Course Content
A. Reading Comprehension Foundations
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A.01. Identify the main idea of a simple passage using key details.
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A.02. Determine the main idea of a more complex passage.
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A.03. Combine main ideas from two related texts to form a comprehensive understanding.
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A.04. Distinguish between stated and implied main ideas.
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A.05. Analyze how the main idea is supported by textual evidence.
B. Understanding Authors’ Craft
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B.01. Identify the author’s purpose (to inform, persuade, entertain).
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B.02. Explain how an author’s purpose shapes the text’s structure and content.
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B.03. Differentiate between fact and opinion in a text.
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B.04. Distinguish between different points of view (first person, third person).
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B.05. Compare information presented from two different perspectives on the same topic.
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B.06. Analyze the author’s perspective and bias, if present.
C. Text Structure and Features
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C.01. Identify the order of events in a narrative text.
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C.02. Compare and contrast information in informational texts.
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C.03. Identify cause-and-effect relationships in informational texts.
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C.04. Match problems and their solutions in a text.
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C.05. Identify various text structures (chronological, compare/contrast, problem/solution).
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C.06. Analyze how text features (headings, subheadings, bolded words) contribute to understanding.
D. Literary Devices and Figurative Language
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D.01. Identify similes and metaphors with picture prompts.
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D.02. Identify similes and metaphors in text.
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D.03. Determine the meaning of similes and metaphors.
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D.04. Analyze the effects of similes, metaphors, and other figurative language on meaning and tone.
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D.05. Interpret the meaning of allusions and explain their effect on the text.
E. Inference and Critical Thinking
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E.01. Use actions and dialogue to understand characters’ motivations and feelings.
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E.02. Compare and contrast characters’ traits and actions.
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E.03. Draw inferences from a text to support interpretations.
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E.04. Make predictions based on textual evidence and prior knowledge.
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E.05. Infer the main idea based on details and character development.
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E.06. Evaluate the credibility and validity of information presented in the text.
F. Story Elements and Narrative Structure
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F.01. Identify the narrative point of view (first person, third person).
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F.02. Identify key story elements (characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution).
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F.03. Analyze the impact of different narrative structures on the reader.
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F.04. Analyze the development of theme throughout a narrative.
G. Reading Different Texts
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G.01. Read and comprehend fantasy stories with illustrations (Level 1).
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G.02. Read and comprehend realistic fiction with illustrations (Level 1).
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G.03. Read and comprehend science fiction with illustrations (Level 1).
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G.04. Read and comprehend realistic fiction (Level 2).
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G.05. Read and comprehend historical fiction (Level 2).
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G.06. Read and comprehend poetry (Level 2).
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G.07. Read and comprehend drama (Level 2).
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G.08. Read and comprehend informational texts about animals (Level 1).
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G.09. Read and comprehend informational texts about art, music, and traditions (Level 1).
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G.10. Read and comprehend informational texts about famous places (Level 1).
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G.11. Read and comprehend informational texts about sports and hobbies (Level 1).
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G.12. Read and comprehend informational texts about famous people (Level 2).
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G.13. Read and comprehend informational texts about business and technology (Level 2).
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G.14. Read and comprehend informational texts about science and nature (Level 2).
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G.15. Read and comprehend informational texts about history (Level 2).
H. Writing Process: Organization and Structure
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H.01. Put sentences in logical order to create a coherent paragraph.
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H.02. Order items from most general to most specific.
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H.03. Organize information by topic using appropriate headings and subheadings.
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H.04. Remove irrelevant sentences to improve focus and clarity.
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H.05. Create effective outlines for different types of writing (narrative, persuasive, informational).
I. Writing Process: Introductions and Conclusions
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I.01. Choose the best topic sentence for a given paragraph.
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I.02. Choose the best concluding sentence to summarize the main points.
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I.03. Write effective introductions that engage the reader and state the main idea clearly.
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I.04. Write effective conclusions that summarize the main points and leave a lasting impression.
J. Writing Process: Summarization and Synthesis
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J.01. Summarize a story, maintaining key details and the overall message.
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J.02. Synthesize information from multiple sources to form a coherent summary.
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J.03. Identify and utilize effective summarizing techniques.
K. Writing Process: Transitions and Cohesion
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K.01. Identify time-order words (first, next, then, finally).
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K.02. Use coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) appropriately.
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K.03. Use subordinating conjunctions (because, since, although, while, if) appropriately.
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K.04. Choose the best transition word or phrase to connect ideas effectively.
