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English Language Development& Academic Standards Crosswalk For Kindergarten English Language Arts (ELA) Tennessee Department of Education | July 2025

K–12 Standards

Kindergarten
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Grades 9-10

Construct meaning from oral presentations and literary and informational text through grade-appropriate listening, reading, and viewingK.1

1
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.K.FL.F.5
1. a
  Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.K.FL.F.5.a
2
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten conversations, reading, and content.K.FL.VA.7a
1. i
  Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately.K.FL.VA.7a.i
2. ii
  Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.K.FL.VA.7a.ii
3
With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.K.FL.VA.7b
1. i
  Sort common objects into categories to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.K.FL.VA.7b.i
2. ii
  Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites.K.FL.VA.7b.ii
3. iii
  Make real-life connections between words and their use.K.FL.VA.7b.iii
4. iv
  Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action.K.FL.VA.7b.iv
4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RL.KID.1
5
With prompting and support, orally retell familiar stories, including key details.K.RL.KID.2
6
With prompting and support, orally identify characters, setting, and major events in a story.K.RL.KID.3
7
Recognize common types of texts.K.RL.CS.5
8
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear.K.RL.IKI.7
9
With prompting and support, read stories and poems of appropriate complexity for Kindergarten.K.RL.RRTC.10
10
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
11
With prompting and support, orally retell familiar stories, including key details.K.RI.KID.2
12
With prompting and support, orally identify characters, setting, and major events in a storyK.RI.KID.3
13
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.K.RI.CS.4
14
Recognize common types of texts.K.RI.CS.5
15
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points in a text.K.RI.IKI.8
16
Identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic including written details and illustrations when developmentally appropriate.K.RI.IKI.9
17
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.K.SL.CC.1
18
Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.K.SL.CC.2

Participate in grade-appropriate oral and written exchanges of information, ideas, and analyses, responding to peer, audience, or reader comments and questions.K.2

1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RL.KID.1
2
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.K.RL.CS.4
3
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
4
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.K.SL.CC.1
5
With guidance and support from adults, and in collaboration with peers, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and share writing.K.W.PDW.6
6
Participate in shared research and writing projects, such reading a number of books a favorite author and expressing opinions about them.K.W.RBPK.7
7
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.K.W.RBPK.8

Speak and write about grade-appropriate complex literary and informational texts and topicsK.3

1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RL.KID.1
2
With prompting and support, orally retell familiar stories, including key details.K.RL.KID.2
3
With prompting and support orally identify characters, setting and major events a story.K.RL.KID.3
4
With prompting and support, define the role of an author and illustrator the telling of a story.K.RL.CS.6
5
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the story which they appear.K.RL.IKI.7
6
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
7
With prompting and support, orally identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.K.RI.KID.2
8
With prompting and support, orally identify the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, pieces of information in a text.K.RI.KID.3
9
With prompting and support, define the role of an author and illustrator presenting the ideas or information in a text.K.RI.CS.6
10
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear.K.RI.IKI.7
11
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points in a text.K.RI.IKI.8
12
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.K.SL.CC.1
13
Confirm understanding of text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something not understood.K.SL.CC.2
14
Ask and answer questions order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.K.SL.CC.3
15
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events, and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.K.SL.PKI.4
16
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose opinion pieces.K.W.TTP.1
17
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose informative/explanatory texts.K.W.TTP.2
18
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to narrate a single event.K.W.TTP.3
19
With guidance and support, produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)K.W.PD.4
20
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.K.W.RBPK.8

Construct grade-appropriate oral and written claims and support them with reasoning and evidenceK.4

1
With prompting and support, define the role of authors and illustrators in the telling of a story.K.RL.CS.6
2
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the text which they appear.K.RL.IKI.7
3
With prompting and support, orally identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.K.RL.IKI.9
4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
5
With prompting and support, define the role of an author and illustrator presenting the ideas or information in a text.K.RI.CS.6
6
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the text which they appear.K.RI.IKI.7
7
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points in a text.K.RI.IKI.8
8
With prompting and support, orally identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.K.RI.IKI.9
9
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
10
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose opinion pieces.K.W.TTP.1
11
Participate in shared research and writing projects, such as reading number of books by a favorite author and expressing opinions about them.K.W.RBPK.7
12
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.K.W.RBPK.8
13
With guidance and support from adults, engage routinely in writing activities to promote writing fluency and build writing stamina.K.W.RW.10

Conduct research and evaluate and communicate findings to answer questions or solve problemsK.5

