Language Arts State Standards
The standards describe
a connected body of linguistic understandings and competencies and are a comprehensive
foundation that all students should learn. They describe the knowledge and
skills that students should acquire from Kindergarten through high school.
Standard 1: READING: Word Recognition, Fluency, and Vocabulary Development
Word Recognition involves the understanding of the basic features of words:
word parts, patterns, relationships, and origins. Students use phonics, context
clues, and a growing knowledge of English and other languages to determine
the meaning of words and become fluent readers.
Standard 2: READING: Comprehension
Comprehension involves understanding grade-level-appropriate material. Students
develop strategies such as asking questions; making predictions; and identifying
and analyzing structure, organization, perspective, and purpose. After Grade
5, the focus is on informational texts.
Standard 3: READING: Literary Response and Analysis
Response to grade-level-appropriate literature includes identifying story
elements such as character, theme, plot, and setting, and making connections
and comparisons across texts. Literary response enhances students' understanding
of history, culture, and the social sciences.
Standard 4: WRITING: Process
The writing process includes prewriting, drafting, editing, and revising.
Students progress through these stages to write clear, coherent, and focused
paragraphs and essays.
Standard 5: WRITING: Applications
Through the exploration of different types of writing and the characteristics
of each, students become proficient at narrative (stories), expository (informational),
descriptive (sensory), persuasive (emotional appeal), argumentative (logical
defense), and technical writing. Writing demonstrates an awareness of the
audience (intended reader) and purpose for writing.
Standard 6: WRITING: English Language Conventions
Conventions include the grade-level-appropriate mechanics of writing, such
as penmanship, spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure,
and manuscript form.
Standard 7: LISTENING AND SPEAKING: Skills, Strategies, and Applications
Response to oral communication includes careful listening and evaluation of
content. Speaking skills, such as phrasing, pitch, and tone are developed
in conjunction with such strategies as narration, exposition, description,
and persuasion and are applied to students' delivery of oral presentations.