Are you looking for quick, no-prep phonics assessments to track your students’ progress with specific phonics skills?

These phonics progress monitoring tools are perfect for efficiently checking which phonics skills your students have mastered. You’ll have everything you need for phonics data collection, starting with a baseline assessment and followed by ten additional progress monitoring assessments to chart student growth. This set also comes with a data tracking graph and assessment data sheets to help you stay organized throughout the progress monitoring process.

No need to worry about making new assessments each week for progress monitoring—these are ready to print and go! They’re simple to administer and easy to track!

What phonics skills are assessed?

This set assesses words containing r-controlled vowels. Words may follow a CVCC, CVC, or VCC pattern. All r-controlled vowels are mixed rather than assessed separately, providing a more accurate reflection of each student’s overall ability. Included r-controlled blends: -ar, -er, -ir, -or, -ur.

What is Included?

• Data Tracking Graph - A single-page graph for each student makes tracking and record-keeping simple and easy to analyze.
• Assessment Data Sheets – This four-page set tracks student progress from the baseline assessment through all 10 progress monitoring assessments. Each sheet provides space for noting student errors or misconceptions during assessments, making it easier to plan next instructional steps or share information about learning gaps with administrators or parents.
• 1 Baseline Assessment – The baseline assessment uses only nonsense words. (See below for the reasons why!)
• 10 Progress Monitoring Assessments – All assessments use only nonsense words. (See below for the reasons why!)
• Individual Word Lists for Each Assessment – Print once and reuse again and again by laminating or placing in sleeve protectors, making it more durable and easier for students to read and interact with.

Check out the preview for more details!

Why are nonsense words assessed instead of real words?

When assessing a student’s ability to decode, the primary goal is to determine whether they can apply phonics knowledge to unfamiliar words – not just recall words they’ve memorized. Reading nonsense words requires students to use decoding strategies, making it easier to spot gaps in phonemic awareness or phonics knowledge that might be masked when reading real words.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Reading instruction should still use real words, while nonsense words are used only for assessment purposes.

Why should I progress monitor phonics skills?

Progress monitoring plays a crucial role in effective instruction. It helps you determine whether your teaching strategies or interventions are successful. Here’s why it matters:

• It lets you know when to adjust your approach if students aren’t making progress.
• It signals when a student has mastered a skill and is ready to move forward.
• It shows you when to slow down and provide extra support if a student is struggling.
• It motivates students as they see their own growth over time.
• It provides valuable information to share with parents and administrators, highlighting student progress and instructional effectiveness.

Looking for additional progress monitoring assessments for other phonics skills? Check out the products below!

Phonics Progress Monitoring Assessments Bundle

VC Progress Monitoring Assessments

CVC Progress Monitoring Assessments

Digraphs (CCVC/CVCC) Progress Monitoring Assessments

Initial Blends (CCVC) Progress Monitoring Assessments

Final Blends (CVVC) Progress Monitoring Assessments

Initial and Final Blends (CCVCC) Progress Monitoring Assessments

Digraphs and Blends (CCVCC) Progress Monitoring Assessments

CVCe Progress Monitoring Assessments

Mixed CVC & CVCe Progress Monitoring Assessments

Digraphs and Blends (CCVC/CVCC & CCVCe) Progress Monitoring Assessments

R-Controlled Progress Monitoring Assessments

Vowel Teams Progress Monitoring Assessments

Diphthongs Progress Monitoring Assessments