Free · Kindergarten · Reading

Free kindergarten reading curriculum

A free lesson plan, worksheets and a book for each day.

Start with day 1 ↓
How it works, in one short film
The short answer

This free kindergarten reading curriculum starts with the letters a, m, s and t, because they make real words fast. By day 14 your child blends sounds and reads am, at, sat, mat, Sam and Tam. Here are the first 3 weeks: 14 school days.

Hoot the owl cheering
What's in a lesson?

Every lesson has these same five parts, so your child knows what comes next. The lesson plan gives you the exact words to say, as Watch me, We do, You do. A day takes about 50 minutes in class, or about 20 at home. Every Friday has a short check, about 2 minutes per child.

The kit: letter cards for a, m, s and t with their key pictures

Start here: print the kit once

Cards, tiles and trace pages you use for all 3 weeks. 9 pages, then go to Day 1.

Print the kitor black and white
What's in the kit

Letter Cards: a m s t, Picture Cards, Letter Tiles, Name Card, Trace A a, Trace M m, Trace S s, Trace T t. Card stock lasts longer, but plain paper works. Print at most three sheets a day after that, the night before.

Week 1: Meet a, m, s and t

One new letter a day: its sound, its shape and pictures that start with it. Friday is a short check. Days 1 to 5.

Day 1 sheet: The kitDay 1 sheet: Meet the Letter aDay 1 sheet: Which Start with /a/?

Day 1 · MonKit first

Meet /a/: apple and ant

“I can say /a/ when I see A or a, hear rhymes, and pinch my pencil.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Letter film 51 seconds▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.6 MB Extra practice: Find A and a0.3 MB Extra practice, black and white0.2 MB Book: Hello, School! (print once)6.3 MB
Watch together first: the sound of a, as in apple, and how to write A and a (51 seconds)

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: hear rhymes, thumbs up or down, then stand or sit.
  • 3 minLetter drill: cards a and A, name, /a/, apple.
  • 20 minNew skill: hear /a/ in apple and ant, trace A a, circle /a/ pictures.
  • 7 minReading together: Hello, School!, top, left to right, back and down.
  • 10 minHandwriting: sit tall, pinch and flip, pull-down lines, trace first name.

Print: Meet the Letter a · Which Start with /a/? · Handwriting: Pull Down and My Name, day 1. Extra: Find A and a

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.2aRF.K.2RF.K.1dRF.K.3bRF.K.1aRF.K.1L.K.1a

Day 2 sheet: Which Start with /m/?Day 2 sheet: Handwriting: Lines, Circles and My Name, day 2Day 2 sheet: Meet the Letter m

Day 2 · Tue

Meet /m/: map and mop

“I can say /m/ for the letter m and hear when two words rhyme.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Letter film 50 seconds▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.6 MB Extra practice: Find M and m0.3 MB Extra practice, black and white0.2 MB Book: Hello, School! (same book)6.3 MB
Watch together first: the sound of m, as in map, and how to write M and m (50 seconds)

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: thumbs and rhyme hop, hear whether two words rhyme.
  • 3 minLetter drill: A and a, name, /a/, apple; m joins tomorrow.
  • 20 minNew skill: meet m and /m/, trace M and m, circle the /m/ pictures.
  • 7 minReading together: find the spaces between words in Hello, School!
  • 10 minHandwriting: pinch and flip, pull-down lines, circles, first name.

Print: Meet the Letter m · Which Start with /m/? · Handwriting: Lines, Circles and My Name, day 2. Extra: Find M and m

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3aRF.K.1dRF.K.2aRF.K.1cL.K.1a

Day 3 sheet: Which Start with /s/?Day 3 sheet: Handwriting: a and My Name, day 3Day 3 sheet: Meet the Letter s

Day 3 · Wed

Meet /s/: sun and sock

“I can say /s/ for the letter s, clap the parts in a word, and write small a.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Letter film 45 seconds▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.6 MB Extra practice: Find S and s0.3 MB Extra practice, black and white0.2 MB Book: Hello, School! (same book)6.3 MB
Watch together first: the sound of s, as in sun, and how to write S and s (45 seconds)

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: clap the parts in sun, apple, astronaut and names.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a and m, small and capital, name, sound, picture.
  • 20 minNew letter s: say /s/, trace S and s, circle /s/ pictures.
  • 7 minReading together: the child points under each word as you read.
  • 10 minHandwriting: circles, small a, then the first name.