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K.05. Analyze the effect of different transition words and phrases on the overall flow and cohesion of writing.
L. Writing Process: Argumentation and Support
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L.01. Distinguish between facts and opinions.
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L.02. Identify an author’s statement of opinion.
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L.03. Choose reasons to support an opinion and explain their relevance.
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L.04. Identify supporting details in literary texts.
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L.05. Identify supporting details in informational texts.
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L.06. Identify and correct plagiarism using appropriate citation methods.
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L.07. Construct well-supported arguments with clear claims and evidence.
M. Writing Process: Descriptive Writing
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M.01. Show character emotions and traits through vivid descriptions.
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M.02. Revise sentences to use stronger verbs for more precise and engaging writing.
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M.03. Add imagery to stories using descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
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M.04. Use varied sentence structures to create rhythm and flow in descriptive writing.
N. Writing Process: Sentence Fluency and Variety
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N.01. Create varied sentence structures (simple, compound, complex) based on models.
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N.02. Eliminate choppy sentences by combining or rewording.
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N.03. Use different sentence beginnings to improve sentence variety.
O. Writing Process: Editing and Revising
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O.01. Correct errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling using editing marks.
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O.02. Revise writing for clarity, organization, and style.
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O.03. Self-edit and peer-edit writing to improve its overall quality.
P. Vocabulary: Morphology and Word Analysis
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P.01. Identify base words, prefixes, and suffixes.
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P.02. Determine the meaning of words with pre-, re-, or mis-.
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P.03. Use the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis- correctly in sentences.
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P.04. Determine the meaning of words with -ful or -less.
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P.05. Determine the meaning of words with -ly or -ness.
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P.06. Determine the meaning of words with -able or -ment.
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P.07. Determine the meaning of words with a suffix (review).
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P.08. Determine the meanings of words with prefixes and suffixes (review).
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P.09. Sort words with shared prefixes and suffixes by meaning.
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P.10. Sort words with shared suffixes by part of speech.
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P.11. Identify and explain word pattern analogies.
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P.12. Create sentences demonstrating understanding of word patterns.
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P.13. Analyze words with Greek and Latin roots to determine their meaning.
Q. Vocabulary: Greek and Latin Roots
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Q.01. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots.
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Q.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to understand word meanings.
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Q.03. Use word meanings to infer the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.04. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots independently.
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Q.05. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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Q.06. Match words with Greek and Latin roots to their meanings.
R. Vocabulary: Word Relationships
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R.01. Form compound words with picture prompts.
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R.02. Form compound words independently.
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R.03. Form and use compound words correctly in sentences.
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R.04. Select members of a group based on shared characteristics.
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R.05. Identify words that don’t belong in a given group.
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R.06. Choose the correct synonym in context.
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R.07. Identify sentences with the same meaning (synonyms).
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R.08. Find synonyms in context.
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R.09. Choose the correct antonym in context.
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R.10. Identify sentences using antonyms.
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R.11. Find antonyms in context.
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R.12. Identify and use homophones correctly.
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R.13. Determine the meaning of multiple-meaning words using context.
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R.14. Match sentences to the appropriate definition of a multiple-meaning word.
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R.15. Determine the meaning of idioms and adages from context.
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R.16. Describe the subtle differences in meaning between related words (shades of meaning).
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R.17. Identify positive and negative connotations of words.
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R.18. Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
S. Vocabulary: Reference Skills
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S.01. Order words alphabetically based on the first letter.
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S.02. Order words alphabetically based on the first two letters.
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S.03. Order words alphabetically based on the first three letters.
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S.04. Order words alphabetically (challenge).
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S.05. Use guide words to locate words in a dictionary.
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S.06. Use dictionary entries to find word meanings and pronunciations.
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S.07. Use dictionary definitions to understand word meanings in context.
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S.08. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and antonyms.
T. Grammar and Mechanics: Sentences
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T.01. Identify declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.
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T.02. Identify the complete subject and complete predicate of a sentence.
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T.03. Identify the simple subject and simple predicate of a sentence.
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T.04. Differentiate between complete sentences, fragments, and run-on sentences.
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T.05. Combine simple sentences to create compound sentences.
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T.06. Correct errors in sentence structure (fragments, run-ons).
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T.07. Construct grammatically correct and varied sentences.
U. Grammar and Mechanics: Nouns
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U.01. Identify nouns in sentences.
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U.02. Identify common and proper nouns.
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U.03. Form and use regular plurals with -s, -es, and -ies.
