Category 1: Sight Words (words learned by sight, not necessarily phonetic):
* a
* and
* the
* I
* is
* it
* in
* you
* to
* see
* said
* he
* she
* we
* go
* my
* me
Category 2: CVC Words (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant):
* cat
* hat
* bat
* dog
* pig
* sun
* fun
* man
* pin
* ten
* red
* bed
* big
* hop
* top
Category 3: Words with Common Short Vowel Sounds:
* ran
* get
* let
* men
* fin
* lip
* not
* pot
* fog
Category 4: Words with Simple Digraphs (two letters making one sound):
* ship
* shop
* that
* this
* with
Important Considerations:
* Keep it short: A kindergarten spelling test should be short and manageable, maybe 5-10 words.
* Pre-teach the words: Introduce the words several days before the test, using various methods like writing them, reading them in sentences, and playing games.
* Focus on phonetics: Choose words that reinforce the phonics skills they are learning.
* Use pictures: Use pictures with the words to help younger kindergarteners.
* Consider individual needs: Differentiate the test based on the individual student's progress.
This list offers a good starting point. Remember to adapt it to your specific students' learning levels and curriculum. A good kindergarten teacher will usually have a list of sight words and phonetic elements they are working on that will directly inform the spelling test.