Print: Meet the Letter s · Which Start with /s/? · Handwriting: a and My Name, day 3. Extra: Find S and s

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.2bRF.K.2RF.K.1dRF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cRF.K.1L.K.1a

Day 4 sheet: Which Start with /t/?Day 4 sheet: Handwriting: m and s, day 4Day 4 sheet: Meet the Letter t

Day 4 · Thu

Meet /t/: top and tent

“I can say the quick sound /t/ for the letter t, hear /t/ at the start of top and tent, and clap the parts of words.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Letter film 47 seconds▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.7 MB Extra practice: Find T and t0.3 MB Extra practice, black and white0.2 MB Book: Hello, School! (same book)6.3 MB
Watch together first: the sound of t, as in top, and how to write T and t (47 seconds)

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: clap and chin-drop the parts of spoken words.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a, m, s with name, sound, key picture.
  • 20 minNew skill: the letter t says a quick /t/; circle /t/ pictures.
  • 7 minReading together: Hello, School! shows spoken words are written with letters.
  • 10 minHandwriting: trace and write m, M, s, S from the green dot.

Print: Meet the Letter t · Which Start with /t/? · Handwriting: m and s, day 4. Extra: Find T and t

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1dRF.K.2bRF.K.2RF.K.1bRF.K.1L.K.1aL.K.2c

Day 5 sheet: Friday Check: Week 1Day 5 sheet: Handwriting: t and My Name, day 5Day 5 sheet: Roll and Cover: a m s t

Day 5 · FriCheck day

a m s t Review: Roll and Cover

“I can say the sounds for a, m, s and t and find pictures that start with them.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.7 MB Book: Hello, School! (same book)6.3 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minFriday Check first at home; then sound games: step each word in sentences.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t, small and capital; no check straight after it.
  • 20 minRoll and Cover: roll, say the sound, cover a picture starting with it.
  • 7 minReading together: child points to each word in Hello, School!
  • 10 minHandwriting: form t and T from the top; trace and write first name.

Print: Roll and Cover: a m s t · Friday Check: Week 1 · Handwriting: t and My Name, day 5

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1dRF.K.2RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cRF.K.1L.K.1aL.K.2c

Week 2: Start-of-year check, then first sounds

Two short check days show which letters and sounds your child already knows. Then three days of hearing first sounds. Days 6 to 10.

Day 6 sheet: Letter Check: Small LettersDay 6 sheet: Letter Check RecordDay 6 sheet: Letter Check: Capitals

Day 6 · MonCheck day

Start-of-Year Check 1: Letter Names and Sound Games

“I show what I know: letter names, rhymes, word claps, and my name.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white1.0 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (15 at home)

  • 10 minSound check: rhyme thumbs and syllable claps, practice first, 5 scored each.
  • 3 minWarm-up with the key picture; practice saying pass. Nothing scored.
  • 20 minLetter names check: 26 capitals, then 26 small letters, no correcting.
  • 7 minReading together: point where reading starts and which way it goes.
  • 10 minName sample: write your name your way, draw yourself, keep for January.

Print: Letter Check: Capitals · Letter Check: Small Letters · Letter Check Record · Sound Check: Rhyme · Sound Check: Syllables · Handwriting: My Name (start of year), day 6

Check day 1. Print the two letter cards once per class (they are reused on day 7), and one record sheet, the two sound check pages and the name page per child.

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.1dRF.K.3aRF.K.2RF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.1aL.K.1a

Day 7 sheet: Class TrackerDay 7 sheet: How to Read the CheckDay 7 sheet: Sound Check: First Sound

Day 7 · TueCheck day

Start-of-Year Check 2: Letter Sounds and First Sounds

“I show the letter sounds I know, and I listen for the first sound in a word.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.4 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 5 minWarm-up: Jump or Sit rhyme game, unscored, no letters, no drill.
  • 15 minLetter-sound check: 26 small letters on the day 6 card, tick sounds, /26.
  • 10 minFirst-sound check: model van, practice key, score pizza nose leg web gate, /5.
  • 10 minStory time: child picks a book, points where reading starts and goes next.
  • 10 minRecord six totals on the Class Tracker; lowest band picks tomorrow's help.

Print: Sound Check: First Sound · Class Tracker · How to Read the Check

Check day 2. Use the same small-letter card and the same record sheet from day 6. No a m s t drill before the check. No handwriting page today: the year plan gives day 7 no handwriting part (the check takes the time).

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.1dRF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.2RF.K.1a

Day 8 sheet: First Sounds: a m s tDay 8 sheet: Handwriting: a m s t, day 8

Day 8 · Wed

First Sounds: I Spy a m s t

“I can hear the first sound in a word and show its letter.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.7 MB Book: Happy, Happy Home (print once)6.0 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: say a word, catch its first sound; stand-up /s/ round.
  • 3 minLetter drill: small letter cards, then the capital cards; name, sound, key picture.
  • 20 minI Spy with kit cards, then First Sounds sheet rows m, s, t alone.
  • 7 minReading together: Happy, Happy Home; start top left, finger under each word.
  • 10 minHandwriting sheet: say the path, trace 3, write 1 of a m s t.

