Essential Learnings K-5
What will students know and be able to do?
Kindergarten
Word Study (K)
- Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes)
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
- With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (K)
- Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print
- Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book
- Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding
- Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding
- Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with adults and peers
- Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media
- With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text
- With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key events in a story
- With prompting and support, identify characters, setting, and major events in a story
- With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories
- With prompting and support, identify similarities and differences between texts on the same topic
- With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text
- With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text
- With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear
- With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text
Writing (K)
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events
- With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from adults and peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
Grade 1
Word Study (Gr 1)
- Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes)
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words
- With support, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (Gr 1)
- Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print
- With prompting and support, read prose, poetry, and informational text of appropriate complexity for grade 1
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups
- Ask and answer questions about key details in text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies
- Ask and answer questions about key details in a text
- Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message of lesson
- Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text
- Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details
- Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text
- Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories
- Identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic
- Know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text
- Use illustrations and details in a text to describe key ideas
- Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text
Writing (Gr 1)
- Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure
- Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure
- Write narratives and other creative texts which recount two more appropriately sequenced events
- With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from adults and peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
Grade 2
Word Study (Gr 2)
-
Know and apply grade-level phonics and
word analysis in decoding words -
Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (Gr 2)
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic of subject area
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content choosing flexibly from an array of strategies
- Select, read, and comprehend literature and informational texts in the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range
- Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups
- Recount or describe key details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media
- Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in text
- Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral
- Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges
- Identify the main topics of a multi-paragraph texts as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text
- Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in a technical procedure
- Know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently
- Explain how specific images contribute to the clarity of a text
- Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text
- Compare and contrast the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic
- Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story by different authors or from different cultures
Writing (Gr 2)
- Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic, state and opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section
- Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section
- Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event of short sequence of events, include details to describe action, thoughts, and feelings; use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure
- With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen as needed by revising and editing
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
Grade 3
Word Study (Gr 3)
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis in decoding words
- Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (Gr 3)
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content choosing flexibly from an array of strategies
- Determine the meaning of general academic and domain specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic of subject area
- Read and comprehend literature and informational texts in the grades 2-3 text complexity band independently and proficiently
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, on grade 3 topics and texts building on other’s ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly
- Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as a basis for the answers
- Recount stories, including fables, myths, and folktales from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text
- Describe characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
- Determine the meanings of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from non-literal language
- Determine the main idea of a text, recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea
- Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific concepts or ideas, or steps in a technical procedure; using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause and effect
- Use text features and search tools to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently
- Use information gained from illustrations and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text
- Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text
- Compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic
- Compare and contrast the themes, setting, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters
Writing (Gr 3)
- Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter times frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purpose, and audiences
- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting point of view with reasons and information
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly
- Write narratives and other creative texts to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequence
- With guidance and support from peers and adults, use a writing process to develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, drafting, revising, and editing
- With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others
- Conduct short research topics that build knowledge about a topic
- Recall relevant information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence in provided categories
- Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
Grade 4
Word Study (Gr 4)
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis in decoding words
- Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (Gr 4)
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content choosing flexibly from an array of strategies
- Determine meanings of words and phrases as they are used in a text
- Read and comprehend literature and informational texts in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, on grade 4 topics and texts building on other’s ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly
- Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from a text
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text
- Determine the main idea of a texts and explain how it is supported by the key details; summarize the text
- Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text
- Describe the overall structure of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text
- Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively and explain how the information contributes to an understanding or the text in which it appears
- Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text
- Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably
- Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics and patterns of events in stories, myths, and traditional literature from different cultures
Writing (Gr 4)
- Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter times frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purpose, and audiences
- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting point of view with reasons and information
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly
- Write narratives and other creative texts to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequence
- With guidance and support from peers and adults, use a writing process to develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, drafting, revising, and editing
- With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills
- Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic
- Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources
- Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or theme; speak clearly at an understandable pace
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
Grade 5
Word Study (Gr 5)
- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis in decoding words
- Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings to develop word consciousness
Reading (Gr 5)
- Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content choosing flexibly from an array of strategies
- Determine meanings of words and phrases as they are used in a text
- Read and comprehend literature and informational texts in the grades 4-5 text complexity band independently and proficiently
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, on grade 5 topics and texts building on other’s ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly
- Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text
- Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text
- Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text
- Compare and contrast stories in the same genre on their approaches to similar themes and topics
- Compare and contrast the overall structure of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts
- Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate and answer questions quickly or solve problems efficiently
- Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text
- Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak knowledgeably about the subject
Writing (Gr 5)
- Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter times frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purpose, and audiences
- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting point of view with reasons and information
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly
- Write narratives and other creative texts to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequence
- With guidance and support from peers and adults, use a writing process to develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, drafting, revising, and editing
- With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills
- Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic
- Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
- Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize/paraphrase information in notes and, provide a list of sources
- Report on a topic or text to present an opinion sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace
- Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas and themes
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing and speaking
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing