Language Arts back

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Preschool, ASES students will be able to:

• Hold and use writing instruments correctly;
• Have an awareness of the feelings of others;
• Make decisions independently;
• Have a willingness to share and take turns;
• Demonstrate a positive relationship with others;
• Participate in group activities;
• Speak in complete sentences;
• Be attentive in a large group;
• Work and play well with others;
• Take care of personal belongings;
• Respond and relate to adults;
• Clean own area without constant supervision;
• Print and read his/her first name;
• Take care of basic personal hygiene:
• Washes hands properly;
• Potties without help;
• Cleans his/her nose;
• Demonstrate self-help skills:
• Pours juice;
• Removes, hangs up, and puts on coat;
• Removes and puts on shoes.

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Kindergarten, ASES students will be able to:

• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Understand the concept of directionality (left to right, top, middle, bottom);
• Match similar/different letters and words;
• Recognize and write upper and lower case letters and their own first and last name;
• Recognize initial/final consonant sounds, vowels, rhyming words, and be able to recite rhymes from memory;
• Print their own first and last name with upper and lower case letters;
• Listen to a short story, illustrate the main idea, predict, sequence events, and retell the story;
• Communicate their birthday, first and last name, address, and telephone number;
• Identify color words, number words, days of the week, and recognize some words on sight providing opportunities to read in context;
• Demonstrate ability to use writing readiness skills creatively with vocabulary necessary to describe self, experiences, needs and wants. The student will recognize that everyone has experiences to write about and that writing can entertain and inform;
• Explore technology;
• Participate in classroom oral presentations.

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of First Grade, ASES students will be able to:

• Define vocabulary at or above grade level
• Read spell basic sight words
• Practice appropriate speaking and listening skills in a variety of situations
• Participate in discussions and follow directions
• Retell a story and respond to questions
• Read a short selection either silently or orally and answer comprehension questions

• Demonstrate skills in spelling and phonetic analysis including identification of initial and final letter sound association
• Alphabetize words through first letter
• Alphabetize through second letter

• Recognize, write upper/lower case letters, words and numerals in basic manuscript, using correct spacing, positioning of paper, pencil
• Recognize and apply correct punctuation, capitalization, singular/plural nouns, and verb tense in telling and asking sentences
• Write simple sentences and create short stories and letters while demonstrating grammar, handwriting and editing skills
• Identify common nouns, action verbs, pronouns and adjectives

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Second Grade, ASES students will be able to:

• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Use graphic sources to obtain information;
• Read selected material to predict outcomes, draw conclusions, sequence events, distinguish fact from opinion, determine cause/effect, identify main idea and story details (including plot, setting, character, and reality vs. fantasy), select a title, determine author’s purpose, summarize, and compare and contrast;
• Compose simple stories and write for a variety of purposes ( narrative paragraphs, descriptive paragraphs, poems, character sketch, persuasive letter, friendly letter), begin to edit, revise, and write final draft (includes proofreading for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation);
• Alphabetize words through the 3rd letter and use a primary picture dictionary;
• Identify complete sentences, fragments, run-ons, and the two parts of a simple sentence
• Arrange words in logical order to form sentences; do sentence combining; and identify four types of sentences (command, statement, exclamation, and interrogative)
• Recognize word pairs (synonyms, antonyms, homonyms) and words or phrases that tell (who, what, when, where, why, how);
• Answer simple questions after listening to a reading selection, create written responses, and participate in a discussion by making a relevant contribution to a specific topic;
• Read, write, and spell letter-sound associations for long/short vowels, initial, medial, and final consonant blends, consonant/vowel digraphs, final double consonants, “r” controlled vowels, vowel patterns, vowel diphthongs, and silent consonants;
• Identify contractions, form compound words, complete rhymes, and divide words into syllables;
• Identify base words and spell those formed with the following endings: s, es, d, y, ed, ing, ly, er, and est; prefixes un, dis, re, final ce, ge, se, multi-syllabic words, pattern ex, schwa, silent letters;
• Compose and understand formation of letter writing;
• Utilize contemporary cursive with good penmanship;
• Understand parts of speech, subject/verb agreement, and the use of capitalization and punctuation;
• Develop oral language skills to include storytelling skills, listening skills, dramatization, using props, talking about literature, speaking to an audience;
• Develop awareness and interest in literature through multicultures, genders, and ethnic diversity to include metaphors, dialogue, onomatopoeia, rhythm, similes, author’s purpose, realistic fiction, expository nonfiction, repetition, mystery, rhyme, folk tales;
• Form singular and plural possessive nouns;
• Learn to locate and recognize sources of information including table of contents.

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Third Grade, students will be able to:

• Use the five-step writing process and apply each step to his/her own writing to write Creatively;
• Write using complete sentences with correct subject-verb agreement, capitalization and punctuation;
• Define grade appropriate vocabulary;
• Identify verbs and verb tenses, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections;
• Identify subjects and predicates and complete sentences, and be able to label a sentence as one of the four types;
• Read to develop fluency, expression, accuracy and confidence in both oral and silent reading;
• Identify story elements (character, plot, setting, point of view, and main idea) in selected reading;
• Read text representing a variety of literary genres and be able to analyze, draw conclusions, identify cause/effect, sequence events, identify fact and fiction, and other comprehend information to demonstrate understanding;
• Use knowledge of alphabetical order to find words in dictionary or other reference materials;
• Use a dictionary, index, glossary, table of contents, atlas, encyclopedia, thesaurus, and the internet to find information;
• Make short informational oral presentations which may include book reports;
• Master cursive writing and clear legible printing;
• Have basic knowledge of keyboarding skills;

