Explore resources and activities relevant to courses that emphasize developmentally appropriate practices for the teaching of reading and writing in grades K-2.

Course Activity 1: Language Arts Standards (A Comparison)

The Illinois Learning Standards for Kindergarten   (Condensed List) are essentially a bridge between the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for Language Arts and Illinois state standards for grades 1-12. (Note: The initial sections of the Standards for Kindergarten document (CCR.R.1 –CCR.SL.6) are the “College and Career Readiness Standards” that cover K-12. For the kindergarten-specific “Key Ideas and Details”, scroll to “Reading Standards for Literature,” “Reading Standards for Informational Text,” “Reading Standards: Foundational Skills,” “Writing Standards,” “Speaking and Listening Standards,” and “Language Standards.”)

In class, help students become familiar with the structure and content of both online Language Arts standards documents. Ask pairs of students to select 3-4IELDS Language Arts benchmarks and find corresponding “Key Ideas and Details” in the Kindergarten standards. Question for clarification: Do students understand that the benchmarks and the Kindergarten Key Ideas and Details apply to children finishing preschool or kindergarten respectively? They do not apply to what children should know when they enter. What questions do students have about the Standards generally? Questions for reflection/discussion might include: After the comparison activity, where do students find agreement or continuity between IELDS language arts benchmarks and the Kindergarten Key Ideas and Details? Do they find some that don’t “match” or correspond well? Overall, what do they see as areas of strongest emphasis and greatest detail in the Kindergarten English Language Arts Standards? Which Kindergarten Key Ideas and Details do individual students feel they understand well? Which do they feel they need more information about?

Extension: Ask students to compare and contrast the Kindergarten English Language Arts Standards with those for early elementary school on the Illinois State Board of Education Web site. What similarities and differences do they notice? What do they feel they need to know more about?