Language Arts Standards & Benchmarks Central Cass—Spring 2004

Language ArtsLanguage ArtsStandards & BenchmarksStandards & Benchmarks

Central Cass—Spring 2004Central Cass—Spring 2004

Let’s get crackin’!Let’s get crackin’!

ND Language Arts StandardsND Language Arts StandardsIn ReviewIn Review

• Students Students • Engage in research processEngage in research process• Engage in reading processEngage in reading process• Engage in writing processEngage in writing process• Engage in speaking/listening processEngage in speaking/listening process• Understand mediaUnderstand media• Understand/use principles of languageUnderstand/use principles of language

Levels of Evaluation Levels of Evaluation

Advanced ProficientAdvanced ProficientProficientProficient

Partially ProficientPartially ProficientNoviceNovice

Grade Level MeetingsGrade Level Meetings An Overview An Overview

Grade level meetings took place the week Grade level meetings took place the week of January 26- February 4. All elementary of January 26- February 4. All elementary staff and specialists who teach in the staff and specialists who teach in the language arts content areas participated language arts content areas participated by reviewing the state document and by reviewing the state document and providing oral feedback. providing oral feedback.

Survey ItemsSurvey Items Feedback of ND Standards & BenchmarksFeedback of ND Standards & Benchmarks Recommendations of additions to local documentRecommendations of additions to local document Current Curriculum PracticesCurrent Curriculum Practices

• Individual classroomsIndividual classrooms• Grade LevelGrade Level

State requirements not being met in class/levelState requirements not being met in class/level Curriculum RecommendationsCurriculum Recommendations

• Cut/Add…..to meet state requirementsCut/Add…..to meet state requirements

KindergartenKindergartenEvaluation of Current Evaluation of Current

CurriculumCurriculum

Always room for improvement!Always room for improvement! Similar practices: share ideasSimilar practices: share ideas

Cross curricular integrationCross curricular integration Language experiencesLanguage experiences Alphabet booksAlphabet books Literature-based experiencesLiterature-based experiences Language group w/speech & Language group w/speech &

language instructorlanguage instructor Story bits: connect Story bits: connect

letters/sounds to literatureletters/sounds to literature Letter snacks…eating through Letter snacks…eating through

the ABC’sthe ABC’sSentence writing w/punctuationSentence writing w/punctuation

—high expectation?—high expectation?

Recommendations for Recommendations for Additions to Local:Additions to Local:

More emphasis on ending soundsMore emphasis on ending sounds Specify letter sounds covered: Specify letter sounds covered:

short/long vowels, hard/soft short/long vowels, hard/soft consonant soundsconsonant sounds

Use sentence to convey a Use sentence to convey a messagemessage

Extend writing to experience with Extend writing to experience with sentence writing and “play write” sentence writing and “play write” with punctuationwith punctuation

Increase coverage of nursery Increase coverage of nursery rhymesrhymes

Handwriting Curriculum/StandardHandwriting Curriculum/Standard

11stst Grade GradeEvaluation of Current Evaluation of Current


Open Court Phonetic Reading Open Court Phonetic Reading Program: utilized, but not an Program: utilized, but not an adopted curriculum adopted curriculum

Heath program—starts in springHeath program—starts in spring DOLDOL Curriculum supplements differ: Curriculum supplements differ:

writing, spelling, daily journaling, writing, spelling, daily journaling, word-a-day…..more consistency, word-a-day…..more consistency, unity needed in supplementaryunity needed in supplementary


Word-a-Day Program (vocabulary: Word-a-Day Program (vocabulary: reading comprehension goal)reading comprehension goal)

Writing (6-Traits)Writing (6-Traits) Improve research & media Improve research & media

standardsstandards Spelling series?Spelling series? Review Open Court….balance of Review Open Court….balance of

phonics & comprehension? phonics & comprehension? Handwriting Curriculum/StandardHandwriting Curriculum/Standard Heath PrePrimer—poor feedbackHeath PrePrimer—poor feedback

