I see?

A zebra with a bushy mane and an elephant

on the plain.

My first thought was, “How can they be

so tame?”

Swimming with a jellyfish was not the same.

I looked in my camera, and what did I see?

Not a jellyfish swimming toward me

.
The jellyfish sting made me sing.

I looked at my camera, and what did I see?

Lots of memories flooding back to me.

EL Education Curriculum 67
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 3: Cycle 12: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

/sh/, /th/, /ch/

High Frequency Words

“to,” “do”

Cycle Word List

In Modules one and two, Kindergarteners work with spoken words and sounds as they learn the
primary sound for each consonant and short vowel.
The first cycle of Module 3 introduces the sounds /sh/, /th/, and /ch/ and their corresponding
graphemes, the digraphs “sh,” “th,” and “ch.”. The following list provides examples of spoken words
that contain these sounds in the initial or final position. The last five words represent spoken words
that include three phonemes taught in this or prior cycles. Students who are ready to segment
individual sounds within spoken and written words can use words from this list (or similar).

ship thread cheese shop

shark thumb chin thin
shelf three cheek chat
fish moth rich mash
bush teeth beach math
Cycle Overviews

68
 Kindergarten Differentiation Pack Poems

ShaMiiah, Sh! Thank you, Theo! and Check it,

Charles!

ShaMiiah!, sh! If you want to make a

wish, you shouldn’t shout at that fish!

Theo! The thirsty queen with the dry

throat thanks you for the water bottle
that you threw to her last Thursday.

EL Education Curriculum 69
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 13: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words with /a/

High Frequency Words

“at,” “has”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

at had ham map

sat lad an lap
mat sad ran wag
rat am van
Cycle Overviews

70
A Book of
Animals
Cycle 13 Decodable
Student Reader
A Book of
Animals
Cycle 13 Decodable
Student Reader

I see the bear.

2
I see the alligator. I see the dog.
3 4
I see the elephant. I see the jellyfish.
5 6
I see the goose and
the parrot.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 3: Cycle 14: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words with /i/ focus

High Frequency Words

“is,” “it”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list of words provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

pig in lit rib

wig win sit bib
kid fin rip wish
lid it sip
Cycle Overviews

76
The Ham
Sandwich
Cycle 14 Decodable
Student Reader
The Ham
Sandwich
Cycle 14 Decodable
Student Reader

I see the cat in the hat.

2
The cat can see the ham. He can see the rat.
3 4
The rat can see the ham. The rat has the ham!
5 6
I see a mad cat.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 15: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

short-vowel CVC words, focusing on “u” (/u/) and comparing with “a” (/a/) and “i” (/i/)

High Frequency Words

“was,” “his”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list of words provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

rub gum nut mat

mud fun up sit
bug sun cup hid
mug but nap
Cycle Overviews

82
The Milkshake
Cycle 15 Decodable
Student Reader
The Milkshake
Cycle 15 Decodable
Student Reader

The rat can see the kid.

2
The kid has a sip. The rat has a wish.
3 4
Chip is up. Chip has a sip.
5 6
The rat is mad.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 3: Cycle 16: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words with /o/ focus

High Frequency Words

“or,” “for”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

got pot shop job

hot hop chop dog
lot mop Josh log
not top cob
Cycle Overviews

88
Fun with Gum
Cycle 16 Decodable
Student Reader
Fun with Gum
Cycle 16 Decodable
Student Reader

The sun is up.

2
The rat can see the bus. He is in the bus.
3 4
Chip is in the bus. The gum is fun!
5 6
Chip and the rat run.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 3: Cycle 17: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words with /e/

High Frequency Words

“be,” “by”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

bed leg pen net

led den get pet
red hen let wet
beg men met
Cycle Overviews

94
The Mop
is a Dog!
Cycle 17 Decodable
Student Reader
The Mop
is a Dog!
Cycle 17 Decodable
Student Reader

The dog is not a mop!

