The Common Core in Maryland

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Skills available for Maryland pre-K 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.

Show alignments for:

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (adopted in 2025): Pre-K Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (adopted in 2025): Pre-K
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards
Maryland Model for School Readiness: Controlling Language Maryland Model for School Readiness: Controlling Language
Maryland Model for School Readiness: Reading Processes Maryland Model for School Readiness: Reading Processes

Actions

Print standards

RL.PK Reading Literature

Key Ideas and Details
- RL.PK.1 Answer questions about details in a text.
  - Which feeling matches the picture? (P-V.1)
- RL.PK.2 Retell familiar stories/poems.
  - Order images in a story (K-FF.1)
- RL.PK.3 Identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
  - Choose the picture that matches the setting or character (K-EE.2)
Craft and Structure
- RL.PK.4 Answer questions about unknown words in stories and poems.
- RL.PK.5 Gain exposure to common types of literary texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).
- RL.PK.6 Identify the role of author and illustrator.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- RL.PK.7 Tell how the illustrations support the story.
  - Which feeling matches the picture? (P-V.1)
- RL.PK.9 Compare adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
- RL.PK.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

RI.PK Reading Informational

Key Ideas and Details
- RI.PK.1 Answer questions about details in an informational text.
  - Which one is not like the others? (P-CC.2)
  - What is the picture about? (K-BB.1)
- RI.PK.2 Recall detail(s) related to the main topic from an informational text.
- RI.PK.3 Connect individuals, events, and pieces of information in text to life experiences.
Craft and Structure
- RI.PK.4 Answer questions about unknown words in a text.
- RI.PK.5 Identify the front cover and back cover of a book.
  - Identify book parts and features (P-T.1)
- RI.PK.6 Define the role of the author and illustrator/photographer in presenting the ideas or information in a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- RI.PK.7 Tell how the illustrations/photographs support the text.
- RI.PK.8 Identify the key details an author gives to support points in a text.
- RI.PK.9 Discuss similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations or descriptions).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
- RI.PK.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

RF.PK Reading Foundational Skills

Print Concepts
- RF.PK.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization of print and beginning letter knowledge.
  - RF.PK.1.a Demonstrate an awareness that words are read from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
    - Find a word in a sentence (P-F.3)
    - Identify book parts and features (P-T.1)
  - RF.PK.1.b Understand that spoken words can be written and read.
    - Choose the two words that are the same (P-F.1)
  - RF.PK.1.c Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.
    - Choose the sentence that is spaced correctly (P-F.2)
    - Find a word in a sentence (P-F.3)
  - RF.PK.1.d Recognize and name some upper and lowercase letters.
    - Find the letter in the alphabet: uppercase (P-D.1)
    - Find the letter in the alphabet: lowercase (P-D.2)
Phonological Awareness
- RF.PK.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, rhyming words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
  - RF.PK.2.a Identify and isolate individual words in a spoken sentence.
  - RF.PK.2.b Recognize rhyming words in spoken language.
    - Choose the picture that rhymes with the word (P-G.3)
  - RF.PK.2.c Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.
    - How many syllables does the word have? (K-I.2)
  - RF.PK.2.d Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.
  - RF.PK.2.e Isolate and pronounce the initial and final sound (phoneme) in spoken words.
    - Which two words start with the same sound? (P-J.1)
    - Find the word that begins with a given sound (P-L.1)
  - RF.PK.2.f Orally blend and segment individual phonemes in two-phoneme words.
    - Blend each sound in a word together (P-I.2)
    - Put the sounds in order (P-I.4)
Phonics and Word Recognition
- RF.PK.3 Know and apply beginning phonics and word analysis skills.
  - RF.PK.3.a Recognize that words are symbols that carry meaning and are made up of letters.
  - RF.PK.3.b Demonstrate beginning knowledge of the alphabetic principle.
  - RF.PK.3.c Form/print several upper and lowercase letters using a common path of movement.
  - RF.PK.3.d Recognize own name in print.
Fluency
- RF.PK.4 Develop an understanding of fluent reading as well as the alphabetic principle.
  - RF.PK.4.a Engage in a variety of experiences with texts in order to develop an understanding of fluent reading.
  - RF.PK.4.b Demonstrate developing accuracy and automaticity with naming letters and producing their corresponding sounds.