1
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.K.FL.F.5
1. a
  Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.K.FL.F.5.a
2
Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including capitalization and punctuation, when writing with adult support.K.FL.SC.6
1. a
  With modeling or verbal prompts, orally produce complete sentences.K.FL.SC.6.a
2. b
  Follow one-to-one correspondence between voice and print when writing sentence.K.FL.SC.6.b
3. c
  Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.c
4. d
  Form regular plural nouns when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.d
5. e
  Understand and use question words (interrogatives) when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.e
6. f
  Use most frequently occurring prepositions when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.f
7. g
  Produce and expand complete sentences shared language activities. Capitalize the first word in sentence and the pronoun Recognize and name end punctuation.K.FL.SC.6.g
3
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RL.KID.1
4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
5
With prompting and support, orally identify the main topic and retell key details of aK.RI.KID.2
6
With prompting and support, orally identify the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.K.RI.KID.3
7
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points a text.K.RI.IKI.8
8
With prompting and support, orally identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.K.RI.IKI.9
9
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events, and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.K.SL.PKI.4
10
Add drawings or other visual displays of descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.K.SL.PKI.5
11
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
12
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose opinion pieces.K.W.TTP.1
13
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose informative/explanatory texts.K.WTTP.2
14
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to narrate a single event.K.W.TTP.3
15
Participate in shared research and writing projects, such reading a number of books a favorite author and expressing opinions about them.K.W.RBPK.7
16
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer question.K.W.RBPK.8

Analyze and critique the arguments of others orally and in writingK.6

1
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when encoding words; write legibly.K.FL.WC.4
1. a
  Write uppercase and lowercase manuscript letters from memory.K.FL.WC.4.a
2. b
  Write a letter/letters for most consonant and short vowel sounds (phonemes).K.FL.WC.4.b
3. c
  Represent phonemes first last in simple words using letters (graphemes) such rop for rope.K.FL.WC.4.c
4. d
  Spell VC (at, in) and CVC (pet, mud) words with short vowels; spell V and CV (be, go) words with long vowels.K.FL.WC.4.d
5. e
  Identify the letters used to represent vowel phonemes and those used to represent consonants; know that every syllable has a vowel.K.FL.WC.4.e
6. f
  Write some common, frequently used words (am, and, like, the).K.FL.WC.4.f
7. g
  Print many upper lowercase letters.K.FL.WC.4.g
2
Demonstrate command the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including capitalization and punctuation, when writing with adult support.K.FL.SC.6
1. a
  With modeling or verbal prompts, orally produce complete sentences.K.FL.SC.6.a
2. b
  Follow one-to-one correspondence between voice and print when writing sentence.K.FL.SC.6.b
3. c
  Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.c
4. d
  Form regular plural nouns when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.d
5. e
  Understand and use question words (interrogatives) when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.e
6. f
  Use most frequently occurring prepositions when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.f
7. g
  Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.g
8. h
  Capitalize the first word a sentence and the pronounK.FL.SC.6.h
9. i
  Recognize and name end punctuation. With prompting and support, orally identify characters, setting, and major events story.K.FL.SC.6.i
3
With prompting and support, orally identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.K.RL.IKID.9
4
With prompting and support, orally identify the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.K.RI.KID.3
5
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points a text.K.RI.IKI.8
6
With prompting and support, orally identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.K.RI.IKI.9
7
Ask and answer questions order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.K.SL.CC.3
8
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
9
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing compose opinion pieces.K.W.TTP.1
10
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing compose informative/explanatoryK.WTTP.2

Adapt language choices to purpose, task, and audience when speaking and writingK.7

1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.K.RL.CS.4
2
With prompting and support, define the role of authors and illustrators in the telling of a story.K.RL.CS.6
3
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the story which they appear.K.RL.IKI.7
4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.K.RI.CS.4
5
With prompting and support, define the role of an author and illustrator presenting the ideas or information in a text.K.RI.CS.6
6
With prompting and support, orally describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear.K.RI.IKI.7
7
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.K.SL.CC.1
8
Ask and answer questions order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.K.SL.CC.3
9
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events, and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.K.SL.PKI.4
10
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
11
With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from others and add details to strengthen writing as needed.K.W.PDW.5
12
Participate in shared research and writing projects, such as reading number of books by a favorite author and expressing opinions about them.K.W.RBPK.7

Determine the meaning of words and phrases in oral presentations and literary and informational textK.8

