The Common Core in Maryland

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Skills available for Maryland kindergarten language arts standards

Standards are in black and IXL language arts skills are in dark green. Hold your mouse over the name of a skill to view a sample question. Click on the name of a skill to practice that skill.

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Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (adopted in 2025): Kindergarten Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (adopted in 2025): Kindergarten
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Language Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Language
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Foundational Skills Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Foundational Skills
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Informational Text Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Informational Text
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Literature Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards: Reading: Literature

Actions

Print standards

RL.K Reading Literature

Key Ideas and Details
- RL.K.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
- RL.K.2 Retell familiar stories, including key details.
  - Order images in a story (K-FF.1)
  - Identify the problem and solution in a story (K-FF.2)
- RL.K.3 Identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
Craft and Structure
- RL.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
  - Read along with fantasy (K-II.1)
  - Read along with realistic fiction (K-II.2)
- RL.K.5 Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).
- RL.K.6 Name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- RL.K.7 Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).
- RL.K.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
- RL.K.10 Read literary texts appropriately complex for kindergarten.

RI.K Reading Informational

Key Ideas and Details
- RI.K.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in an informational text.
- RI.K.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of an informational text.
- RI.K.3 Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
  - What will happen next? (K-CC.2)
Craft and Structure
- RI.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
- RI.K.5 Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.
  - Identify book parts and features (K-Z.1)
- RI.K.6 Name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- RI.K.7 Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).
- RI.K.8 Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
- RI.K.9 Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
- RI.K.10 Read informational texts appropriately complex for kindergarten.

RF.K Reading Foundational Skills

Print Concepts
- RF.K.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization of print and knowledge of letters.
  - RF.K.1.a Demonstrate knowledge that words are read from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
    - Find a word in a sentence (K-F.3)
    - Identify book parts and features (K-Z.1)
  - RF.K.1.b Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.
    - Choose the two words that are the same (K-F.1)
  - RF.K.1.c Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.
    - Choose the sentence that is spaced correctly (K-F.2)
    - Find a word in a sentence (K-F.3)
  - RF.K.1.d Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters.
Phonological Awareness
- RF.K.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
  - RF.K.2.a Recognize and produce rhyming words.
  - RF.K.2.b Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.
  - RF.K.2.c Distinguish between sounds (phonemes) using knowledge of place and manner of articulation.
  - RF.K.2.d Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.
    - Blend onset and rime together to make a word (K-J.1)
  - RF.K.2.e Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three phoneme (consonant-vowel-consonant, or CVC) words.
  - RF.K.2.f Orally blend and segment individual phonemes in two-, three-, and four-phoneme words.
    - Blend each sound in a word together (K-J.2)
    - Put the sounds in order (K-J.4)
Phonics and Word Recognition
- RF.K.3 Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in decoding and encoding words.
  - RF.K.3.a Demonstrate knowledge of the alphabetic principle.
  - RF.K.3.b Form/print all upper and lowercase letters correctly, using a common path of movement.
  - RF.K.3.c Associate the long and short sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.
  - RF.K.3.e Read common high-frequency words by sight.
  - RF.K.3.f Decode and encode words that are minimal pairs.
  - RF.K.3.g Decode words with the most common inflectional suffixes.
Fluency
- RF.K.4 Read grade-appropriate texts with sufficient accuracy to support comprehension.
  - RF.K.4.a Engage in a variety of experiences with texts in order to develop an understanding of fluent reading.
  - RF.K.4.b Demonstrate accuracy and automaticity with naming letters and producing their corresponding sounds.
  - RF.K.4.c Read grade-appropriate text with developing fluency in order to support comprehension.

