It’s exciting to know that your child will learn to read in Kindergarten!  Students will start right away with applying learned letter sounds into reading words. For example, as soon as students learn the first three sounds in class, they will read the word “log”.  It is important to be able to say the letter sounds quickly so that your child is ready to start blending. Students in kindergarten also work on reading sight words and sentences.

• Blending: The first words your child will be able to read are the short vowel words (cat, beg, pin, hug, etc.).  When practicing reading words, prompt your student to read the word slowly (saying each sound without stopping between the sounds), and then saying it fast (like we talk).  Your student will be well-prepared to conquer this skill if they have done this orally (see blending sounds on our Phonological Awareness page), and if they have mastered letter sounds (see Letter Skills page). 

• Sight Words:  Sight words can be challenging for kindergarten students.  Sight words are words that are very common, and yet, don't always sound out like other simple words.  The students learn them by memorization (by sight) and by spelling them.  The sight words taught in kindergarten are listed in the document below.  See our Sight Word page for more resources and information.

• Fluent Reading: By the end of kindergarten, students will be starting to read words the fast way (without having to sound out everything), and will recognize many sight words.  Kindergarten students will be reading sentences!  

*Please note that these links are provided as a resource for families and are not created nor endorsed by CCSD.