Print: First Sounds: a m s t · Handwriting: a m s t, day 8

Game of the day: I Spy with the kit letter and picture cards (no new print).

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.2RF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1dRF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cL.K.1a

Day 9 sheet: Sort and Say: a m s tDay 9 sheet: Handwriting: A a M m S s T t, day 9

Day 9 · Thu

Sort and Say: First Sounds a m s t

“I can hear the first sound in a word and match it to the letter a, m, s, or t.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.8 MB Book: Happy, Happy Home (same book)6.0 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: same first sound or not? Thumb up or down.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t cards, name, sound, key picture, capitals.
  • 20 minSort and Say: cut, say the first sound, glue under a m s t.
  • 7 minReading together: reread Happy, Happy Home, point under words, hunt known letters.
  • 10 minHandwriting: A a M m S s T t, trace 2, write 1 alone.

Print: Sort and Say: a m s t · Handwriting: A a M m S s T t, day 9

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1dRF.K.2RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cL.K.1aL.K.2c

Day 10 sheet: Handwriting: My Name with a Capital, day 10Day 10 sheet: Super Sounds! awardDay 10 sheet: Friday Check: Week 2

Day 10 · FriCheck day

Super Sounds Celebration: a m s t

“I can say the sounds for a m s t and put a word back together from two parts.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.4 MB Extra practice: Roll and Cover: a m s t0.5 MB Extra practice, black and white0.5 MB Book: Happy, Happy Home (same book)6.0 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: hear two parts, /m/ ... at, and clap them into mat.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t. Friday Check: home first; class, never straight after.
  • 20 minCelebration: hop to each word's first-sound card, then color the award.
  • 7 minReading together: adult reads Happy, Happy Home; child taps each word, finds letters.
  • 10 minHandwriting: trace and write first name with a capital, then A M S T.

Print: Friday Check: Week 2 · Handwriting: My Name with a Capital, day 10 · Super Sounds! award. Extra: Roll and Cover: a m s t

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.1dRF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.2RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cRF.K.1L.K.1aL.K.2c

Week 3: First blending: am, at, sat, mat

Your child slides sounds together and reads real words, then a little book called Sam. Days 11 to 14.

Day 11 sheet: Read am and atDay 11 sheet: Handwriting: a m s t, day 11

Day 11 · Tue

First Blending: Read am and at

“I can slide two sounds together and read am and at.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.4 MB Book: Look Up, Look Up! (print once)5.9 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: arm slide joins a first sound and the rest into words.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t name, sound and key picture, small and capital.
  • 20 minNew skill: blend two sounds; read am and at with tiles and sheet.
  • 7 minReading together: point under words in our book; read Sam and Tam together.
  • 10 minHandwriting: trace 3 and write 1 of a, m, s, t.

Print: Read am and at · Handwriting: a m s t, day 11

Sam and Tam are We do only today (adult reads, child joins); they are not on any child page until day 12.

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3RF.K.3bRF.K.2dRF.K.2RF.K.3aRF.K.1dRF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.4L.K.1a

Day 12 sheet: Read: Sam sat.Day 12 sheet: Handwriting: S T a m (for Sam and Tam), day 12Day 12 sheet: Slide and Read

Day 12 · Wed

Touch and Slide: Read sat, mat and Sam sat.

“I can touch and slide to read sat, mat, Sam and Tam, and read Sam sat.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.6 MB Book: Look Up, Look Up! (same book)5.9 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: bump first sound and rest into words; split words in two.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t, small and capital: name, sound, picture.
  • 20 minNew skill: touch and slide to read sat and mat, then all 6 words.
  • 7 minReading together: read Sam sat. and Tam sat.; reread Look Up, Look Up!
  • 10 minHandwriting: S, T, a, m: trace 3, then write one alone.

Print: Slide and Read · Read: Sam sat. · Handwriting: S T a m (for Sam and Tam), day 12

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.3RF.K.3bRF.K.3aRF.K.2dRF.K.2RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1dRF.K.4L.K.1a

Day 13 sheet: Mini Book: how to fold and readDay 13 sheet: Handwriting: t s m a, day 13Day 13 sheet: Mini Book: Sam

Day 13 · Thu

Touch and Slide: Read Six Words and the Mini Book Sam

“I can blend sounds to read am, at, sat, mat, Sam and Tam, and read my book Sam.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.8 MB Extra practice: Blending Cards0.6 MB Extra practice, black and white0.3 MB Book: Look Up, Look Up! (same book)5.9 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: robot talk, blend two spoken sounds into words like am, me.
  • 3 minLetter drill: name, sound, key picture for a m s t, small and capital.
  • 20 minNew skill: touch and slide to read am, at, sat, mat, Sam, Tam.
  • 7 minReading together: read the Mini Book Sam, then reread Look Up, Look Up!
  • 10 minHandwriting: trace 3, write 1 of t, s, m, a.