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Fourth Grade, students will be able to:

• Develop a well written proofread composition by demonstrating rules of grammar and paragraph construction, including the use of indention, topic sentence, supporting sentences and conclusion. Compositions may include description, creativity, and story writing;
• Appropriately utilize a variety of reference materials including: dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, Internet, newspapers, magazines, and books in the content area;
• Present written and oral reports on a researched topic;
• Further develop keyboarding skills to aid in gaining basic understanding of word processing;
• Write letters and address envelopes in proper format;
• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Understand, identify, and utilize the parts of speech;
• Identify the subject and predicate, with subject-verb agreement;
• Use correct punctuation and capitalization in sentence structure;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the four kinds of sentences;
• Read orally with expression and fluency, and read silently with understanding and comprehension;
• Demonstrate understanding of setting, plot, and character development, fiction and non-fiction;
• Correctly respond to questions and exercises based on an assigned reading;
• Listen attentively to a variety of prose, poetry, and material form the content areas;
• Appreciate poetry, not only by hearing it, but also by interpreting , writing, illustrating, and memorizing it;

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Fifth Grade, students will be able to:

• Make a neat final draft after proofreading and revising

• Spell grade appropriate words in isolation or from dictation;
• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Identify synonyms and antonyms;
• Use contextual clues to decode meanings of words;
• Use base words with prefixes and suffixes;
• Read to make predictions and conclusions;
• Read to recognize cause and effect relationships, sequence of events, fact vs. fiction, conflicts and solutions;
• Read and comprehend printed material used in everyday life;
• Read and comprehend printed material read for pleasure;
• Identify plot, theme, setting, figurative language(metaphor, simile, personification) and idioms;
• Identify various literature genres: short stories, essays, poetry, drama and novels
• Master paragraph writing: how-to, personal narrative, descriptive, persuasive, compare and contrast
• Gain comfort in classroom oral presentations
• Demonstrate significant improvements in study skills and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate understanding of English grammar: types of sentences, parts of speech, mechanics, modifiers and usage

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Sixth Grade, students will be able to:
Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information in paragraphs;

• Participate in discussion by making relevant contributions to specific topic(s);
• Write and tell original stories creatively;
• Write for different purposes and audiences;
• Proofread written work for correctness and meaning;
• Make a neat, final copy after proofreading;

• Build upon spelling, word identification, comprehension, and literary skills;
• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Make oral and written summaries of material read;
• Locate facts to support main ideas;
• Skim for specific information;
• Make inferences;
• Identify point of view, hyperbole, and alliteration;
• Gain experience with genres of mythology, realistic fiction, drama, adventure, newspaper, and short story.
• Demonstrate significant improvements in study skills and critical thinking skills
• Understand and be adept at using a specific, step-based composition writing process
• Learn to integrate the writing process with assignments from other subject area classes
• Demonstrate improvements in paragraph writing: how-to, personal narrative, descriptive, persuasive, compare and contrast
• Demonstrate understanding of English grammar in more advanced passages: types of sentences, parts of speech, mechanics, modifiers and usage
• Become familiar with analogies
• Gain increased comfort in classroom oral presentations
• Become familiar with the general concept of research for the purpose of writing

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Seventh Grade, students will be able to:

• Use appositives correctly
• Recognize and use complements (direct and indirect objects, predicate nominative and predicate adjectives);
• Combine sentences using adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions;
• Recognize and identify simple, compound, and complex sentences;
• Identify sentence run-ons and fragments;
• Sequence sentences in paragraphs of more complex material;
• Produce logical clear, concise, and supported essays;
• Begin producing research papers demonstrating the ability to use research, bibliography, footnotes, outlining, use a designated style (APA or MLA); and

• Build upon spelling, word identification, comprehension, and literary skills;
• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.
• Identify types of oral presentations;
• Comprehend foreshadowing;
• Make critical evaluations;
• Write and deliver coherent presentations that convey ideas clearly and relate to an audience (prepare formal speech for the purpose of informing);
• Become comfortable with oral presentations to groups larger than a single class

• Demonstrate mastery of study skills, test-taking skills and more in-depth critical thinking skills

• Understand speaker’s purpose relevant to presentation;
• Gain experience with genres of fantasy, short story, poetry, essay, and American authors.

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back

By the end of Eighth Grade, students will be able to:

• Identify and use participles, participial phrases and prepositional phrases in more complex material;
• Recognize and correct errors in sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, etc.);
• Write and evaluate paragraphs with respect to unity, arrangement of details, and effective use of language;
• Proofread and revise high-level writing, making a clean final copy;
• Prepare and write reports (prepare a research paper with appropriate annotation);
• Write creatively;
• Define vocabulary at or above grade level.

• Identify primary/secondary sources, tragedy/comedy, epic, memoir;
• Use a dictionary to determine word derivation;
• Prepare a formal speech for purpose of informing and become adept at making oral presentations to large groups
• Gain experience with the genres of biography, classics, essays, realistic fiction, and short story.
• Become adept at using a specific, step-based composition writing process for more complex assignments
• Learn to write critical reviews of literature
• Demonstrate understanding of English grammar (types of sentences, parts of speech, mechanics, modifiers and usage) in more complex writings

Preschool	Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade
Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade	Seventh Grade	Eighth Grade
back