South Dakota Content Standards (adopted in 2025): Kindergarten
Skills available for South Dakota Kindergarten language arts standards
Strand
Print skill plan
RL
Reading Literature
K.RL.1 Ask and answer questions about story elements in a text read aloud with prompting and support.
Main idea
Inference and analysis
Setting and characters
Read-along texts
K.RL.1 Ask and answer questions about story elements in a text read aloud with prompting and support.
Main idea
Inference and analysis
Setting and characters
Read-along texts
K.RL.2 Retell familiar stories, including story elements with prompting and support.
K.RL.2 Retell familiar stories, including story elements with prompting and support.
K.RL.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story with prompting and support.
K.RL.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story with prompting and support.
K.RL.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words and phrases, including multiple meaning words with prompting and support.
K.RL.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words and phrases, including multiple meaning words with prompting and support.
K.RL.5 Explain differences between fiction and informational texts with prompting and support.
K.RL.5 Explain differences between fiction and informational texts with prompting and support.
K.RL.6 Identify the author's purpose for writing a story with prompting and support.
K.RL.6 Identify the author's purpose for writing a story with prompting and support.
K.RL.7 Explain the relationship between illustrations and the text with prompting and support.
Inference and analysis
Sequence
Setting and characters
Read-along texts
K.RL.7 Explain the relationship between illustrations and the text with prompting and support.
Inference and analysis
Sequence
Setting and characters
Read-along texts
K.RL.9 Compare and contrast two or more texts with a similar theme with prompting and support.
K.RL.9 Compare and contrast two or more texts with a similar theme with prompting and support.
K.RL.10 By the end of the year read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
K.RL.10 By the end of the year read and comprehend a variety of literary texts.
K.RL.10.a: Demonstrate listening comprehension of complex texts.
K.RL.10.a: Demonstrate listening comprehension of complex texts.
K.RL.10.b: Read and proficiently comprehend grade-appropriate text.
Decodable texts
Read-alone texts
K.RL.10.b: Read and proficiently comprehend grade-appropriate text.
Decodable texts
Read-alone texts
K.RL.10.c: Self-select texts for personal enjoyment, interest, and academic tasks with prompting and support.
K.RL.10.c: Self-select texts for personal enjoyment, interest, and academic tasks with prompting and support.
RI
Reading Informational Text
K.RI.1 Ask and answer questions about key ideas and details in a text read aloud with prompting and support.
Inference and analysis
Main idea
Read-along texts
K.RI.1 Ask and answer questions about key ideas and details in a text read aloud with prompting and support.
Inference and analysis
Main idea
Read-along texts
K.RI.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.3 Describe the connection between individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.3 Describe the connection between individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.5 Identify various text features with prompting and support.
K.RI.5 Identify various text features with prompting and support.
K.RI.6 Identify the author's purpose for writing a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.6 Identify the author's purpose for writing a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.7 Describe the relationship between visual representations and the text with prompting and support.
Read-along texts
Read-alone texts
K.RI.7 Describe the relationship between visual representations and the text with prompting and support.
Read-along texts
Read-alone texts
K.RI.8 Identify the details an author gives to support their opinions in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.8 Identify the details an author gives to support their opinions in a text with prompting and support.
K.RI.9 Compare and contrast two or more texts on the same topic with prompting and support.
K.RI.9 Compare and contrast two or more texts on the same topic with prompting and support.
K.RI.10 By the end of the year read and comprehend a variety of informational text.
K.RI.10 By the end of the year read and comprehend a variety of informational text.
K.RI.10.a: Demonstrate listening comprehension of complex texts.
K.RI.10.a: Demonstrate listening comprehension of complex texts.
K.RI.10.b: Read and proficiently comprehend grade-appropriate text.
K.RI.10.b: Read and proficiently comprehend grade-appropriate text.
K.RI.10.c: Self-select texts for personal enjoyment, interest, and academic tasks with prompting and support.
K.RI.10.c: Self-select texts for personal enjoyment, interest, and academic tasks with prompting and support.
RF
Reading Foundational Skills
K.RF.1 Demonstrate foundational understanding of print concepts and features of print.
K.RF.1 Demonstrate foundational understanding of print concepts and features of print.
K.RF.1.a: Apply left-to-right and top-to-bottom directionality when reading text.
K.RF.1.a: Apply left-to-right and top-to-bottom directionality when reading text.
K.RF.1.b: Understand that letters represent individual sounds in spoken language and combine to form words.
