Hearing & Understanding

• Listen to and understand information presented by others
• Form opinions based on evidence
• Listen for specific purposes

Reading

• Read for specific purposes & read grade-level books fluently
• Use previously learned information to understand new material
• Follow written directions & take brief notes
• Link information learned to different subjects
• Learn meanings of new words through knowledge of word origins, synonyms, and multiplemeanings
• Use reference materials (e.g., dictionary)
• Explain the author’s purpose and writing style
• Read and understand a variety of types of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, and poetry
• Compare and contrast in content areas
• Make inferences from texts
• Paraphrase content, including the main idea and details

Talking

• Use words appropriately in conversation
• Use language effectively for a variety of purposes
• Understand some figurative language (e.g., “the forest stretched across”)
• Participate in group discussions
• Give accurate directions to others
• Summarize and restate ideas
• Organize information for clarity
• Use subject area information and vocabulary (e.g., social studies) for learning
• Make effective oral presentations

Writing

• Write effective stories and explanations, including several paragraphs about the same topic
• Develop a plan for writing, including a beginning, middle, and end
• Organize writing to convey a central idea
• Edit final copies for grammar, punctuation, and spelling