Grades K–5

Foundational Skills Kits

Foundational Skills Kits: Grades K–3

Foundations for Lifelong Literacy

The Science of Reading reveals a clear link between early literacy skills and later success in reading and writing. It tells us that complex learning cannot take place without strong foundational skill. Foundational Skills Kits lay the critical groundwork for fluency and comprehension. In Grades K – 3, instruction will emphasize:​

  • Letter knowledge and phonemic awareness​
  • Oral blending and segmentation
  • Phonics to learn sound/spelling relationships
  • Oral language and vocabulary
  • Fluency, including decoding and encoding
  • Foundational word analysis

Components for Foundational Skills Kits

Grade K


Instructional Resources

Student Components


Kit Resources

  • Alphabet Wall Cards​
  • Small-Group Alphabet Sound Cards​
  • Individual Alphabet Sound Cards (4 sets)​
  • High-Frequency Flash Cards​
  • Pre-Decodable & Decodable Take-home BLM​
  • Magnetic Letters​
  • Pocket Chart​
  • Individual Pocket Chart​
  • Pocket Chart Picture Cards​
  • Pocket Chart Word Cards
  • Lion Puppet​
  • Alphabet Letter Cards (upper & lowercase)​
  • Magnetic Dry Erase Board​
  • Alphabet Little Book​
  • Pickled Peppers Little Book​
  • Letter Cubes​
  • English Learner Photo Cards​
  • Alphabet Sound Stickers​
Cover of Grade K Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade K Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade K Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade K Alphabet Sound Cards

Alphabet Sound Cards
31 color-coded cards: 21 consonants, 5 long vowels, 5 short vowels. ​Three sizes: Individual, Small-Group, Wall Card​. Digital cards recite the sound card story and each picture illustrates a motion.

Cover of Grade K Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade K Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade K Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade K Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories

Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories
14 Core Pre-Decodable
28 core decodable stories
Available in print and digital format.

Teacher Components

Components available in both print and digital format (unless noted otherwise)


Cover of Grade K Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade K Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade K Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade K Teacher’s Guide

Teacher’s Guide
Every lesson provides differentiated instruction for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and language development, and word analysis.

Cover of Grade K Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade K Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade K Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade K Teacher Resource Book

Teacher Resource Book
Lesson-by-lesson instructional support for at-risk and English learners. Implemented during small-group.

Cover of Grade K Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade K Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade K Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade K Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key

Skills Practice BLM
Practice alphabetic knowledge, phonemic awareness, and phonics.

Cover of Grade K of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade K of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade K of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade K of Assessment BLM

Assessment BLM (digital only)
Measure alphabetic knowledge, phonemic awareness, and phonics.

Grade 1


Instructional Resources

Student Components


Cover of Grade 1 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 1 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 1 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 1 Alphabet Sound Cards

Sound/Spelling Cards
Represents 44 most common sounds. ​ Three sizes: Individual, Small-Group, Wall. ​Digital versions recite the Sound/Spelling story, and the picture illustrates a motion.

Cover of Grade 1 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 1 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 1 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 1 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories

Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories
Five Pre-Decodable stories and 109 decodable stories. Available in print and digital format.

Teacher Components

Components available in both print and digital format (unless noted otherwise)


Cover of Grade 1 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 1 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 1 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 1 Teacher’s Guide

Teacher’s Guide
Every lesson provides differentiated instruction for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and language development, and word analysis.

Cover of Grade 1 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 1 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 1 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 1 Teacher Resource Book

Teacher Resource Book
Lesson-by-lesson instructional support for at-risk and English learners. Implemented during small-group.

Cover of Grade 1 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 1 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 1 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 1 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key

Skills Practice BLM
Practice phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.

Cover of Grade 1 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 1 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 1 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 1 of Assessment BLM

Assessment BLM (digital only)
Measure phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.

Grade 2


Instructional Resources

Student Components


Cover of Grade 2 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 2 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 2 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 2 Alphabet Sound Cards

Sound/Spelling Cards
Represents 44 most common sounds. ​ Three sizes: Individual, Small-Group, Wall. ​Digital versions recite the Sound/Spelling story, and the picture illustrates a motion.

Cover of Grade 2 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 2 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 2 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 2 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories

Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories
55 Core Decodable stories in seven books. Available in print and digital format.

Teacher Components

Components available in both print and digital format (unless noted otherwise)


Cover of Grade 2 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 2 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 2 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 2 Teacher’s Guide

Teacher’s Guide
Every lesson provides differentiated instruction for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and language development, and word analysis.

Cover of Grade 2 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 2 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 2 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 2 Teacher Resource Book

Teacher Resource Book
Lesson-by-lesson instructional support for at-risk and English learners. Implemented during small-group.

Cover of Grade 2 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 2 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 2 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 2 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key

Skills Practice BLM
Practice phonics, spelling, accessing complex texts, writing, grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Cover of Grade 2 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 2 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 2 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 2 of Assessment BLM

Assessment BLM (digital only)
Measure phonics, spelling, accessing complex texts, writing, grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Grade 3


Instructional Resources

Student Components


Cover of Grade 3 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 3 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 3 Alphabet Sound Cards Cover of Grade 3 Alphabet Sound Cards

Sound/Spelling Cards
Represents 44 most common sounds. ​ Three sizes: Individual, Small-Group, Wall. ​Digital versions recite the Sound/Spelling story, and the picture illustrates a motion.

Cover of Grade 3 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 3 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 3 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories Cover of Grade 3 Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories

Pre-Decodable and Decodable Stories
23 Core Decodable stories available in four books​. Available in print and digital format.

Teacher Components

Components available in both print and digital format (unless noted otherwise)


Cover of Grade 3 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 3 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 3 Teacher’s Guide Cover of Grade 3 Teacher’s Guide

Teacher’s Guide
Every lesson provides differentiated instruction for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and language development, and word analysis.

Cover of Grade 3 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 3 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 3 Teacher Resource Book Cover of Grade 3 Teacher Resource Book

Teacher Resource Book
Lesson-by-lesson instructional support for at-risk and English learners. Implemented during small-group.

Cover of Grade 3 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 3 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 3 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key Cover of Grade 3 Skills Practice BLM with Answer Key

Skills Practice BLM
Practice word analysis, vocabulary, accessing complex texts, spelling, fluency writing, grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Cover of Grade 3 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 3 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 3 of Assessment BLM Cover of Grade 3 of Assessment BLM

Assessment BLM (digital only)
Measure word analysis, vocabulary, accessing complex texts, spelling, fluency writing, grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Sample Program Online

Get a sample of Foundational Skills Kits Open Court Reading. Discover new ideas, lessons, and strategies to improve literacy skills.