1
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when decoding isolated words and in connected text.K.FL.PWR.3
1. a
  Distinguish long and short vowels when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.K.FL.PWR.3.a
2. b
  Know spelling-sound correspondences for additional common vowel teams.K.FL.PWR.3.b
3. c
  Decode regularly spelled two-syllable words with long vowels.K.FL.PWR.3.c
4. d
  Decode words with common prefixes and suffixes.K.FL.PWR.3.d
5. e
  Identify words with inconsistent but common spelling-sound correspondences.K.FL.PWR.3.e
6. f
  Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.K.FL.PWR.3.f
7. g
  Decode grade-level texts with purpose and understanding.K.FL.PWR.3.g
2
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.K.FL.F.5
3
K.FL.VA.7a Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Kindergarten conversations, reading, and content.K.FL.VA.7a
1. i
  Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately.K.FL.VA.7a.i
2. ii
  Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.K.FL.VA.7a.ii
4
With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances word meanings.K.FL.VA.7b
1. i
  Sort common objects into categories to gain a sense the concepts the categories represent.K.FL.VA.7b.i
2. ii
  Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites.K.FL.VA.7b.ii
3. iii
  Make real-life connections between words and their use.K.FL.VA.7b.iii
4. iv
  Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action.K.FL.VA.7b.iv
5
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.K.FL.VA.7c
6
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.K.RL.CS.4
7
With prompting and support, determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant a Kindergarten topic or subject areaK.RI.CS.4

Create clear and coherent grade-appropriate speech and textK.9

1
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when encoding words; write legibly.K.FL.WC.4
1. a
  Write uppercase and lowercase manuscript letters from memory.K.FL.WC.4.a
2. b
  Write a letter/letters for most consonant and short vowel sounds (phonemes).K.FL.WC.4.b
3. c
  Represent phonemes first to last in simple words using letters (graphemes) such rop for rope.K.FL.WC.4.c
4. d
  Spell VC (at, in) and CVC (pet, mud) words with short vowels; spell V (a, I) and CV (be, go) words with long vowels.K.FL.WC.4.d
5. e
  Identify the letters used represent vowel phonemes and those used to represent consonants; know that every syllable has a vowel.K.FL.WC.4.e
6. f
  Write some common, frequently used words (am, and, like, the).K.FL.WC.4.f
7. g
  Print many upper and lowercase letters.K.FL.WC.4.g
2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including capitalization and punctuation, when writing with adult support.K.FL.SC.6
1. a
  With modeling or verbal prompts, orally produce complete sentences.K.FL.SC.6.a
2. b
  Follow one-to-one correspondence between voice and print when writing a sentence.K.FL.SC.6.b
3. c
  Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.c
4. d
  Form regular plural nouns when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.d
5. e
  Understand and use question words (interrogatives) when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.e
6. f
  Use the most frequently occurring prepositions when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.f
7. g
  Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.g
8. h
  Capitalize the first word a sentence and the pronoun I.K.FL.SC.6.h
9. i
  Recognize and name end punctuation.K.FL.SC.6.i
3
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RL.KID.1
4
With prompting and support, orally identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.K.RL.KID.2
5
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.K.RI.KID.1
6
With prompting and support, orally identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.K.RI.KID.2
7
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.K.SL.CC.1
8
Ask and answer questions order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.K.SL.CC.3
9
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events, and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.K.SL.PKI.4
10
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
11
With guidance and support, produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)K.W.PDW.4
12
With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from others and add details to strengthen writing as needed.K.W.PDW.5
13
With guidance and support from adults, and in collaboration with peers, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and share writing.K.W.PDW.6
14
With guidance and support from adults, engage routinely in writing activities to promote writing fluency and build writing stamina.K.W.RW.10

Make accurate use of standard English to communicate in grade appropriate speech and writingK.10

1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including capitalization and punctuation, when writing with adult support.K.FL.SC.6
1. a
  With modeling or verbal prompts, orally produce complete sentences.K.FL.SC.6.a
2. b
  Follow one-to-one correspondence between voice and print when writing a sentence.K.FL.SC.6.b
3. c
  Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.c
4. d
  Form regular plural nouns when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.d
5. e
  Understand and use question words (interrogatives) when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.e
6. f
  Use the most frequently occurring prepositions when speaking and in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.f
7. g
  Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.K.FL.SC.6.g
8. h
  Capitalize the first word a sentence and the pronoun I.K.FL.SC.6.h
9. i
  Recognize and name end punctuation.K.FL.SC.6.i
2
With guidance and support, express thoughts, feelings, and ideas through speaking.K.SL.PKI.6
3
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose opinion pieces.K.W.TTP.1
4
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to compose informative/explanatory texts.K.WTTP.2
5
With prompting and support, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and/or writing to narrate a single event.K.W.TTP.3
6
With guidance and support, produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)K.W.PDW.4
7
With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from others and add details to strengthen writing as needed.K.W.PDW.5
8
With guidance and support from adults, engage routinely in writing activities to promote writing fluency and build writing stamina.K.W.RW.10

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?: Kindergarten
Where can I read the official document?: English Language Development& Academic Standards Crosswalk For Kindergarten English Language Arts (ELA) Tennessee Department of Education | July 2025

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