Teacher’s Guide

Phonics Snapshot Assessment

Who is this for?
The Phonics Snapshot Assessment is a quick phonics assessment created for any teacher
who is teaching reading through phonics. The results will give you a “snapshot” perspective
of your students’ mastery of phonics and exactly what skill(s) you should teach next.
Why should I use it?
Research shows that phonics is the most effective way to learn to read English. In order to
teach phonics effectively, phonics instruction should be explicit and systematic. The results
of this assessment will show you what to teach your students next so that they can
progress in their reading.
When should I use it?
This assessment should be used anytime that you need to guide your phonics instruction. Use
this assessment at the beginning of the school year or semester or upon receiving a new
student. If you are working to provide targeted small group instruction or differentiate for
your learners, the results of this assessment will give you the results you need. If a student
is not progressing in their reading and you are unsure what they need help with, administer
this assessment.
Where should I use it?
This versatile phonics assessment can be used whole group, small group, or one-on-one.
What is included?
Everything you need! A teacher script, student answer pages, student result sheet, class
results sheet, and student grouping form are all included.
How do I use it?
Administer the assessment by reading the Teacher’s Script. Each student will need the
Student Answer Sheet or a blank sheet of paper, numbered to 20. After administering the
assessment, use the Student Results sheet to analyze student assessments. Organize data
using the Class Results Sheet and finally, group students using the Student Groupings Sheet.
© A Teachable Teacher
 Thank you for downloading!
I sincerely hope that you find this resource to be useful in
your classroom. If you have any questions or suggestions,
feel free to contact me via email:
lauren@aTeachableTeacher.com

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 Teacher’s Script
Phonics Snapshot Assessment
Today we are going to do an activity that will help me teach you to be better
readers. This is not a test, so do not worry. I am going to say a word and use the
word in a sentence. I want you to write the word as best as you can. Even if you
do not know how to write the word, just try your best.
1. Tag. My brother and I like to play tag. Tag.
2. Run. I can run fast. Run.
3. Hot. It is hot outside today. Hot.
4. Jet. The jet flies in the sky. Jet.
5. Pin. She puts a pin in her hair. Pin.
6. Shed. We keep tools in the shed. Shed.
7. Chip. I dip the chip in salsa. Chip.
8. Path. He walks down the path in the park. Path.
9. Slug. There is a slug in the garden. Slug.
10. Nest. Do you see the nest in the tree? Nest.
11. Wide. The river is wide. Wide.
12. Cape. The superhero wore a cape. Cape.
13. Phone. The phone rang. Phone.
14. Sleep. Did you sleep last night? Sleep.
15. Coat. Please wear your coat outside. Coat.
16. Fruit. The fruit is in the basket. Fruit.
17. Hurt. Did you hurt your knee? Hurt.
18. Storm. There is a storm outside. Storm.
19. Point. Can you point to your desk? Point.
20. Shout. I shout to my sister. Shout. © A Teachable Teacher
 Student Answer Sheet
Phonics Snapshot Assessment
Name: Date:
1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

11. 12.

13. 14.

15. 16.

17. 18.

19. 20.
© A Teachable Teacher
 A Teacher’s Guide to Scoring & Analyzing
Phonics Snapshot Assessment
Materials Needed
Be sure to have a Student Answer Sheet and one Phonics Snapshot Assessment Score for
each student assessed. You’ll need one Class Results Page & one Student Groupings Page if
applicable.
Decide on Mastery
At what percentage correct do you consider “mastery”? I consider a skill mastered if a
student scores 80% or above. Decide what you consider mastery.
How to Score and Analyze
• Analyze how the student spelled each word. Circle or highlight the skill the student
understands. For example, in the word “tag,” there is an initial consonant, short vowel,
and final consonant. Circle the skills that the student understands based on their writing
of the word.
• At the bottom, count and calculate the total number of circles/highlights for each skill.
• Circle the first skill (skills are in order from left to right, top to bottom) where the
score falls below mastery. This is your target phonics skill, or what you want to
teach/review next for that student.
Class Results & Student Groupings [If Applicable]
• If you’re working with a class, input their results in the Class Results Page. Next to each
box, check the box that matches the student target skill.
• On the Student Groupings page, write each student’s name under their current target
skill. Voila! You now have targeted groups for differentiation!
• Phonemic Awareness & the Alphabet: If a child did not master initial consonants, it
is likely that they require more phonological and phonemic awareness instruction,
as well as instruction on the letter names and sounds.
• Multisyllabic words: If a child has mastered all of the skills in this assessment, it is
likely that you should assess them for their ability to decode and read
multisyllabic words.
More info available at www.ateachableteacher.com/free-phonics-assessment © A Teachable Teacher
Name: Date: Target Skill:

Phonics Snapshot Assessment Score

Circle or highlight the skills that the student understands.
1. tag initial consonant short vowel final consonant
2. run initial consonant short vowel final consonant
3. hot initial consonant short vowel final consonant
4. jet initial consonant short vowel final consonant
5. pin initial consonant short vowel final consonant
6. shed digraph short vowel final consonant
7. chip digraph short vowel final consonant
8. path initial consonant short vowel digraph
9. slug blend short vowel final consonant
10. nest initial consonant short vowel blend
11. wide initial consonant silent e
12. cape initial consonant silent e
13. phone digraph silent e
14. sleep blend vowel team final consonant
15. coat initial consonant vowel team final consonant
16. fruit blend vowel team final consonant
17. hurt initial consonant r-controlled vowel final consonant
© A Teachable Teacher
18. storm blend r-controlled vowel final consonant
19. point initial consonant diphthong blend
20. shout digraph diphthong final consonant
Calculate and write the number of times the skill was circled or highlighted.
initial consonants ____/12 final consonants ____/14 short vowels ____/10 digraphs ____/5

blends ____/6 silent e ____/3 vowel teams ____/3 r-controlled ____/2 diphthongs _____/2
Sample Scoring blends

tag
run
hot
jit
pin
shed
chip
path
sug
nes
wid
cap
fon
sep
cot
frt
hrt
srm
pot
shot

12 14 9 4

1 0 0 0 0
 Phonics Snapshot Assessment Score Explained

The first
skill to
score below
mastery
becomes
the target
skill – what
you want to
You don’t teach (or
need to reteach)
rewrite next. (See
their bottom of
spellings page for
here, I scores.)
just did
that to
show you
how they
spelled
the A skill is
words. only
circled if
the
student’s
spelling
shows the
skill.

Total the
number of
circles/
highglights
for each
skill.

Skills are in order from left to right, top to bottom. The first skill below mastery becomes the target skill.
 Class Results
Phonics Snapshot Assessment
Initial Final Short Long Vowel R-
Next Targeted Skill to Teach >> Digraphs Blends Silent E Diphthongs
Consonants Consonants Vowels Teams Controlled

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

© A Teachable Teacher
 Student Groupings
Phonics Snapshot Assessment
phonemic awareness & the alphabet

initial consonants final consonants short vowels

digraphs blends silent e

long vowels r-controlled vowels diphthongs

multisyllabic words

© A Teachable Teacher
graphic & font credits