USD 500 Language Arts Benchmark
Compiled by the district librarians, September, 2007.
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In Context |
Analysis |
Language |
Main Idea |
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| Tone and Mood |
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Fluency |
Ideas and Content |
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Organization |
Word Choice |
Six Trait Writing |
Literacy Works |
Miscellaneous Links |
| Vocabulary In Context I can infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a sentence using context clues (such as antonyms, synonyms, and other clue words). |
| Context Clues and Examples http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~langlit/reading/contextclues/intro1.htm http://www.english-zone.com/vocab/vic02.html http://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/wordofday/ |
| Structural Analysis I can identify, differentiate, and examine prefixes, suffixes, and root words. |
| Definitions and Examples http://ueno.cool.ne.jp/let/prefix.html |
| Interactive Vocabulary Workshop http://www.southampton.liu.edu/academic/pau/course/webesl.htm |
| List of Prefixes, Suffixes, Roots, Meanings, and Origins http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/ksd/MA/resources/greek_and_latin_roots/transition.html |
| Figurative Language I can identify hyperbole and interpret the author's purpose. I can explain imagery and the author's purpose for using it in the text. |
| Topic and Main Idea I can find and restate the explicit main idea and supporting details. I can infer the main idea. |
| Flashback I can explain and analyze the author's purpose for using flashback |
| Useful NCTE Sites http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/student_material.asp?id=7 |
| Tone and Mood I can analyze the author's tone and how it affects the mood of the story. |
| Symbolism I can analyze the author's use of symbolism. |
| Voice I can write for a specific purpose and audience using tone and mood. |
| Sentence Fluency I can vary sentence length by using simple, compound, and complex sentences. I can use conjunctions and transitions to show the relationship. |
| Fun Grammar Exercises http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm |
Writing Practice http://www.writingfix.com/6Traits/SentenceFluency.htm |
| Ideas and Content I can effectively use main ideas, thesis statements, and topic sentences. I can choose appropriate supporting details for the main idea. |
| Organization I can develop an effective introduction that captures the reader's attention. I can write a body paragraph with appropriate supporting details. I can write a concluding paragraph. I can choose an appropriate type of organization for a specific topic or genre using different text structures. |
| How to Organize your Ideas http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/writing/ |
| Word Choice I can appropriately use an active voice. I can create a mental picture for the reader by using words that are specific and accurate (i.e. lively verbs, colorful expressive modifiers, specific nouns). |
| Six-Trait Writing |
| Samples and Rubrics http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/6traits/index.htm |
ESL Students http://a4esl.org/q/j/ |
Practice Scoring Papers http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/scoringpractice.php?odelay=3&d-1 |
Online Writing Publisher http://www.writing.com/?rfrc=inkspot.com |
Revising Passive Constructions http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/passive_quiz.htm |
| Literacy Works Interactive web sites related to particular literary works |
| To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee 1. Interactive circle plot diagram http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/circle-plot/ 2. Interactively assessing courage and cowardice of individuals involved in two trials, i.e. To Kill.... and Scottsboro trial. Scroll to "Background for the Teacher" then click on word "interactive." http://edsitement.neh.gov/printable_lesson_plan.asp?id=526 |
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The Giver, by Lois Lowry Online Quetions by Chapter http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading17/giver.htm |
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Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald Interactive Listening Eercises on Vocabulary Scroll to "Vocabulary" for interactive section. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/greatbooks-greatgatsby/index.html |
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One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Interactive Timeline of Author http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/featbook/oyos/author/oyos_author_timeline.jhtml Interactive questions for sections of the Novel http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/featbook/oyos/novel/oyos_novel_main.jhtml |
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Beowulf Interactive Quiz http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-33,pageNum-58.html |
| Miscellaneous Resources |
| State Standards and the Smithsonian Teaching Resource Index- http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/index.html |
| Apple Learning Interchange Sign Up for Free Account http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/ |
| ACT 1. Content Alignment - http://www.act.org/activity/spring2007/survey.html 2. Alignment Efforts - http://www.act.org/activity/spring2007/states.html 3. Activity Publications - http://www.act.org/activity/spring2007/ 4. Student Site for ACT Test Takers - http://www.actstudent.org/index.html 5. Practice Test Questions - http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/english/eng_01_ans.html |
Read*Write*Think 1. Homepage - http://www.readwritethink.org/index.asp 2. Student Materials Index - http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp 3. Choosing the Best Verb - http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=280 4. Evaluating Web Pages - http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view_printer_friendly.asp?id=328 |
National Council of Teachers of English 1. Homepage - http://www.ncte.org/ 2. Grammar Resources - http://www.ncte.org/collections/grammar |
| Writing Prompts 1. Auto prompt generator - http://www.writingfix.com/rightbrain.htm 2. Daily Prompt - on right sidebar - http://www.toasted-cheese.com/penineachland.htm 3. More Prompts - http://www.timesaversforteachers.com/index_page0010.htm |
| Quick Writes: 1. Content Specific - http://www.bertiekingore.com/Quick_Writes.pdf 2. Adolescent Literacy - http://www.learningpt.org/literacy/adolescent/strategies/quickwrites.php 3. Science & Math - http://www.sjsu.edu/elementaryed/ejlts/archives/language_development/Jocleland.pdf 4. Vocabulary - http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/1337.html 5. Current Events - http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/17/when-should-rescuers-give-up/ 6. New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/nyregion/02fatigue.html?_=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin |
| Recommended Books Totten, S. (ed). Spark the Brain, Ignite the Pen: Quick Writes for Kindergarten through High School Teachers and Beyond. Information Age, 2006. Rief, L. 100 Quickwrites: Fast and Effective Freewriting Exercises That Build Students' Confidence, Develop Their Fluency, and Bring Out the Writer in Every Student.Scholastic, 2003. Graves, D. inside Writing. Heinemann, 2005. Bomer, Katherine. Writing a Life: Teaching Memoir to Sharpen Insight, Shape Meaning, and Triumph Over Tests. Heineman, 2005. King, Stephen. On Writing. Pocket, 2002. Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird. Anchor, 1995. | Area Resource Greater Kansas City Writing Project, Katie Kline, Director: klinek@umkc.edu Inservices and visits from Teacher Consultants, and writing resources available. |