K–5 Core Spelling Curriculum
Core Spelling is the main systematic grade-level spelling sequence — 51 units in all, ordered from Kindergarten through 5th Grade.
- 1. Kindergarten and 1st Grade lay the foundation: connecting sounds to letters and building one-syllable spelling accuracy.
- 2. 2nd and 3rd Grade expand that foundation into broader vowel patterns, syllables, and the first prefixes and suffixes.
- 3. 4th and 5th Grade integrate multisyllabic academic spelling, Latin and Greek word parts, and meaning-based word relationships.
Each Core unit below shows a few sample words from its full spelling list. Open a unit to see the complete word list, explanation, and practice.
Kindergarten
8 Core Spelling units
Kindergarten Core Spelling connects spoken sounds to letters for the first time, moving from first words through each short vowel and into an early look at consonant digraphs.
1st Grade
12 Core Spelling units
1st Grade Core Spelling consolidates one-syllable short-vowel spelling, then expands into consonant blends, long vowels with silent e, vowel teams, common endings, and an early r-controlled vowel pattern.
2nd Grade
13 Core Spelling units
2nd Grade Core Spelling broadens vowel spelling, then applies that pattern knowledge to r-controlled vowels, soft consonants, syllable structures, silent letters, and word building.
3rd Grade
7 Core Spelling units
3rd Grade Core Spelling shifts from a mostly phonics-based focus into prefixes and suffixes, the spelling changes they cause, possessives, multisyllabic words, and meaning-based word families.
4th Grade
6 Core Spelling units
4th Grade Core Spelling deepens multisyllabic academic spelling with advanced prefixes and suffixes, Latin roots, commonly confused words, and relationships among derived words.
5th Grade
5 Core Spelling units
5th Grade Core Spelling integrates advanced academic spelling, prefixes and suffixes, Greek and Latin word parts, meaning-based word choices, and spelling changes across related words.
Each unit link goes straight to its full teaching page and word list. The grade-specific Core Spelling gateway above still owns sequence guidance and where to begin for that grade.
Read more about how the curriculum is designed on Our Spelling Curriculum, or look up a specific pattern on the Spelling Skills reference library.