L.PK Language

Conventions of Standard English
- L.PK.1 Demonstrate beginning understanding of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when engaged in literacy activities (e.g., interactive read-alouds, shared reading, shared writing, developmentally appropriate writing, oral language activities, etc).
  - L.PK.1.a Print most upper and some lowercase letters of the alphabet.
  - L.PK.1.b Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs.
    - Choose the singular or plural noun that matches the picture (P-X.1)
    - Find the picture that matches the action verb (P-Y.1)
  - L.PK.1.c Develop understanding of singular and plural nouns (e.g., dog means one dog; dogs means more than one dog).
    - Choose the singular or plural noun that matches the picture (P-X.1)
  - L.PK.1.d Understand and begin to use question words (e.g., interrogatives such as who, what, where, when, why, how).
    - Who, what, when, where, or why? (K-PP.1)
  - L.PK.1.e Gain exposure to the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., in front of, behind, below, above, beside, over, by, with).
  - L.PK.1.f Produce complete sentences in shared language activities.
    - Find the complete sentence (K-TT.3)
- L.PK.2 Gain exposure to conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling during shared reading and writing experiences.
  - L.PK.2.a Recognize that their name begins with a capital letter.
  - L.PK.2.b Demonstrate awareness of name and function of end punctuation (e.g., period, question mark, and exclamation point).
    - Identify and use end marks (K-TT.2)
  - L.PK.2.c Use letter-like shapes, symbols, letters, and words to convey meaning.
  - L.PK.2.d Develop fine motor skills necessary to control and sustain handwriting.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
- L.PK.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words and phrases based on pre-kindergarten reading and content.
- L.PK.5 With modeling and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
  - L.PK.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 (P-CC.1)
  - L.PK.5.b Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).
    - Match antonyms to pictures (P-BB.1)
  - L.PK.5.c Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).
- L.PK.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, being read to, and responding to text.

The Common Core in Maryland

Show alignments for:

Actions

RL.PK Reading Literature

Key Ideas and Details

RL.PK.1 Answer questions about details in a text.

RL.PK.2 Retell familiar stories/poems.

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

Craft and Structure

RL.PK.4 Answer questions about unknown words in stories and poems.

RL.PK.5 Gain exposure to common types of literary texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

RL.PK.6 Identify the role of author and illustrator.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

RL.PK.7 Tell how the illustrations support the story.

RL.PK.9 Compare adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

RL.PK.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

RI.PK Reading Informational

Key Ideas and Details

RI.PK.1 Answer questions about details in an informational text.

RI.PK.2 Recall detail(s) related to the main topic from an informational text.

RI.PK.3 Connect individuals, events, and pieces of information in text to life experiences.

Craft and Structure

RI.PK.4 Answer questions about unknown words in a text.

RI.PK.5 Identify the front cover and back cover of a book.

RI.PK.6 Define the role of the author and illustrator/photographer in presenting the ideas or information in a text.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

RI.PK.7 Tell how the illustrations/photographs support the text.

RI.PK.8 Identify the key details an author gives to support points in a text.

RI.PK.9 Discuss similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations or descriptions).

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

RI.PK.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

RF.PK Reading Foundational Skills

Print Concepts

RF.PK.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization of print and beginning letter knowledge.

RF.PK.1.a Demonstrate an awareness that words are read from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.

RF.PK.1.b Understand that spoken words can be written and read.

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

RF.PK.1.d Recognize and name some upper and lowercase letters.

Phonological Awareness

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

RF.PK.2.a Identify and isolate individual words in a spoken sentence.

RF.PK.2.b Recognize rhyming words in spoken language.

RF.PK.2.c Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.

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

RF.PK.2.e Isolate and pronounce the initial and final sound (phoneme) in spoken words.

RF.PK.2.f Orally blend and segment individual phonemes in two-phoneme words.

Phonics and Word Recognition

RF.PK.3 Know and apply beginning phonics and word analysis skills.

RF.PK.3.a Recognize that words are symbols that carry meaning and are made up of letters.

RF.PK.3.b Demonstrate beginning knowledge of the alphabetic principle.

RF.PK.3.c Form/print several upper and lowercase letters using a common path of movement.

RF.PK.3.d Recognize own name in print.

Fluency

RF.PK.4 Develop an understanding of fluent reading as well as the alphabetic principle.

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

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

L.PK Language

Conventions of Standard English

L.PK.1 Demonstrate beginning understanding of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when engaged in literacy activities (e.g., interactive read-alouds, shared reading, shared writing, developmentally appropriate writing, oral language activities, etc).

L.PK.1.a Print most upper and some lowercase letters of the alphabet.

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

L.PK.1.c Develop understanding of singular and plural nouns (e.g., dog means one dog; dogs means more than one dog).

L.PK.1.d Understand and begin to use question words (e.g., interrogatives such as who, what, where, when, why, how).

L.PK.1.e Gain exposure to the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., in front of, behind, below, above, beside, over, by, with).

L.PK.1.f Produce complete sentences in shared language activities.

L.PK.2 Gain exposure to conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling during shared reading and writing experiences.

L.PK.2.a Recognize that their name begins with a capital letter.

L.PK.2.b Demonstrate awareness of name and function of end punctuation (e.g., period, question mark, and exclamation point).

L.PK.2.c Use letter-like shapes, symbols, letters, and words to convey meaning.

L.PK.2.d Develop fine motor skills necessary to control and sustain handwriting.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

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

L.PK.5 With modeling and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

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

L.PK.5.b Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).

L.PK.5.c Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

L.PK.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, being read to, and responding to text.