2
Chip and Josh can see
the dog. Josh can not run.
3 4
The dog is not big. The dog can wag and sit.
5 6
And the dog can yip
and yap!
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 3: Cycle 18: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words, review of all short vowels

High Frequency Words

“are,” “with,” “will”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words.
The following list provides examples of words that contain the patterns from this cycle.

cab jam rub bed

bash dip shut get
nap wish hush yet
van thin not
Cycle Overviews

100
Josh’s
New Home
Cycle 18 Decodable
Student Reader
Josh’s
New Home
Cycle 18 Decodable
Student Reader

The rug is red.

2
Ben can see a bed. Ben is by the bed.
3 4
Josh and Ben sit and chat
in the den. Josh fed Ben a nut and jam.
5 6
The rug is wet!
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 19: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

Review of short vowels, with particular focus on words with digraphs /ch/, /sh/, and /th/

High Frequency Words

“of,” “have,” “from”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words. This cycle continues to focus on patterns
introduced in Cycles 13-18. The following list provides examples of words that contain the patterns
from this cycle. Note that words from this cycle include consonant digraphs.

bath lip shop pen

lap fish hush wet
tan path pot yes
ham tub led
Cycle Overviews

106
Chip Can’t Nap!
Cycle 19 Decodable
Student Reader
Chip Can’t Nap!
Cycle 19 Decodable
Student Reader

Chip has a bed by the shop.

2
 The cab will not hush! Chip
Thud! Bash! can not nap.
3 4
Chip will dash to the van. The van is shut!
5 6
Will Chip get a nap?
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 4: Cycle 20: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

CVC words with “-am” and “-an”

High Frequency Words

“there,” “they,” “where”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to focus on patterns introduced in prior cycles. The following list provides examples of
words that contain the patterns from this cycle.
Note that the last five words include four phonemes (initial or final consonant blends). Students who
are ready to segment individual sounds within spoken and written words with four phonemes can
use words from this list (or similar).

can yam tin pinch

van path dish slip
bam pit hand grab
ham rim list
Cycle Overviews

112
Josh Takes
a Bath
Cycle 20 Decodable
Student Reader
Josh Takes
a Bath
Cycle 20 Decodable
Student Reader

Josh is in the mud.

2
The tub is big. He can The cup is not a bath tub.
not get in. He can not fit.
3 4
Josh will get in the lid. He will have to sit in the sun.
5 6
Josh is not wet. He can nap
in the sun.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 21: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

Review of short vowels, with particular focus on “e” (/e/) and “u” (/u/);
introduces “ink” and “ank” in spoken words.

High Frequency Words

“we,” “all,” “one”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to focus on patterns introduced in prior cycles. The following list provides examples of
words containing patterns from this cycle. Students who are ready to segment individual sounds
within spoken and written words with four phonemes (with initial or final consonant blends) can use
the last ten words in the list (or similar).

cub fed jump pink

mud beg club ink
dug hen stun sink
fun pen lend bank

nut met nest thank

Cycle Overviews

118
Josh and Chip
at the Farm
Cycle 21 Decodable
Student Reader
Josh and Chip
at the Farm
Cycle 21 Decodable
Student Reader

Josh and Chip get in a bus.

2
 A cat is there. They chat
Where are they? with the cat.
3 4
They see a pig in a pen.
There is a lot of mud! They see a hen. And a rat!
5 6
They see a pig in a pen.
There is a lot of mud! They see a hen. And a rat!
5 6
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 4: Cycle 22: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

Review of short vowels, with particular focus on words with

double consonant endings “-ll,” “-zz,” “-ss,” and “-ff”

High Frequency Words

“but,” “not,” “no”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to focus on patterns introduced in prior cycles and introduces decoding words with double
final consonants (ex: moss).
The following list provides examples of words with patterns from this cycle. Note that the last five
words include four phonemes (initial or final consonant blends). Students who are ready to segment
individual sounds within spoken and written words with four phonemes can use words from this list
(or similar).

dash hit fill stop

set not chess fluff
pin shop hiss spot
win jug fizz west
Cycle Overviews

yip rub fuzz tent

124
The Bowling
“Alley”
Cycle 22 Decodable
Student Reader
The Bowling
“Alley”
Cycle 22 Decodable
Student Reader

Josh can see a pin by the can.

