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Practice
Core Spelling

Kindergarten Core Spelling

Kindergarten Core Spelling is the systematic starting sequence: 8 units move from familiar first words through short-vowel spelling, mixed CVC review, and consonant digraphs.

The sequence first gives each short vowel its own focused practice, then asks children to distinguish those vowel sounds in fresh CVC words before introducing SH, CH, and TH.

Where to begin: Begin with First Words if spelling from sounds is new. If simple short-vowel words are already comfortable, choose the earliest vowel unit that still feels useful and continue in order.

  1. First Words Eight short, familiar words — bed, bug, cat, cup, dog, hen, pig, and sun — for a gentle first step in hearing a word, separating its sounds, and writing letters for those sounds. 8 words
  2. Short A Words Eight simple words built on the short "a" sound — hat, mat, sat, man, can, bag, cap, and map — the first single-vowel step after First Words. 8 words
  3. Short I Words Eight simple words built around the short "i" sound — pig, big, pin, dig, sit, bit, lip, and win — continuing the kindergarten spelling progression one vowel at a time. 8 words
  4. Short O Words Eight simple words built around the short "o" sound — dog, fox, dot, pot, hot, hop, top, and box — continuing the kindergarten spelling progression one vowel at a time. 8 words
  5. Short U Words Eight simple words built around the short "u" sound — bug, rug, sun, run, nut, cut, cup, and fun — continuing the kindergarten spelling progression one vowel at a time. 8 words
  6. Short E Words Eight simple words built around the short "e" sound — bed, red, hen, pen, leg, pet, net, and wet — the last single-vowel stop before mixed-vowel review. 8 words
  7. Mixed Vowel CVC Review Ten fresh words mixing all five short vowel sounds — jam, lid, dog, mud, get, rag, hit, web, nap, and hop — checking whether a child can hear and spell the vowel sound in a new word, not just recall a memorized list. 10 words
  8. Consonant Digraphs Nine words built on the SH, CH, and TH digraphs — ship, shop, fish, wish, chat, chin, chip, bath, and path — where two letters team up to make one new sound. 9 words