Classify words into categories (e.g., colors, fruits, vegetables

Recognize common sight words.

Recognize that words can sound alike but have different meanings (e.g., homophones such as hair and hare).

Recognize contractions (e.g., isn't, aren't, can't, won't) and common abbreviations (e.g., Jan., Feb.)

Determine the meaning of unknown words using a beginner's dictionary.

• Describe the role of authors and illustrators.
• Establish a purpose for reading (e.g., to be informed, to follow directions or to be entertained.)
• Visualize the information in texts and demonstrate this by drawing pictures, discussing images in texts or writing simple descriptions.

• Make predictions while reading and support predictions with information from the text or prior experience.
• Compare information (e.g., recognize similarities) in texts with prior knowledge and experience.
• Recall the important ideas in fictional and non-fictional texts.
• Create and use graphic organizers such as Venn diagrams or webs, with teacher assistance, to demonstrate comprehension.
• Answer literal, simple inferential and evaluative questions to demonstrate comprehension of grade-appropriate print texts and electronic and visual media.

• Monitor comprehension of independently- or group-read texts by asking and answering questions.

• Use criteria to choose independent reading materials (e.g., personal interest, knowledge of authors and genres or recommendations from others.
• Independently read books for various purposes (e.g., for enjoyment, for literary experience, to gain information or to perform a task.

• Generating writing ideas through discussion with others.
• Develop and main idea for writing.
• Determine purpose and audience.
• Use organizational strategies (e.g., brainstorming, lists, webs and Venn diagrams) to plan writing.

• Organize writing to include a beginning, middle and end.
• Construct complete sentences with subjects and verbs.
• Mimic language from literature when appropriate.
• Use available technology to compose text.
• Reread own writing for clarity.
• Add descriptive words and details.
• Use resources (e.g., a word wall, beginner's dictionary, word bank) to select effective vocabulary.
• Proofread writing to improve conventions (e.g., grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization.)
• Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist, feedback) to judge the quality of writing.

• Rewrite and illustrate writing samples for display and for sharing with others.

• Print legibly and space letters, words and sentences appropriately.

• Spell words correctly with regular short vowel patterns and most common long vowel words (e.g., time, name).
• Spell high-frequency words correctly.
• Create phonetically-spelled written work that can usually be read by the writer and others.
• Spell unfamiliar words using strategies such as segmenting, sounding out and matching familiar words and word parts.

• Use end punctuation correctly, including question marks, exclamation points and periods.
• Use correct capitalization (e.g., the first word in a sentence, names and the pronoun I).

Use nouns, verbs and adjectives (descriptive words.)

• Use active listening skills, such as making eye contact or asking questions.
• Compare what is heard with prior knowledge and experience.
• Follow simple oral directions.

• Speak clearly and understandably.

• Deliver brief informational presentations that:
• a.  demonstrate an understanding of the topic;
  b.  include and sort relevant information and details to develop topic;
  c.  organize information with a clear beginning and ending; and
  d.  express opinions.
• Deliver brief informal descriptive presentations recalling an event or personal experience that convey relevant information and descriptive details.
• Deliver simple dramatic presentations (e.g., recite poems, rhymes, songs and stories).
• Recite short poems, songs and nursery rhymes.