English Language Arts Curriculum
Northern Illinois District
Grade 5
I. Reading Skills
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read with understanding and fluency.
Learning Standard A: Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
Word analysis
Objective 1: Determine word meaning in context using prefixes, suffixes, and word roots.
Objective 2: Apply word analysis strategies: plural endings, compound words, contractions, possessive nouns, and pronouns.
Vocabulary
Objective 3: Determine word meaning using prior knowledge.
Objective 4: Determine word meaning in context using synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms.
Objective 5: Determine meaning of a word in context when the word has multiple meanings.
Objective 6: Understand word relationships in analogies.
Objective 7: Use a variety of resources including glossaries, dictionaries, and thesauruses.
Learning Standard B: Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
Comprehension Strategies
Objective 1: Preview by skimming and scanning titles, subtitles, headings, subheadings, illustrations, pictures, charts, tables, and maps.
Objective 2: Predict and confirm/reject predictions before, during, and after reading.
Objective 3: Substantiate predictions by providing evidence from text.
Objective 4: Use prior knowledge to make connections to text.
Objective 5: Use self-questioning and teacher-questioning to promote active reading.
Reading Skills
Objective 6: Determine purpose for reading.
Objective 7: Identify author’s point of view or purpose.
Text features
Objective 8: Identify informational text structure.
Objective 9: Use graphic aids, illustrations, captions, and headings to aid in comprehension.
Fluency
Objective 10: Read age-appropriate material aloud with appropriate rate and accuracy.
Objective 11: Self-correct errors that interfere with reading.
Learning Standard C: Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
Comprehension strategies
Objective 1: Ask and respond to literal and open-ended questions during and after reading.
Objective 2: Formulate questions to clarify and focus reading.
Objective 3: Make and support inferences and opinions from the text.
Genre
Objective 4: Expose children to various types of literature including historical fiction, realistic fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, poetry, drama, and biography.
Objective 5: Identify characteristics of various types of literature.
II. Literature
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras, and ideas.
Learning Standard A: Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.
Literary elements
Objective 1: Recognize, understand, and identify story elements.
Objective 2: Identify the common conflicts of literature.
Literary techniques
Objective 3: Identify, define, and analyze literary terms such as dialogue, point of view, flashback, and figurative language.
Objective 4: Identify attributes of characters.
Learning Standard B: Read and interpret a variety of literary works.
Genre
Objective 1: Identify specific features of literary forms such as realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, biography, nonfiction, plays, and poetry.
Objective 2: Compare and contrast universal themes and conflicts using text from diverse eras and cultures.
Objective 3: Read a variety of text written from a variety of perspectives.
III. Written Communication
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
Learning Standard A: Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure.
Grammar
Objective 1: Identify and use appropriate parts of speech in writing pieces accurately.
Objective 2: Use complete sentences.
Objective 3: Identify and use a variety of sentence types.
Objective 4: Demonstrate correct use of capitalization and punctuation.
Spelling
Objective 5: Demonstrate correct spelling of high-frequency words in written work.
Objective 6: Apply spelling patterns and strategies in written work.
Sentence structure
Objective 7: Apply knowledge of subject-verb agreement and antecedent-pronoun agreement.
Objective 8: Identify and correct run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
Paragraph structure
Objective 9: Write paragraphs using complete sentences and a variety of sentence types.
Objective 10: Write a paragraph using correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.
Learning Standard B: Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
Process writing
Objective 1: Select a purpose for writing such as to describe, to explain, to persuade, or to narrate.
Objective 2: Use prewriting strategies to generate ideas.
Objective 3: Use prewriting strategies to organize ideas.
Support and elaboration
Objective 4: Support the ideas or topics through the use of facts, examples, details, dialogue, and quotations.
Objective 5: Expand ideas or topics through the use of description and figurative language.
Organization
Objective 6: Organize ideas around a given structure/ format.
Objective 7: Select appropriate transition words and/ or phrases.
Objective 8: Use correct paragraph format and structure including indenting, topic sentences, and a closing sentence that effectively completes a thought.
Editing/ evaluation
Objective 9: Revise content for organization, detail, and style.
Objective 10: Proofread and edit for correct usage of conventions.
Objective 11: Use rubrics to help students develop goals for improvement in future writing.
Objective 12: Reflect upon written work.
Learning Standard C: Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
Modes of writing
Objective 1: Publish a narrative piece.
Objective 2: Publish an expository piece.
Objective 3: Publish a persuasive piece.
Objective 4: Write well-developed pieces in a variety of formats including poems, journals, reports, news articles, and stories.
Visual presentation
Objective 5: Use legible handwriting or available technology for visual communication.
Objective 6: Enhance the written piece visually.
Purpose for writing
Objective 7: Write for a variety of audiences.
Objective 8: Identify various purposes for writing.
IV. Oral Communication
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
Learning Standard A: Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
Objective 1: Evaluate the situation and assume appropriate listening mode.
Objective 2: Restate a set of instructions in the order given and complete the task.
Objective 3: Record appropriate notes from a presentation.
Objective 4: Listen for specific purposes such as enjoyment, information, directions, and response to questions.
Objective 5: Formulate questions and comments based upon content of presentation.
Learning Standard B: Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
Objective 1: Use positive verbal communication elements such as pleasant tone, rate, and volume.
Objective 2: Prepare and practice a presentation to fit within a given time limit.
Objective 3: Contribute meaningfully to group discussion by following accepted guidelines of verbal interaction.
Objective 4: Exhibit appropriate nonverbal communication elements such as eye contact, posture, and gestures.
V. Application of the Language Arts
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to use the language arts to acquire, assess, and communicate information.
Learning Standard A: Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems, and communicate ideas.
Objective 1: Formulate questions and construct a basic research plan.
Objective 2: Organize and integrate information from a variety of sources (e.g., books, interviews, library reference materials, web-sites, CD/ROMs).
Learning Standard B: Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
Objective 1: Compare the information gained from resources to determine accuracy, reliability, validity, and currency.
Objective 2: Recognize the difference between a primary source and a secondary source.
Objective 3: Cite sources used.
Learning Standard C: Apply acquired information, concepts, and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
Objective 1: Use text, graphic materials, or visual aids to present information.
Objective 2: Vary presentation to accommodate characteristics of audience.
Objective 3: Vary presentation to accommodate the purpose.