What a kindergartner learns in math and reading
Kindergarten · the Common Core skills, in plain words · updated 2026-11-02
This is the whole list: 22 math skills and 15 reading skills a kindergartner is expected to learn, with the Common Core code next to each one. In math, kindergarten is mostly counting and cardinality, geometry, operations and algebraic thinking. In reading, the weight is on reading foundations and language.
Not sure where your child is? Teach Me runs a free 5-minute check and tells you which of these skills they have and which they still need. Then 15 minutes a day works on the gaps, with a hint before the answer. No ads, no account for the child.
Start the free checkMath: Kindergarten
Counting and cardinality
- Counting things K.CC.B.5 — Touch each one as you count it. Do not skip any.
- Counting up K.CC.A.2 — Say the numbers out loud until you get there.
- Number for the dots K.CC.A.3 — Count the dots. Then find that number.
- One more K.CC.B.4 — Say the number. The next number you count is one more.
- More or fewer K.CC.C.6 — Count each group. The bigger count has more.
- Bigger or smaller K.CC.C.7 — The one you say later when you count is the bigger one.
- Counting to 100 K.CC.A.1 — Say it out loud. By tens: ten, twenty, thirty. Each one is ten more.
Operations and algebraic thinking
- Picture to number sentence K.OA.A.1 — Count each colour. Crossed out means take away.
- Add and take away to 10 K.OA.A.2 — Hold up that many fingers. Then count on, or fold some down.
- Breaking numbers apart K.OA.A.3 — Hold up the big number on your fingers. Fold down the first part. What is left?
- Making 10 K.OA.A.4 — Count up from your number until you get to 10.
- Add and take away to 5 K.OA.A.5 — Use one hand. Put fingers up, or fold them down.
Numbers in base ten
- Teen numbers K.NBT.A.1 — Every teen number starts with one ten. The last digit is the ones.
Measurement and data
- Long or heavy K.MD.A.1 — Long is about how far it reaches. Heavy is about how hard it is to lift.
- Longer or shorter K.MD.A.2 — Line them up at one end. Look at which one sticks out.
- Sort and count K.MD.B.3 — Only count the one it asks about. Touch each one.
Geometry
- Above, below, next to K.G.A.1 — Above is over the top. Below is under. Next to is at the side.
- Find the shape K.G.A.2 — A triangle has 3 straight sides. Count the sides of each one.
- Flat or solid K.G.A.3 — Flat lies on paper. Solid you can hold in your hand.
- Sides and corners K.G.B.4 — Draw it with your finger. Count each straight side as you go.
- Build a shape K.G.B.5 — One stick makes one side. Count the sides of each shape.
- Put shapes together K.G.B.6 — Slide the two pieces until they touch. What do they make?
Reading: Kindergarten
Reading foundations
- Letter names RF.K.1d — Say the letter name out loud. Big and small letters have the same name.
- Rhyming words RF.K.2a — Rhyming words end with the same sound. Say them out loud.
- Clapping syllables RF.K.2b — Clap once for each beat as you say the word.
- First sounds RF.K.2d — Say the word slowly. What sound comes first?
- Last sounds RF.K.2d — Say the word slowly. What sound comes last?
- Blending sounds RF.K.3b — Say each sound, then say them fast together.
- Short vowel sounds RF.K.3b — The vowel is in the middle. Say the word and listen for it.
- Sight words RF.K.3c — Look at the first letter. Say the word you know.
Language
- Capital letters L.K.2a — A sentence starts with a capital letter. The word I is always a capital.
- End marks L.K.2b — A telling sentence ends with a period. A question ends with a question mark.
- One and many L.K.1c — More than one usually adds an s.
- Opposites L.K.5b — An opposite is the other way around, like hot and cold.
- Sorting words L.K.5a — Think about what group each word belongs to.
Literature
- Story questions RL.K.1 — Listen to the story again. Who is in it? What happens?
Informational text
- Facts in a text RI.K.2 — What is the text mostly about? Listen for the big idea.
Reading practice includes 30 short texts at this level, among them 6 science and 6 history passages, with questions that check understanding.
How Teach Me uses this list
The check asks a few questions from this grade and the ones around it to find where your child really is, which is often not the grade on the door. Each day's set then comes from the skills they have not got yet. A skill counts as known when they get it right on their own, more than once. Parents see which skills are open and which are solid, and can point the practice at any topic above.
Teach Me is free. It follows the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts; high school math follows California's traditional pathway (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus).