STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

LANGUAGE ARTS :: 2004 :: INTRODUCTION :: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

 

Spiraling Curriculum The English Language Arts Curriculum is a spiraling curriculum in the sense that many of the same skills develop over time.
Strands Students at any grade level continue to develop skills in the three language strands:
  • oral language,
  • written language, and
  • media/technology use.
The specific expectations for what students study at different grade levels vary. First graders and tenth graders, for example, all read and write and use technology, but the expectations about what they read and write and how they use media are different.

(See Strand Continuums, Appendix C.)
Common Content Likewise, at all grades students study some common content:
  • language of the discipline (plot, theme, setting, etc.);
  • language conventions (sentence structure, mechanics, spelling and punctuation, etc.); and
  • different genre (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama).
This common content study, however, also involves age appropriate materials and different grade level expectations.

(See Grade Span Continuums, Appendix B.)
Common K-5 Goals In order to provide continuity of language study and increasing language skill development across grade levels, grades K-5 have common goals.

These goals are:
  • The learner will develop and apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
Common 6-12 Goals In order to provide continuity of language study and increasing language skill development across grade levels, grades 6-12 also have common goals.

These goals are:
  • The learner will use language to express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
  • The learner will analyze information from a variety of sources.
  • The learner will examine the foundations and use of argument.
  • The learner will refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate text and multimedia.
  • The learner will interpret and evaluate a wide range of literary texts.
  • The learner will develop an understanding of the application of grammar conventions and language usage.
Different Grade Level Objectives The differences in English Language Arts study at each grade level are reflected in the objectives under each goal at different grade levels. These differences in objectives result in different emphases at grade level spans. Students at a specific grade will continue to show evidence of mastery of competencies developed at previous grade levels, particularly as they contribute to mastery of grade-level competencies.

Grades K-2 Emphasis

Students develop and refine oral language skills while learning basic written language skills and use of media. They develop understandings, knowledge, strategies, and skills which enable them to become independent readers and writers who can continue learning throughout the years to follow.

Grades 3-5 Emphasis Students continue to develop basic language skills and develop the use of these skills to learn content in other disciplines such as science, social studies, and the arts. They use a variety of media to demonstrate their learning.

Grades 6-8 Emphasis

Students in the middle grades continue to refine previously learned skills in increasingly complex presentations, reading selections, and written products. They use language to communicate skillfully and effectively for a variety of purposes, for different audiences, and within diverse contexts.

Grades 9-12 Emphasis

Students continue to develop language use in different contexts and for different audiences and purposes. They engage in the formal study of literature, write more complex compositions, engage in research, and develop skill in evaluating professional authors' as well as their own language use. They develop sophisticated media productions to showcase their learning.

 

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