Print: Mini Book: Sam · Mini Book: how to fold and read · Handwriting: t s m a, day 13. Extra: Blending Cards

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.2RF.K.2dRF.K.1dRF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.3RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cRF.K.4L.K.1a

Day 14 sheet: Handwriting: Write sat and mat, day 14Day 14 sheet: Friday Check: Week 3Day 14 sheet: Build the Word

Day 14 · FriCheck day

Read and Build Words + Friday Check: Week 3

“I can read and build am, at, sat, mat, Sam and Tam, and write sat and mat.”

📋 Lesson plan Worksheets▶ Watch lesson✨ Teach mode
More for this day
Worksheets, black and white0.5 MB Book: Look Up, Look Up! (same book)5.9 MB

The lesson, 50 minutes (20 at home)

  • 10 minSound games: blend two spoken parts into one word with fists and claps.
  • 3 minLetter drill: a m s t tiles; at home, give the Friday Check first.
  • 20 minRead and build: am, at, sat, mat, Sam, Tam with kit tiles.
  • 7 minReading together: reread Sam, then 1 minute pointing along in Look Up, Look Up!
  • 10 minHandwriting: trace sat and mat twice, then write them from the green start dots.

Print: Build the Word · Handwriting: Write sat and mat, day 14 · Friday Check: Week 3

Standards (Common Core)

RF.K.2RF.K.2dRF.K.1dRF.K.3aRF.K.3bRF.K.3RF.K.1aRF.K.1bRF.K.1cRF.K.4L.K.1a

The read-together books

Print each book once, or show it on a screen. You read; your child points along and finds the letters they know.

Pip the chick reading

Read-together booksDays 1 to 14

Tap a book to open it and turn the pages.
Hello, School! 6.3 MB Happy, Happy Home 6.0 MB Look Up, Look Up! 5.9 MB

What your child learns this year

The whole kindergarten reading year, week by week: the letters and sounds, then blending, then reading little books. Most weeks also add a heart word, a word your child learns by heart. Weeks 1 to 3 are ready now; new weeks are added every week, in order.

0 of 38 weeks done
  1. WEEK1Ready now
    Letters a m s t
  2. WEEK2Ready now
    Start-of-year check: letter names and sounds, sound games · Letters a m s t
  3. WEEK3Ready now
    First blending: am, at, sat, mat

The plan follows the Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten, Reading: Foundational Skills (RF.K.1 to RF.K.4). Each day lists its standards under “More for this day”.

Tips for the first weeks

  • Say the sounds short. /m/ is mmm, not "muh". Hear each letter sound.
  • Same order every day. Your child relaxes when they know what comes next.
  • Use the Friday checks. Days 5, 10 and 14, about 2 minutes per child. The plan says what to do next.
  • Black and white saves ink. Its outline pictures can be colored in.

After week 3: new weeks are added every week, in order. Go at your child's pace; going back over a day is part of the plan. More free help: more free books to read together · hear how each letter sound is said · every kindergarten worksheet pack · alphabet tracing worksheets.

Is your child older, or stuck?

If your child is past kindergarten, or stuck on reading, start with what is getting in the way.

Find which step is hardThe free 2-minute finder. You check off what is true for your child, and it shows the one thing to work on first. Free.Do the free check for that step18 free checks, about three minutes each, with your child. Each one ends with what to do tonight. Free.A 10-day plan for one difficultyTen printable days on one reading problem, about five minutes a day from you, with a short video for each day. $19, one payment, 30-day money back.The One SheetOne printed sheet a day, made for your child from what you tell us happened the day before. For reading, math or grammar. $9.99 a month for one subject.

Good questions

Is this kindergarten reading curriculum really free?

Yes. This kindergarten reading curriculum is free to print and teach: every lesson plan, worksheet, read-together book and letter film on this page. You may print it as often as you like for your own children or your own class.

How long does a kindergarten reading lesson take each day?

A kindergarten reading lesson here takes about 50 minutes in a classroom, in five short parts. At home, each lesson plan has a shorter version of about 20 minutes that keeps the same steps.

What do I need besides the printed pages?

Besides the printed pages you need a pencil, crayons and a highlighter. A few days add scissors and glue. The letter cards, picture cards and letter tiles come from the kit you print once on day 1.

Why does the curriculum start with a, m, s and t?

The curriculum starts with a, m, s and t because these four letters already make real words. By the third week your child reads am, at, sat, mat, Sam and Tam, and then a whole little book.

What comes after the first three weeks?

After the first three weeks, the year goes on in the same way: new letters, more sounds and more words to read. New weeks are added to this page every week, in order.

Free · 2 minutes

Is reading hard for your child, and you are not sure why?

“Behind in reading” can mean eighteen different things, and each one needs different help. Check off what is true for your child. You will see what to work on first, and what can wait.

Find where to start