L.K Language

Conventions of Standard English
- L.K.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  - L.K.1.a Print many upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
  - L.K.1.b Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs.
  - L.K.1.c Form regular plural nouns orally by adding /s/ or /es/ (e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes).
    - Choose the singular or plural noun that matches the picture (K-VV.2)
  - L.K.1.d Understand and use question words (interrogatives) (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).
    - Who, what, when, where, or why? (K-PP.1)
  - L.K.1.e Use the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with).
    - Inside and outside, above and below, next to and beside (K-OO.1)
    - Choose the best location word to match the picture (K-OO.2)
  - L.K.1.f Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.
    - Find the complete sentence (K-TT.3)
    - Unscramble the words to make a complete sentence (K-TT.4)
- L.K.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
  - L.K.2.a Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.
    - Capitalize the first letter of a sentence (K-UU.1)
    - Capitalize the pronoun "I" (K-UU.2)
  - L.K.2.b Recognize and name end punctuation.
    - Identify and use end marks (K-TT.2)
  - L.K.2.c Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short vowel sounds (phonemes).
  - L.K.2.d Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
- L.K.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
  - L.K.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).
    - Multiple-meaning words with pictures (K-SS.1)
  - L.K.4.b Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.
- L.K.5 With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
  - L.K.5.a Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
    - Sort objects into categories (K-RR.1)
    - Which one is not like the others? (K-RR.2)
  - L.K.5.b Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).
    - Match antonyms to pictures (K-QQ.1)
  - L.K.5.c Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).
  - L.K.5.d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.
- L.K.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading, being read to, and responding to text.

The Common Core in Maryland

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Actions

RL.K Reading Literature

Key Ideas and Details

RL.K.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

RL.K.2 Retell familiar stories, including key details.

RL.K.3 Identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Craft and Structure

RL.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

RL.K.5 Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

RL.K.6 Name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

RL.K.7 Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).

RL.K.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

RL.K.10 Read literary texts appropriately complex for kindergarten.

RI.K Reading Informational

Key Ideas and Details

RI.K.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in an informational text.

RI.K.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of an informational text.

RI.K.3 Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

Craft and Structure

RI.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

RI.K.5 Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.

RI.K.6 Name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

RI.K.7 Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).

RI.K.8 Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.

RI.K.9 Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

RI.K.10 Read informational texts appropriately complex for kindergarten.

RF.K Reading Foundational Skills

Print Concepts

RF.K.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization of print and knowledge of letters.

RF.K.1.a Demonstrate knowledge that words are read from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.

RF.K.1.b Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.

RF.K.1.c Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.

RF.K.1.d Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters.

Phonological Awareness

RF.K.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

RF.K.2.a Recognize and produce rhyming words.

RF.K.2.b Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.

RF.K.2.c Distinguish between sounds (phonemes) using knowledge of place and manner of articulation.

RF.K.2.d Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.

RF.K.2.e Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three phoneme (consonant-vowel-consonant, or CVC) words.

RF.K.2.f Orally blend and segment individual phonemes in two-, three-, and four-phoneme words.

Phonics and Word Recognition

RF.K.3 Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in decoding and encoding words.

RF.K.3.a Demonstrate knowledge of the alphabetic principle.

RF.K.3.b Form/print all upper and lowercase letters correctly, using a common path of movement.

RF.K.3.c Associate the long and short sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.

RF.K.3.e Read common high-frequency words by sight.

RF.K.3.f Decode and encode words that are minimal pairs.

RF.K.3.g Decode words with the most common inflectional suffixes.

Fluency

RF.K.4 Read grade-appropriate texts with sufficient accuracy to support comprehension.

RF.K.4.a Engage in a variety of experiences with texts in order to develop an understanding of fluent reading.

RF.K.4.b Demonstrate accuracy and automaticity with naming letters and producing their corresponding sounds.

RF.K.4.c Read grade-appropriate text with developing fluency in order to support comprehension.

L.K Language

Conventions of Standard English

L.K.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

L.K.1.a Print many upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

L.K.1.b Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs.

L.K.1.c Form regular plural nouns orally by adding /s/ or /es/ (e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes).

L.K.1.d Understand and use question words (interrogatives) (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).

L.K.1.e Use the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with).

L.K.1.f Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.

L.K.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

L.K.2.a Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.

L.K.2.b Recognize and name end punctuation.

L.K.2.c Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short vowel sounds (phonemes).

L.K.2.d Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

L.K.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.

L.K.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).

L.K.4.b Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.

L.K.5 With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

L.K.5.a Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.