K.RF.1.b: Understand that letters represent individual sounds in spoken language and combine to form words.
K.RF.1.c: Recognize that words are separated by spaces in written text.
K.RF.1.c: Recognize that words are separated by spaces in written text.
K.RF.1.d: Identify and name all uppercase and lowercase letters.
Learn letter names: A–H
Learn letter names: I–P
Learn letter names: Q–Z
Learn uppercase and lowercase letters
Identify uppercase letters
Identify lowercase letters
Frequently confused letters
K.RF.1.d: Identify and name all uppercase and lowercase letters.
Learn letter names: A–H
Learn letter names: I–P
Learn letter names: Q–Z
Learn uppercase and lowercase letters
Identify uppercase letters
Identify lowercase letters
Frequently confused letters
K.RF.1.e: Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book to navigate text appropriately.
K.RF.1.e: Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book to navigate text appropriately.
K.RF.1.f: Identify the role of the author and the illustrator in a story.
K.RF.1.f: Identify the role of the author and the illustrator in a story.
K.RF.2 Demonstrate awareness of phonological skills and demonstrate proficiency in phonemic awareness skills, including:
K.RF.2 Demonstrate awareness of phonological skills and demonstrate proficiency in phonemic awareness skills, including:
K.RF.2.a: Blend and segment at the word level.
K.RF.2.a: Blend and segment at the word level.
K.RF.2.b: Blend, segment, and delete at the syllable level.
Blend syllables
Segment syllables
K.RF.2.b: Blend, segment, and delete at the syllable level.
Blend syllables
Segment syllables
K.RF.2.c: Recognize, generate, and categorize rhymes.
K.RF.2.c: Recognize, generate, and categorize rhymes.
K.RF.2.d: Blend, segment, and delete at the intra-syllable level (onset/rime, body/coda).
Blend
Phoneme manipulation
K.RF.2.d: Blend, segment, and delete at the intra-syllable level (onset/rime, body/coda).
Blend
Phoneme manipulation
K.RF.2.e: Isolate phonemes in the beginning, ending, and medial positions.
Segment
Initial sounds
Medial vowel sounds
Final sounds
K.RF.2.e: Isolate phonemes in the beginning, ending, and medial positions.
Segment
Initial sounds
Medial vowel sounds
Final sounds
K.RF.2.f: Blend and segment words with 2–3 phonemes (excluding consonant blends).
K.RF.2.f: Blend and segment words with 2–3 phonemes (excluding consonant blends).
K.RF.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding and encoding words.
K.RF.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding and encoding words.
K.RF.3.a: Identify all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
Uppercase letters
Lowercase letters
Uppercase and lowercase letters
Frequently confused letters
K.RF.3.a: Identify all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
Uppercase letters
Lowercase letters
Uppercase and lowercase letters
Frequently confused letters
K.RF.3.b: Associate predictable consonant and short vowel sounds with corresponding letters.
Consonant sounds
Short a
Short e
Short i
Short o
Short u
Short vowels: review
K.RF.3.b: Associate predictable consonant and short vowel sounds with corresponding letters.
Consonant sounds
Short a
Short e
Short i
Short o
Short u
Short vowels: review
K.RF.3.c: Understand that graphemes represent phonemes.
Learn letter names
Consonants
Vowels
Consonant blends and digraphs
K.RF.3.c: Understand that graphemes represent phonemes.
Learn letter names
Consonants
Vowels
Consonant blends and digraphs
K.RF.3.d: Use grapheme-phoneme knowledge to decode and encode CVC and open syllable one-syllable words.
Blend and segment
Short a
Short e
Short i
Short o
Short u
Short vowels
K.RF.3.d: Use grapheme-phoneme knowledge to decode and encode CVC and open syllable one-syllable words.
Blend and segment
Short a
Short e
Short i
Short o
Short u
Short vowels
K.RF.3.e: Read grade-appropriate high-frequency words.
K.RF.3.e: Read grade-appropriate high-frequency words.
K.RF.4 Read grade-appropriate texts with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
K.RF.4 Read grade-appropriate texts with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
K.RF.4.a: Read grade-appropriate texts with purpose and understanding.
Rhymes
Short vowel sentences
Decodable texts
Read-alone literary texts
Read-alone informational texts
K.RF.4.a: Read grade-appropriate texts with purpose and understanding.
