Grade 3 Writing Curriculum

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly. 
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience. 
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies. 
  • Participate in collaborative discussions. 
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings. 
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on the main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support. 
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas.
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in group activities:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing. 
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings. 
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support. 
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Use complete sentences.
  • Use the word I in compound subjects.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  

• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings. 
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository.
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Use present verb tense.
  • Use commas in a simple series.
  • Use correct spelling including irregular plurals.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions. 
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository. 
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure. 
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information. 
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English.
  • Use singular possessives.
  • Use apostrophes in contractions with pronouns and in possessives.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions. 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas.
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points.
  • Use specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills.
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Use simple abbreviations.
  • Indicate paragraphing by indenting or skipping a line. 

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository.
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type. 
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
•  Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Use adjectives correctly.
  • Use correct spelling including irregular plurals.
  • Indicate paragraphing by indenting or skipping a line.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English.
  • Use past and present verb tense.
  • Use correct spelling including irregular plurals.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  •  Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  •  Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.  
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly.
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
• Write legibly in cursive:
  • Write capital and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
  • Sign his/her first and last names.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies.
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on the main idea.
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details.
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure.
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support.
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea.
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information.
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Use the articles a, an, and the correctly.
  • Use correct spelling, including irregular plurals.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.

Students will be able to: 

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings: 
  • Use active listening strategies including but not limited to making eye contact, facing the speaker, asking questions, and summarizing.
  • Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.
  • Ask and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
  • Orally summarize information expressing ideas clearly. 
  • Use language appropriate for context and audience.
  • Increase listening and speaking vocabularies.
  • Participate in collaborative discussions.
  • Work respectfully with others in pairs, diverse groups, and whole class settings. 
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository.
  • Engage in writing as a process.
  • Identify audience and purpose.
  • Use a variety of prewriting strategies. 
  • Use organizational strategies to structure writing according to type.
  • Write a clear topic sentence focusing on main idea. 
  • Elaborate writing by including supporting details. 
  • Use transition words to vary sentence structure. 
  • Express an opinion about a topic and provide fact-based reasons for support. 
  • Write a well-developed paragraph focusing on the main idea. 
  • Revise writing for clarity of content using specific vocabulary and information. 
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English.
  • Use correct spelling including irregular plurals.
  • Indicate paragraphing by indenting or skipping a line.

Extended Standards: In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning named above, students who receive full-time Advanced Academic (AAP Level IV) Services engage with these extensions.

• Use effective communication skills in a variety of settings:
  • Lead and contribute to discussions and viewpoints with others across content areas and in seminars. 
  • Ask clarifying questions and take notes when listening to a speaker.
  • Develop listening/oral communication skills.
  • Participate in group discussions as a listener and a speaker in seminars.
  • Pose and respond to open ended questions, clarifying and challenging ideas. 
  • Understand and encapsulate the speaker’s main points. 
  • Use specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.
  • Use word origins and stems to expand vocabulary.
  • Articulate understanding of a reading to a partner. 
  • Engage in discussions with others by exchanging ideas, asking questions, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully to the comments of others.
• Write in a variety of forms to include narrative, descriptive, opinion, and expository:
  • Reflect individuality through word choice and style.
  • Select a topic and develop a plan for writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 
  • Develop persuasive writing skills. 
  • Focus, organize, and elaborate to create an effective message.
  • Group ideas related to the topic.
  • Use description, details, and examples that support the main idea.
  • Evaluate the effective use of words, sentences, and paragraphs in context. 
  • Provide evidence and data to support a claim, issue, or thesis sentence.
  • Revise based on peer review, teacher feedback, and self-evaluation by adding, deleting, and changing information.
  • Use the elements of reasoning to develop strong, convincing arguments in persuasive writing.
  • Synthesize author techniques to improve or create a new piece of writing.
  • Complete various pieces of writing using a three-phrase revision process based on peer review, teacher.  
• Edit writing for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and Standard English:
  • Develop sentences into paragraphs.
  • Develop linguistic competency.