22ndnd Grade GradeEvaluation of Current Evaluation of Current


Same core curriculumSame core curriculum Heath Reading Series (1990)Heath Reading Series (1990) DOL—inconsistent useDOL—inconsistent use Spelling—a list, not a programSpelling—a list, not a program Language (1990), sequential Language (1990), sequential

series a positiveseries a positive Supplementary: 4 Block in one Supplementary: 4 Block in one

classroom (word wall, guided classroom (word wall, guided reading, other)reading, other)

Question of incoming students’ Question of incoming students’ difficulty with comprehensiondifficulty with comprehension


No standards/benchmarks to add, No standards/benchmarks to add, adjust to meet state guidelinesadjust to meet state guidelines

Ready for a change in reading Ready for a change in reading seriesseries

Guided Reading? Theoretically Guided Reading? Theoretically used in one classroomused in one classroom

Handwriting consistency Handwriting consistency Collect more information prior to Collect more information prior to

adding a local standard for adding a local standard for handwritinghandwriting

3rd Grade3rd GradeEvaluation of Current Evaluation of Current


Deficiency:Deficiency: standard 1 (research): standard 1 (research):

evaluate researchevaluate research Standard 2 (reading): Standard 2 (reading):

organize/develop ideas, organize/develop ideas, review topic organization, & review topic organization, & characteristics of non-fictioncharacteristics of non-fiction

Heath Reading (1993)Heath Reading (1993) Language (1990)Language (1990) Spelling (manuals falling apart)Spelling (manuals falling apart) DOL…used daily? Curriculum DOL…used daily? Curriculum

followed?followed? Shared supplementary materialsShared supplementary materials


Checklist format (math/science)Checklist format (math/science) Revisit letter writing—not Revisit letter writing—not

presently a ND 3presently a ND 3rdrd grade grade benchmarkbenchmark

Add adverbs, prepositions, Add adverbs, prepositions, conjunctionsconjunctions

D’Nealian Handwriting: D’Nealian Handwriting: professional inservice professional inservice recommended. Question of recommended. Question of consistency with correct consistency with correct modeling.modeling.

4th Grade4th GradeEvaluation of Current Evaluation of Current


Health ReadingHealth Reading Language Book—poorLanguage Book—poor DOL, DOADOL, DOA Day Book (Great Source) used by Day Book (Great Source) used by

one classroomone classroom Inconsistent supplementary Inconsistent supplementary

materialsmaterials State deficiencies: verbs State deficiencies: verbs

prepositions, conjunctions, prepositions, conjunctions, reading strategies, questioningreading strategies, questioningMATERIA LS are the weaknessMATERIA LS are the weakness


Handwriting…where listed in Handwriting…where listed in standards? standards? ““If they can’t write it, they can’t If they can’t write it, they can’t read it!”read it!”

Prefer checklist formatPrefer checklist format Local: more specific coverage of Local: more specific coverage of

nouns, pronouns, conventions, nouns, pronouns, conventions, mechanicsmechanics

Focus on Standard 1Focus on Standard 1 Students evaluate research Students evaluate research

product using a rubricproduct using a rubric Focus on Standard 5Focus on Standard 5

WHAT is the library WHAT is the library curriculum?curriculum?



So much at the state level!So much at the state level! ““The secret is integrating!”The secret is integrating!” Confident with standards 2, 3, & 6. Confident with standards 2, 3, & 6. Concern with research (1) and Concern with research (1) and

media (5).media (5). Reading text (1993)—evidence of Reading text (1993)—evidence of

outdated stories (text, illustrations)outdated stories (text, illustrations) Language (1990)Language (1990) DOL, DOADOL, DOA Spelling Series—more a home Spelling Series—more a home

activityactivity


No extras to state requirementsNo extras to state requirements Focus on relevantFocus on relevant Filter irrelevant text activitiesFilter irrelevant text activities Add appropriate magazines to Add appropriate magazines to

aide in media standardaide in media standard Emphasis on incorporation of Emphasis on incorporation of

technology INTO learningtechnology INTO learning• PowerPointPowerPoint• Graphic OrganizersGraphic Organizers• HyperMedia/HyperStuidioHyperMedia/HyperStuidio