Rhymes
Short vowel sentences
Decodable texts
Read-alone literary texts
Read-alone informational texts
K.RF.4.b: Read grade-appropriate texts orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and prosody (stress, phrasing, intonation and expression) on consecutive readings.
Read-alone literary texts
Read-alone informational texts
K.RF.4.b: Read grade-appropriate texts orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and prosody (stress, phrasing, intonation and expression) on consecutive readings.
Read-alone literary texts
Read-alone informational texts
K.RF.4.c: Self-monitor reading for correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
Sentences
Passages
K.RF.4.c: Self-monitor reading for correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
Sentences
Passages
L
Language
K.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking.
K.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking.
K.L.1.a: Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs to produce complete sentences.
Nouns
Verbs
K.L.1.a: Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs to produce complete sentences.
Nouns
Verbs
K.L.1.b: Use regular plural nouns.
K.L.1.b: Use regular plural nouns.
K.L.1.c: Use question words in complete sentences.
K.L.1.c: Use question words in complete sentences.
K.L.1.d: Expand complete sentences using descriptive language (e.g., prepositions, adjectives, adverbs) in shared language activities.
Adjectives
Prepositions
Complete sentences
K.L.1.d: Expand complete sentences using descriptive language (e.g., prepositions, adjectives, adverbs) in shared language activities.
Adjectives
Prepositions
Complete sentences
K.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when writing.
K.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when writing.
K.L.2.a: Print all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet using correct formation.
K.L.2.a: Print all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet using correct formation.
K.L.2.b: Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.
K.L.2.b: Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.
K.L.2.c: Recognize end punctuation.
K.L.2.c: Recognize end punctuation.
K.L.2.d: Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of consonant and short vowel sounds.
Consonants
Consonant blends and digraphs
Short vowels
K.L.2.d: Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of consonant and short vowel sounds.
Consonants
Consonant blends and digraphs
Short vowels
K.L.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
K.L.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
K.L.4.a: Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately (e.g., knowing duck is a bird and learning the verb to duck).
K.L.4.a: Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately (e.g., knowing duck is a bird and learning the verb to duck).
K.L.4.b: Use context to determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words and phrases with guidance.
K.L.4.b: Use context to determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words and phrases with guidance.
K.L.5 Explore word relationships and subtle differences in word meanings with prompting and support.
K.L.5 Explore word relationships and subtle differences in word meanings with prompting and support.
K.L.5.a: Determine the relationship between a group of objects or concept words.
K.L.5.a: Determine the relationship between a group of objects or concept words.
K.L.5.b: Demonstrate understanding of words with similar and opposite meanings.
K.L.5.b: Demonstrate understanding of words with similar and opposite meanings.
K.L.5.c: Identify real-life connections between words and their use.
Categories
Multiple-meaning words
Verbs
Adjectives
Prepositions
K.L.5.c: Identify real-life connections between words and their use.
Categories
Multiple-meaning words
Verbs
Adjectives
Prepositions
K.L.6 Acquire and use grade-appropriate vocabulary in conversations, reading, and learning experiences.
Adjectives
Prepositions
K.L.6 Acquire and use grade-appropriate vocabulary in conversations, reading, and learning experiences.
Adjectives
Prepositions
W
Writing
K.W.1 Compose opinion pieces that tell the reader their opinion on a topic and state a reason using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.1 Compose opinion pieces that tell the reader their opinion on a topic and state a reason using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.2 Compose informative texts that name the topic and a fact using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.2 Compose informative texts that name the topic and a fact using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.3 Narrate a story, telling about the events in chronological order with a character and setting using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.3 Narrate a story, telling about the events in chronological order with a character and setting using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.4 Identify the purpose of a writing task.
K.W.4 Identify the purpose of a writing task.
K.W.5 Respond to questions and suggestions from peers or adults adding details to strengthen writing.
K.W.5 Respond to questions and suggestions from peers or adults adding details to strengthen writing.
K.W.6 Explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing individually or collaboratively with guidance and support.
K.W.6 Explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing individually or collaboratively with guidance and support.
K.W.7 Participate in collaborative research and writing projects.
K.W.7 Participate in collaborative research and writing projects.
K.W.8 Provide a response to a prompt using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing by recalling information from experiences or gathering information from provided sources with guidance and support.
K.W.8 Provide a response to a prompt using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing by recalling information from experiences or gathering information from provided sources with guidance and support.
K.W.10 Write routinely using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.
K.W.10 Write routinely using a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing.