US Grade-Level Scope and Sequence

The Spelling Shed curriculum progression begins in each grade with a spiral review of previously taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs).

The first few lists are labeled as ‘optional’ because some may choose to utilize this review or skip it instead. Each grade level has additional optional lists for extended learning as needed.

K Scope

Kindergarten: The first three lists cover the 15 high-frequency words (HFWs) that make up about 25% of all texts. These HFWs can be taught after they know letter names and before formal phonics instruction begins. There are two suggested scope and sequences you can choose from. The partially decodable HFW (Buzz/Heart words) lists can be used in isolation as a single weekly list (Scope and Sequence 1), or teachers can use them alongside the weekly decodable lists (Scope and Sequence 2). See the Kindergarten Curriculum FAQ for more information on HFWs and the curriculum progression.

Suggested K Scope and Sequence (1) HFW Isolation

1st 9 Weeks

  • Pre-Spelling Shed Stage: Letter Recognition and Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondences
  • List1: HFW (1)
  • List2: HFW (2)
  • List3: HFW (3)

2nd 9 Weeks

  • List 4: Short a + s, t, p
  • List 5: Short i + n, m, d + s, t, p
  • List 6: Short a & i + s, t, p, n, m, d
  • Optional ExL List 7: Short a & i + s, t, p, n, m, d (2)
  • List 8: HFW (4)
  • List 9: Short o + g, c + s, t, p, n, m, d
  • List 10: Short a, i, o + k + g, c, s, t, p, n, d
  • List 11: HFW (5)
  • Optional ExL List 12: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW review
  • List 13: Short u + h, b + g, c, s, t, n, m, d
  • If optional lists are not used, continue progression in 3rd 9 weeks

3rd 9 Weeks

  • Optional ExL List 14: Short u + h, b + g, c, s, t, n, m, d (2)
  • List 15: HFW (6)
  • List 16: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW
  • List 17: Short e + r, l, f + b, g, s, t, n, d
  • List 18: Short Vowel Review; j + f, k, l, b, g, s, t, m
  • List 19: HFW (7)
  • Optional ExL List 20: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW review (2)
  • List 21: Short Vowel Review; r
  • List 22: Short Vowel Review; v, w, x
  • List 23: HFW (8)
  • If optional lists are not used, continue progression in 4th 9 weeks

4th 9 Weeks

  • Optional ExL List 24: Short Vowel Review; v, w, x (2)
  • List 25: Short Vowel Review; y, z
  • List 26: HFW (9)
  • List 27: Short Vowels with 'ck'
  • List 28: Short Vowels with 'ch' & 'tch'
  • List 29: HFW (10)
  • List 30: Short Vowels with 'sh'
  • List 31: Short Vowels with 'th'
  • List 32: Short Vowels with 'wh'

Optional Extended Learning Lists:


  • Optional ExL List 33: Split Digraph - 'a_e' & 'i_e'
  • Optional List 36: Decodable/ Flash Words HFW review ALL (4)
  • Optional ExL List 34: Split Digraph - 'e_e', 'o_e', & 'u_e'
  • Optional List 37: ALL Partially Decodable HFW (review)
  • Optional ExL List 35: (Decodable/ Flash Words) HFW review (3)

Suggested K Scope and Sequence (2) HFW Integration

1st 9 Weeks

  • Pre-Spelling Shed Stage: Letter Recognition and Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondences
  • List 1: HFW
  • List 2: HFW (2)
  • List 3: HFW (3)

2nd 9 Weeks

  • List 4: Short a + s, t, p
  • List 5: Short i + n, m, d + s, t, p | List 8: HFW (4)
  • List 6: Short a & i + s, t, p, n, m, d | List 8: HFW (4)
  • Optional ExL List 7: Short a & i + s, t, p, n, m, d (2)
  • List 9: Short o + g, c + s, t, p, n, m, d | List 11: HFW (5)
  • List 10: Short a, i, o + k + g, c, s, t, p, n, d | List 11: HFW (5)"
  • Optional ExL List 12: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW review
  • List 13: Short u + h, b + g, c, s, t, n, m, d
  • If optional lists are not used, continue progression in 3rd 9 weeks

3rd 9 Weeks

  • Optional ExL List 14: Short u + h, b + g, c, s, t, n, m, d (2)
  • List 16: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW | List 15: HFW (6)
  • List 17: Short e + r, l, f + b, g, s, t, n, d | List 15: HFW (6)
  • List 18: Short Vowel Review; j + f, k, l, b, g, s, t, m | List 19: HFW (7)
  • Optional ExL List 20: (Decodable/Flash Words) HFW review (2)
  • List 21: Short Vowel Review; r | List 19: HFW (7)
  • List 22: Short Vowel Review; v, w, x | List 23: HFW (8)
  • Optional ExL List 24: Short Vowel Review; v, w, x (2)
  • List 25: Short Vowel Review; y, z | List 23: HFW (8)
  • If optional lists are not used, continue progression in 4th 9 weeks

4th 9 Weeks

  • List 27: Short Vowels with 'ck' | List 26: HFW (9)
  • List 28: Short Vowels with 'ch' & 'tch' | List 26: HFW (9)
  • List 30: Short Vowels with 'sh' | List 29: HFW (10)
  • List 31: Short Vowels with 'th' | List 29: HFW (10)
  • List 32: Short Vowels with 'wh'

Optional Extended Learning Lists:


  • Optional ExL List 33: Split Digraph - 'a_e' & 'i_e'
  • Optional List 36: (Decodable/ Flash Words) HFW review ALL (4)
  • Optional ExL List 34: Split Digraph - 'e_e', 'o_e', & 'u_e'
  • Optional List 37: ALL Partially Decodable HFW (review)
  • Optional ExL List 35: (Decodable/ Flash Words) HFW review (3)

1st Grade Scope

2nd Grade Scope

3rd Grade Scope

4th Grade Scope

5th Grade Scope