2
What is it for? Is it a jug? Chip can hit one pin.
3 4
Josh can hit two. Chip can hit four. Will he
Will Josh win? hit them all?
5 6
The pin will tip. Will
Chip win?
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 23: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

Long vowel phonemes / a / and / /

High Frequency Words

“what,” “when,” “then”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to review patterns introduced in prior cycles (short vowels) and introduces the long sound
of the letters ‘a’ and ‘i’.
The following list provides examples of words with patterns from this cycle. Note that the last
five words include four phonemes (initial consonant blends). Students who are ready to segment
individual sounds within spoken and written words with four phonemes can use words from this list
(or similar).

dash not Kate snake

set chop make grape
pin shut bake plane
yip rub like smile
Cycle Overviews

hit thud hike glide

130
Time to Bake
Cycle 23 Decodable
Student Reader
Time to Bake
Cycle 23 Decodable
Student Reader

Jib and jab. Rub a dub.

2
Bash and dash. And
then a thud! Bam and jam. Chop and cut.
3 4
The pot is big and The ham is hot and the
the lid is shut. dog will fuss.
5 6
Yip and yap and then a hush.
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K : Module 4: Cycle 24: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

e
Long vowel phonemes / o / and /u /

High Frequency Words

“you,” “said,” “were”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to review patterns introduced in prior cycles (short vowels) and introduces the long sound
of the letters ‘o’ and ‘u’.
The following list provides examples of words with patterns from this cycle. Note that the last
five words include four phonemes (initial consonant blends). Students who are ready to segment
individual sounds within spoken and written words with four phonemes can use words from this list
(or similar).

tap moth joke smoke

red chop cone stone
web thud rope broke
dip hum tune close
Cycle Overviews

wig such dude throne

136
The Mystery
Moth
Cycle 24 Decodable
Student Reader
The Mystery
Moth
Cycle 24 Decodable
Student Reader

Is it a jet? Or a bug?
2
 She can zip and dip. Will
No, it is a moth. Chip get the moth?
3 4
She is on top of the dog.
She is off the dog.
She is on the wig! Will she rip the web? Yes!
5 6
Will Chip get to see her?
Where is she?
7 8
 Reading Foundations Skills Block

Grade K: Module 4: Cycle 25: Overview

Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle

r-controlled vowels

High Frequency Words

“she,” “her,” “like”

Cycle Word List

In Modules three and four, Kindergarteners work on phonemic segmentation and blending and are
introduced to decoding and encoding VC and CVC words, as well as words with digraphs. This cycle
continues to review patterns introduced in prior cycles (short vowels) and introduces the r-controlled
vowel sound.
The following list provides examples of words with patterns from this cycle. Note that the last five
words include words with initial or final consonant blends). Students who are ready to segment
individual sounds within spoken and written words with initial blends and r-controlled vowels can
use words from this list (or similar).

tap chop park smart

jazz thud her snarl
bell hum bird spark
tin such dirt sport
Cycle Overviews

lid much corn storm

142
The Jazz Trio
Cycle 25 Decodable
Student Reader
The Jazz Trio
Cycle 25 Decodable
Student Reader

Josh has a tin lid. He will tap it.

2
“Is that a bell?” said Chip.
“What is it?” “It is jazz,” said Josh.
3 4
Chip has a pan. “Tap, tap, Chip and Josh can tap and
thud, thud.” thud. Ben can hum.
5 6
“Jazz with you is such fun!”
said Chip.
7 8