english language arts grade level considerations for grades 3–5
TRANSCRIPT
English Language Arts Grade Level Considerations for Grades 3–5
Considerations for Elementary School (Grades 3–5)
• Reading Level
• Vocabulary
• Contexts
• Item Difficulty
• Assessment Targets
Style
Reading Level
• Claim 1 (Reading) and 3 (Speaking and Listening) passages range from being above, at, or below grade level
• For Claim 2 (Writing) and 4 (Research) the passages one grade below the assessed grade
Vocabulary
• Use language that is clear and vocabulary that is at or below the assessed grade level
• Appropriate to elementary school students
• Vocabulary measured in context must be at least two levels above grade
Elementary School Context
• Appropriate– pets– animals– age appropriate science
and history– age appropriate games
and activities
• Inappropriate– conflicts with parents– technical passages about
driving– jobs or employment– controversial political
topics– war or crimes
Item Difficulty
• Items should include a range of difficulty
• Anticipated difficulty for sample items
Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Claims and Assessment Targets
• Claim 1: Reading
• Claim 2: Writing
• Claim 3: Speaking & Listening
• Claim 4: Research
Elementary School Claim 1: Reading
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, and Technology-Enhanced Items
• 50% Literary texts: stories, poems, plays/drama, myths, mysteries, science fiction, historical fiction
• 50% Informational texts: literary nonfiction, historical documents, scientific articles, technical texts
Students can read closely and analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly
complex literary and informational texts.
Elementary School Claim 2: Writing
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, Technology-Enhanced Items and Performance Tasks
• Elementary school Claim 2 Performance Tasks include:– Narrative writing– Informational/explanatory writing– Opinion writing
Students can produce effective and well grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.
Elementary School Claim 3: Speaking & Listening
• Elementary school Performance Tasks– Oral presentations based on research
• Locally administered formative and interim
Students can employ effective speaking and listening skills for a range of
purposes and audiences.
Elementary School Claim 4: Research
• Selected Response and Constructed Response Items
• Performance Tasks
• Real world sources
• Multiple sources
Students can engage in research / inquiry to investigate topics, and to analyze, integrate, and present information.
Elementary School English Language ArtsGrade Level Considerations
• Vocabulary, style, context, and item difficulty
• Claims and assessment targets from the Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Content Specifications