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U.04. Form and use regular plurals with -s, -es, -ies, and -ves.
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U.05. Identify singular and plural nouns.
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U.06. Form and use irregular plurals.
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U.07. Identify singular and plural possessive nouns.
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U.08. Form and use singular and plural possessive nouns correctly.
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U.09. Correct errors in plural and possessive noun usage.
V. Grammar and Mechanics: Pronouns
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V.01. Identify personal pronouns.
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V.02. Choose between subject and object pronouns.
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V.03. Replace nouns with appropriate personal pronouns.
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V.04. Use compound subjects and objects with “I” and “me” correctly.
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V.05. Identify possessive pronouns.
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V.06. Use possessive pronouns correctly.
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V.07. Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns.
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V.08. Use reflexive pronouns correctly.
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V.09. Identify relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that).
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V.10. Use relative pronouns correctly in sentences.
W. Grammar and Mechanics: Verbs
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W.01. Use action verbs correctly.
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W.02. Identify action verbs.
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W.03. Identify main verbs and helping verbs.
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W.04. Identify and understand the function of modal verbs (can, could, should, would, etc.).
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W.05. Use modal verbs appropriately.
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W.06. Understand and apply subject-verb agreement rules.
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W.07. Correct pronoun-verb agreement errors.
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W.08. Apply subject-verb agreement rules with compound subjects.
X. Grammar and Mechanics: Verb Tense
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X.01. Identify verbs in the regular past tense.
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X.02. Form and use the regular past tense.
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X.03. Identify verbs in the irregular past tense.
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X.04. Form and use the irregular past tense (sets 1-4).
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X.05. Use correct forms of “to be” and “to have” verbs.
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X.06. Identify sentences in past, present, and future tenses.
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X.07. Change sentences from one tense to another.
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X.08. Form and use progressive verb tenses.
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X.09. Form and use perfect verb tenses.
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X.10. Choose between past tense and past participle.
Y. Grammar and Mechanics: Articles
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Y.01. Use the correct articles (a, an, the).
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Y.02. Identify articles in sentences.
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Y.03. Use articles correctly in various sentence structures.
Z. Grammar and Mechanics: Adjectives and Adverbs
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Z.10. Use comparative and superlative forms of adverbs.
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Z.01. Identify adjectives that tell “what kind” or “how many.”
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Z.02. Identify adjectives that describe nouns.
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Z.03. Order adjectives correctly in a sentence.
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Z.04. Identify adverbs that tell “how,” “when,” or “where.”
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Z.05. Identify adverbs.
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Z.06. Use relative adverbs correctly.
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Z.07. Choose between adjectives and adverbs.
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Z.08. Use comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
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Z.09. Spell comparative and superlative forms of adjectives correctly.
AA. Grammar and Mechanics: Prepositions
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AA.01. Identify prepositions.
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AA.02. Identify prepositions and their objects.
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AA.03. Identify prepositional phrases.
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AA.04. Use prepositions correctly to show relationships between words.
BB. Grammar and Mechanics: Conjunctions
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BB.01. Identify coordinating conjunctions.
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BB.02. Identify subordinating conjunctions.
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BB.03. Use conjunctions correctly to connect words, phrases, and clauses.
CC. Grammar and Mechanics: Contractions
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CC.01. Form and use pronoun-verb contractions correctly.
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CC.02. Form and use contractions with “not” correctly.
DD. Grammar and Mechanics: Punctuation
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DD.01. Use commas correctly in a series.
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DD.02. Use commas correctly with dates, places, direct addresses, and introductory words/phrases.
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DD.03. Use commas correctly in a variety of sentence structures (review).
EE. Grammar and Mechanics: Capitalization
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EE.01. Capitalize proper nouns (people, places, days, months, holidays).
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EE.02. Capitalize titles of respect, historical events, periods, and documents.
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EE.03. Capitalize proper adjectives, nationalities, and languages.
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EE.04. Apply capitalization rules correctly (review).
FF. Grammar and Mechanics: Abbreviations
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FF.01. Abbreviate days of the week, months of the year, and titles.
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FF.02. Abbreviate customary and metric units of measurement.
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FF.03. Abbreviate street names and state names.
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FF.04. Apply abbreviation rules correctly (review).
GG. Grammar and Mechanics: Formatting
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GG.01. Format letters with correct greetings and closings.
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GG.02. Format street addresses correctly.
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GG.03. Capitalize and format titles of books, articles, etc.
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GG.04. Punctuate dialogue correctly.
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GG.05. Apply formatting rules correctly.
