Sound Reversal CFA Worksheet
Sound Reversal Check
Common Formative Assessment • 2.FR.PA.2a
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Follow the directions for each section. Listen carefully to the sounds as you complete your work.
1
Level 1: Sound Flips
Listen to the word. Reverse the first and last sounds to create a new word.
-
Say: "tub"
-
Say: "net"
-
Say: "pit"
-
Say: "pan"
2
Level 2: Real or Nonsense?
Reverse the sounds in each word. Then, check "Real" if it's a real word or "Nonsense" if it isn't.
5. "gas"
Real
Nonsense
6. "dot"
Real
Nonsense
7. "mug"
Real
Nonsense
8. "sub"
Real
Nonsense
3
Level 3: Strategic Thinking
9. Look at the word pair "top" and "pot".
What happened to the sounds to change the first word into the second word? Explain it in your own words.
10. If you reverse the sounds in "bed", you get "deb".
Is "deb" a real word? Why do some reversals create real words while others do not?
11. Circle the word that becomes a DIFFERENT real word when you reverse its first and last sounds.
CAT
SIT
BUS
PIG
Write the new word you made:
12. Challenge: The sounds in a mystery word are /k/ /a/ /n/.
What is the mystery word? If you swap the /k/ and the /n/ sounds, what is the new word you created?
Mystery Word:
New Swapped Word:
Sound Reversal Teacher Guide
Scoring & Assessment Guide
Teacher Resource • CFA 2.FR.PA.2a
Answer Key & Rubric
This guide provides the expected responses for the Sound Reversal CFA and a standardized scoring rubric based on 12 assessment items.
Answer Key
Level 1: Sound Flips
- 1. tub → but
- 2. net → ten
- 3. pit → tip
- 4. pan → nap
Level 2: Real or Nonsense?
- 5. gas → sag Real
- 6. dot → tod Nonsense
- 7. mug → gum Real
- 8. sub → bus Real
Level 3: Strategic Thinking
9. Explanation
"The sounds were swapped. The first sound /t/ moved to the end, and the last sound /p/ moved to the beginning."
10. Real vs Nonsense
"No, 'deb' is a nonsense word. Words are only real if they have a meaning we recognize."
11. Circle & Identify
Circle: BUS. Write: SUB. (Note: others produce nonsense words: 'tac', 'tis', 'gip')
12. Challenge
Mystery Word: CAN. Swapped Word: NAC.
Scoring Rubric (4-Point Scale)
| Score | Performance Level | Success Criteria |
|---|
| 4 | Exceeds Standard | |
| 11-12 Items Correct | | |
Shows strong fluency and automaticity in reversing phonemes. Can clearly articulate the process of sound manipulation and identify the difference between real and nonsense word outcomes. |
| 3 | Meets Standard |
9-10 Items Correct
Demonstrates clear understanding of the phoneme reversal task. Correctly identifies word meanings in Level 2 and completes most analysis in Level 3. |
| 2 | Approaching Standard |
6-8 Items Correct
Shows partial understanding. May struggle with middle sounds during reversal or fail to correctly distinguish real words from nonsense words. Difficulty with verbalizing the process in Level 3. |
| 1 | Below Standard |
0-5 Items Correct
Significant difficulty manipulating sounds. May repeat the original word, guess randomly, or omit sounds entirely. Requires intensive intervention. |
Administration Tip
Administer this CFA in a small group setting to ensure students hear the phonemes clearly. For students with writing barriers, allow them to dictate their Level 3 responses.
Differentiation
For students scoring a 1 or 2, use Elkonin boxes with physical manipulatives (like chips) to model the "flip" visually before asking for the oral reversal.
