what your child should learn (lower school)

  When A Child Enters 1st Grade, He/She Should Know:

• How to Speak in Complete Sentences to Explain Ideas Clearly
• Listening Skills (Following Directions, Listening to Stories Read Aloud, Engaging in Conversation)
• Letter Recognition and Sounds
• Use of Phonics to Decode Words
• Basic Sight Words (e.g. and, the, I, me, you)
• How to Use the Calendar (Days and Months of the Year)
• Recognition of Color Words/Number Words (One to Thirty)
• Print Awareness and Parts of A Book (Author, Illustrator, Cover, Title Page, Print is Read Left-To-Right)
• How to Re-tell a Story and Identify Characters (Beginning, Middle, End)
• That Writing Conveys Meaning (Speech Into Print)
• Have Motivation to Read

 Literacy Skills Taught in 1st Grade:

• Letter-Sound Correspondences Including Consonants and Short and Long Vowels
• Decode Grade Level Words Using Knowledge of Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes, Verb Endings, Plurals, Contractions and Compounds
• Identify Parts of a Book and Their Purposes Including Author, Illustrator, Title Page, Table of Contents, and Chapter Headings
• Sight-Read 300-500 Words Including Sight and Decodable Words
• Study Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homonyms to Learn New Grade Level Vocabulary
• Use of a Dictionary To Learn the Meanings of Words
• Use Comprehension Strategies (Predict/Confirm, Reread, Self-Correct, Ask Questions) to Comprehend Text
• Summarize Main Ideas from Informational Texts
• Show Interest in Reading a Range of Grade Level Texts Including Stories, Folktales, Fairy Tales, Poems and Informational Text
• How to Write Compositions and Begins to Use the Writing Process
• Attend to a Listening Activity for a Specified Period of Time
• Speak for Different Purposes (Share Ideas or Information, Retell a Story, Dramatize an Experience or Event) Literacy

 When A Child Enters 2nd Grade, He/She Should Know:

• Letter-Sound Correspondences Including Long and Short Vowels
• How to Decode Grade Level Words Using Knowledge of Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes, Verb Endings, Plurals, Contractions and Compounds
• Parts of a Book and Their Purposes Including Author, Illustrator, Title Page, Table of Contents and Chapter Headings
• Sight-Read 300-500 Words Including Decodable Words
• How to Use Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homonyms to Learn New Grade Level Vocabulary (Word Study)
• How to Use a Dictionary to Learn the Meanings of Words
• Use of Comprehension Strategies (Predict/Confirm, Reread, Self-Correct, Ask Questions) to Comprehend Text
• How to Summarize Main Ideas from Informational Text
• How to Write Compositions, and Begins to Use the Writing Process
• Attend to a Listening Activity for a Specified Period of Time
• Speak for Different Purposes (Share Ideas for Information, Retell a Story, Dramatize an Experience or Event)

 Literacy Skills Taught in 2nd Grade:

• Decode Grade Level Words Using Knowledge of Word Structure (Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, Verb Endings, Plurals, Contractions and Compounds)
• Identify Book Parts and their Purposes Including Author, Illustrator, Title Page, Table of Contents, Index and Chapter Headings
• Sight-Read Grade Level and High-Frequency Words
• Study Antonyms, Synonyms and Homonyms to Learn New Grade Level Vocabulary
• Use of a Dictionary To Learn the Meanings of Words
• Compare and Contrast Similarities and Differences Among Characters and Events Across Stories
• Compare and Contrast Similarities and Differences in Information from More Than One Informational Text
• Summarize Main Ideas and Supporting Details, Both Orally and in Writing
  Read Independently and Silently
• Write Compositions Using the Writing Process (Write Sentences in Logical Order and Use Paragraphs to Organize Topics)
• Attend to a Listening Activity for a Specified Period of Time
• Use Grade Level Vocabulary to Communicate Ideas, Emotions, or Experiences for Different Purposes (Share Ideas about Personal Experience, Books or Writing)

  When A Child Enters 3rd Grade, He/She Should Know

• How to Decode Grade-Level Words Using Knowledge of Word Structure
• How to Identify Book Parts and Their Purposes Including Author, Illustrator, Title Page, Table of Contents, Index and Chapter Headings
• Sight-Read Grade Leve and High-Frequency Words
• How to Use Antonyms, Synonyms and Homonyms to Learn New Grade Level Vocabulary
• How to Use a Dictionary to Learn the Meanings of Words
• How to Compare and Contrast Similarities and Differences Among Characters and Events Across Stories
• How to Compare and Contrast Similarities and Differences in Information From More Than One Informational Text
• How to Summarize Main Ideas and Supporting Details, Both Orally and In Writing
• How to Read Independently and Silently
• How to Write Compositions Using the Writing Process (How to Write Sentences In Logical Order and Use Paragraphs to Organize Topics)
• How to Attend to a Listening Activity for a Specified Period of Time
• How to Use Grade Level Vocabulary to Share Ideas About Personal Experience, Books or Writing

 Literacy Skills Taught in 3rd Grade:

• Decode Grade-Level Words Using Knowledge of Word Structure (Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, Verb Endings, Plurals, Contractions and Compounds)
• Sight-Read Grade Level, High-Frequency Words and Content Words
• Vary Language According to Purpose (e.g. Conversation with Peers, Presentation to Adults)
• Use of Complete Sentences, Correct Verb Tense, Age-Appropriate Vocabulary
• How to Identify Book Parts and Their Purposes Including Author, Illustrator, Title Page, Table of Contents, Index and Chapter Headings
• Use a Dictionary to Learn the Meanings of Words and a Thesaurus to Identify Synonyms and Antonyms
• Use Knowledge of Story Structure (Character, Plot, and Events) To Comprehend Text
• Summarize Main Ideas and Details of Informational Text Orally and In Writing Process
• Explain the Difference Between Fact and Fiction (Reality/Fantasy)
• Read Independently and Silently, Including Longer Fiction and Non-Fiction Books
• Write Stories and Reports Using the Writing
• Take Notes to Record Data, Facts, and Ideas
• Write Literary Response Essays that Describe Plot, Setting and Characters, Personal Opinion, and Contrast/Comparison of Information from Various Literature
• Present a Short Oral Report Using at Least Two Sources of Information
• Use Logical Order In Presentation
• Attend to a Listening Activity for a Specified Period of Time