Easy to meet state requirementsEasy to meet state requirements Goal: extensionGoal: extension Supplement Write Source 2000: Supplement Write Source 2000:

fills gaps from language series.fills gaps from language series. 6-Traits should focus on weaker 6-Traits should focus on weaker

areas in writing: informative, areas in writing: informative, narrative, persuasivenarrative, persuasive

DOLDOL Reading (1991 & 1993)Reading (1991 & 1993) Language (1990) “Not user-Language (1990) “Not user-

friendly”friendly” Content-Related SpellingContent-Related Spelling Don’t address similes, metaphors, Don’t address similes, metaphors,

idioms, personification wellidioms, personification well


Standard & Benchmark ConnectionStandard & Benchmark Connection—knowledge of where 5—knowledge of where 5thth grade is grade is and connect to 7and connect to 7thth grade grade

Integrate technologyIntegrate technology keyboardingkeyboarding

Question: Writing using a rubric a Question: Writing using a rubric a 44thth grade standard, but not 6 grade standard, but not 6thth

Suggestion: Each grade level Suggestion: Each grade level choose specific literature to read; choose specific literature to read; EX: 1EX: 1stst: Ramona (Cleary), 2: Ramona (Cleary), 2ndnd: : Charlie & Chocolate Factory (Dahl), Charlie & Chocolate Factory (Dahl), 33rdrd: Charlotte’s Web (White), etc.: Charlotte’s Web (White), etc.

Upgrade reading & language seriesUpgrade reading & language series

DiscussionDiscussion

1.1. Handwriting….a local standard?Handwriting….a local standard?1.1. Sue Baumgartner, OT/PT: 3 fine motor testsSue Baumgartner, OT/PT: 3 fine motor tests2.2. Addition to writing standard: formation, alignment, spacing, Addition to writing standard: formation, alignment, spacing,

legibilitylegibility2.2. Consistent Reading Series 1-6? 1-5? Include Consistent Reading Series 1-6? 1-5? Include

kindergarten?kindergarten?3.3. DOL inservice/meeting to insure consistent practice of DOL inservice/meeting to insure consistent practice of

adopted curriculumadopted curriculum4.4. Spelling SeriesSpelling Series

1.1. ConsistencyConsistency2.2. Content IntegrationContent Integration

5.5. Revision of outdated textbooks to more closely align to Revision of outdated textbooks to more closely align to standards?standards?

What Next?What Next? Curriculum Committee: Discuss relevant factors required to Curriculum Committee: Discuss relevant factors required to

align the curriculum with state & local standards & align the curriculum with state & local standards & benchmarks.benchmarks.

Grade level meetings conducted by grade level representativeGrade level meetings conducted by grade level representative Specify local language arts benchmarks based on stateSpecify local language arts benchmarks based on state Specify local language arts standards based on stateSpecify local language arts standards based on state Meet & submit data by Friday, March 12.Meet & submit data by Friday, March 12. Goal Dates:Goal Dates:

• March 19: Data to TypingMarch 19: Data to Typing• April 9: Finished DocumentApril 9: Finished Document• April 16: Binder to TeachersApril 16: Binder to Teachers

““We can add, but cannot delete!”We can add, but cannot delete!”

““Collect” staff inputCollect” staff input

Imagine the Possibilities!Imagine the Possibilities!

““Store” InformationStore” Information

Respect DifferencesRespect Differences

Celebrate Our Successes!Celebrate Our Successes!

Documents

Language Arts Standards & Benchmarks Central Cass—Spring 2004