Milestones in Language and Literacy: English Language Arts State Standards for Elementary Grade Levels

Milestones in Language and Literacy
Part 1: Milestones in Language and Literacy Chart – English Language Arts State Standards for Elementary Grade Levels
1st-3rd 4th-5th 6th-8th Citations
Language Development Children of 1st to 3rd
standards will blend and
count the sounds in
words. The 1st graders
will be able to identify
words from the
beginning, middle and
ending sounds. 2nd and
3rd graders will be able
to try to identify
meanings from different
set of words.
The 4th to 5th graders
will try to understand
the identify the relation
between words and the
objects. Children will
be able to enhance their
reading skills by
following written
directions.
The 6th to 8th graders
will grab a good hold of
the language and
become strong readers.
They will be able to
frame the language and
make sense of what
they read. They will be
able to comprehend the
use of proper language.
These middle school
students will be express
through their body
language and vocal
tone.
Skibbe, L. E., Montroy,
J. J., Bowles, R. P., &
Morrison, F. J. (2019).
Self-regulation and the
development of literacy
and language
achievement from
preschool through
second grade. Early
childhood research
quarterly, 46, 240-251.
Lonigan, C. J., &
Milburn, T. F. (2017).
Identifying the
dimensionality of oral
language skills of
children with typical
development in
preschool through fifth
grade. Journal of
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Speech, Language, and
Hearing
Research, 60(8), 2185-
2198.
Pope, N. G. (2016).
The marginal effect of
K-12 English language
development programs:
Evidence from Los
Angeles
schools. Economics of
Education Review, 53,
311-328.
Reading Development 1st to 3rd graders are
curious to learn about
language and reading
skills. 1st graders
develop the sense of
understanding their
likings and identify
characters. 1st to 3rd
graders will be able to
respond to unfamiliar
sounds and words, can
relate words with
objects. However, their
reading speed will be a
bit slow.
4th to 5th graders make
the move from learning
to reading. They will be
able to recognize 200
sight words and apply
them while writing.
6th to 8th graders also
read and learn fluently.
However, they will be
reading with purpose,
explore new genres
identify the underlying
meaning. They will be
able to summarize what
they read.
Aydin, G., & Ayranci,
B. B. (2018). Reading
Preferences of Middle
School Students. World
Journal of
Education, 8(2), 127-
139.
Writing They learn to hold the
pencil and handwriting
skills develop. They
start recognizing words.
They start adding space
between words and add
punctuation at the end.
They learn to use
different types of
writing and are able
proofread their own
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