The Development of Language Arts

1. Academic Content Standards The Development of Language Arts By Dannikia Davis Heather Howard Kim Krachinsky 04-22-09 1

2. Math and science skills are viewed as “21st Century Skills,” and therefore have recently received quite a bit of attention and focus in American education systems. With all of the attention on math and science, the language arts content area has taken the back burner. 2

3. Building Language Arts skills is just as important as building math and science skills. It is by way of these standards that students develop the literacy, writing, and communication skills that are critical to success both in school and in everyday life. 3

4. Phonetic Awareness, Word Recognition, and Fluency Standard Learn to recognize and decode printed words. Develop the necessary skills for independent reading Discover the sound-symbol-match system. By third grade, demonstrate fluent oral reading. 4

5. Acquisition of vocabulary Standard Acquired through exposure to language-rich situations. Use context clues and direct explanations from others. Learn to apply word analysis skills. Become more proficient in applying knowledge of words. 5

6. Reading process: concepts of print, comprehension, and self-monitoring Standard Analyze and evaluate informational and literary texts. Self-monitor their own comprehension. Ask and answer questions about the text. Assess their own understanding. 6

7. Reading applications: informational, technical, and persuasive text Standard Gain information about a subject by reading. Apply the reading process to various types of texts. Learn to make predictions and build text knowledge. Use text structure to organize content information. 7

8. Reading applications: literary text Standard Enhance their understanding of the human story. Apply the reading process to various genres. Describe and discuss the elements of literature. Explain, analyze, and critique literary text. 8

9. Writing process Standard Learn to pre-write, draft, revise, edit, and publish. Learn to plan their writing. Learn to apply writing in increasingly sophisticated ways. Produce compositions using effective word choice and grammar. Develop revision strategies. 9

10. Writing applications Standard Learn about the various purposes of writing. Select and explain text forms to suit purpose and audience. Use content specific words to achieve communication goals. Choose vocabulary to enhance what they have written. 10

11. Writing conventions Standard Learn writing conventions through exposure to practice. Learn the purpose and uses of punctuation. Develop and extend understanding of the spelling system. Grow more skillful using grammatical structures of English. 11

12. Research Standard Investigate self-selected of assigned issues and topics. Locate, select, and make use of relevant information. Use a variety of media, reference, and technology resources. Use an appropriate form to communicate their findings. 12

13. Communication: Oral and visual Standard Learn to communicate through exposure to models and practice. Use communication skills in increasingly sophisticated ways. Deliver presentations that effectively convey information. Control language and choose words to clarify their points. 13

14. So……. Remember! Yes, Math and Science are important, but so is Language Arts! In order to ensure that every student has what they need to be successful in the classroom and in every day life, they need to learn to read, write, and communicate effectively!

15. The end.