Literacy Curriculum
For a “3” First Trimester
Reading
• Reads and comprehends current grade level text.
• Begins to identify and use new vocabulary through the use of appropriate resources with teacher assistance.
• Begins to use new vocabulary through the use of structural analysis and context skills.
• Applies numerous strategies to comprehend a variety of grade level texts (fiction and non-fiction).
• Begins to use knowledge of literary elements through written and oral responses to demonstrate understanding of fiction text.
• Begins using text features and text structure to understand non-fiction text.
Writing
• Uses all steps of the writing process (plans, drafts, revises, and edits) to produce a final copy with teacher assistance.
• Explores varied forms of writing to address different purposes and audiences, emphasizing writing to describe.
• Begins to write multi-paragraph pieces focused on connecting ideas.
• Experiments with word choice to add clarity and interest.
• Uses correct age appropriate capitalization (e.g., beginnings of sentences, proper nouns), punctuation (e.g., endings of sentences, commas in a series), grammar (e.g., simple and compound sentences and homophones), and spelling.
For a “3” Second Trimester
Reading
• Reads and comprehends current grade level text.
• Identifies and uses new vocabulary through the use of appropriate resources with teacher assistance as needed.
• Practices using new vocabulary through the use of structural analysis and context skills.
• Applies numerous strategies to comprehend a variety of grade level texts (fiction and non-fiction).
• Practices using knowledge of literary elements through written and oral responses to demonstrate understanding of fiction text.
• Practices using text features and text structure to understand non-fiction text.
Writing
• Uses all steps of the writing process (plans, drafts, revises, and edits) to produce a final copy with some teacher assistance.
• Explores varied forms of writing to address different purposes and audiences, emphasizing writing to explain.
• With assistance, writes multi-paragraph pieces focused on connecting main ideas and supporting details.
• Experiments with word choice and sentence fluency to add clarity and interest.
• Uses correct age appropriate capitalization (e.g., historical events, names of organizations), punctuation (e.g., underlining, quotation marks), grammar (e.g., regular and irregular verb forms, regular and irregular noun forms) and spelling.
For a “3” Third Trimester
Reading
• Reads and comprehends grade level text.
• Applies structural analysis, context skills, and resources (e.g., dictionary, glossary) to identify and use new vocabulary.
• Applies appropriate strategies to comprehend a variety of grade level text (fiction and non-fiction).
• Uses knowledge of literary elements and terms (e.g., setting, plot, character, dialogue, figurative language) to enhance understanding of fiction text.
• Uses text features (e.g., maps, charts, tables, graphs) and text structure (e.g., cause/effect, compare/contrast) to understand non-fiction text.
• Selects appropriate text based on the purpose for reading and reading level.
Writing
• Uses the writing process with greater independence to produce a final copy.
• Uses varied forms of writing to address different purposes and audiences.
• Writes multi-paragraph pieces identifiable story lines or main ideas, relevant supporting details, appropriate organization and format, and simple transitions.
• Uses precise words and various sentence types/patterns to add variety and show personal style and voice.
• Uses correct punctuation (e.g., quotation marks, titles, commas) and capitalization (e.g., proper nouns, historical events, organizations). Spells grade level and high frequency words correctly in own writing and uses reliable spelling rules.
• Demonstrates knowledge of grammar and usage (e.g., simple and compound sentences, regular and irregular verbs, homophones).
• Uses appropriate resources to check written work.