Kindergarten ELA Michigan Standards

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.

Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Print many upper- and lowercase letters.

Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs.

Form regular plural nouns orally by adding /s/ or /es/ (e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes).

Understand and use question words (interrogatives) (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).

Use the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with).

Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I.

Recognize and name end punctuation.

Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).

Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.

Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately (e.g., knowing duck is a bird and learning the verb to duck).

Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.

With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.

Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).

Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful).

Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.

Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.

Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.

Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.

Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.

Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.

Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

Recognize and produce rhyming words.

Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.

Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words.

Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three-phoneme (consonent-vowel-consonent, or CVC) words. (This does not include CVCs ending with /l/, /r/, or /x/.)

Add or substitute individual sounds (phonemes) in simple, one-syllable words to make new words.

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sound for each consonant.

Associate the long and short sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.

Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does).

Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.

Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.

Name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a text.

With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).

With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.

With prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).

With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.

With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion).

Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges.

Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.

Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.

Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.

Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.

With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language

Conventions of Standard English

Craft and Structure

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

Key Ideas and Details

Comprehension and Collaboration

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Writing Standards

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

(Not applicable to literature)

(Begins in grade 3)

Knowledge of Language

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Text Types and Purposes

Speaking and Listening Standards

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Key Ideas and Details

Language Standards

(Begins in grade 2)

Range of Writing

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Conventions of Standard English

Key Ideas and Details

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Fluency

(Begins in grade 3)

Phonics and Word Recognition

Print Concepts

Text Types and Purposes

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Comprehension and Collaboration

Reading Standards for Literature

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Craft and Structure

Range of Writing

Production and Distribution of Writing

Craft and Structure

Production and Distribution of Writing

Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

Phonological Awareness

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

(Begins in grade 4)

Knowledge of Language

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing

Demonstrate understanding through non-verbal gestures or with single words or learned phrases

Follow simple two-step oral directions to complete a task in English

Interpret gestures and visual cues used in instruction

Perform basic classroom tasks when prompted

Follow simple three or four-step oral directions to complete a classroom task

Respond appropriately and courteously to directions and questions

Perform most uncomplicated classroom tasks when prompted

Clarify classroom assignments with teacher and/or peers

Understand highly contextualized simple speech with frequent repetition and rephrasing

Understand basic language such as, greetings, leave-taking, questions, and directions

Understand simple speech produced by peers and adults on familiar topics with repetition and rephrasing

Understand age-appropriate social discourse with occasional repetition and rephrasing

Understand ageappropriate social discourse

Use active listening comprehension in a variety of situations such as following directions, responding to requests, and listening for specific purposes

Listen attentively to stories and information read aloud

Demonstrate comprehension of oral presentations and instructions through nonverbal responses

Listen and respond to stories and other texts read aloud, including classic and contemporary works

Orally identify main points of simple conversations and stories read aloud

Listen attentively to stories/information and identify key details and concepts using both verbal and non-verbal responses

Understand limited key content area vocabulary supported by visual representations and realia (real-life objects)

Understand key content area vocabulary supported by visuals and written text provided during classroom instruction

Understand vocabulary and discourse features of content areas

Demonstrate understanding of speaker's feelings and attitudes toward a topic

Use age-appropriate social conventions that characterize the new culture while listening, such as eye contact, physical proximity, and turn-taking

Listen critically to interpret and evaluate

Respond to the implications of tones of voice

Infer speaker's implied meaning

Build vocabulary to develop concepts

Speaking

Reading and Comprehending

Identify meaning of vocabulary in the content areas

Demonstrate comprehensible pronunciation and intonation for clarity in oral communication

Use grammatical conventions of English

Make inferences and predictions

Identify speaker attitude and point of view

Recognize concepts of print literacy

Use conventions and formats of written English

Use tone and voice to engage specific audiences

Engage in conversations for personal expression and enjoyment

Use various types of writing for specific purposes

Analyze style and form of various genre

Write using appropriate vocabulary choice and variation

Provide and obtain information; express and exchange opinions

Use the writing process to produce writing

Use spoken language for daily activities within and beyond the school setting

Apply reading skills in social and academic contexts

Use spoken English and nonverbal communication in socially and culturally appropriate ways

Construct sentences and develop paragraphs to organize writing supporting a central idea

Identify main ideas and supporting details from spoken English

Read and demonstrate comprehension of main idea and supporting details

Demonstrate phonological awareness and the relationship of listening/speaking to decoding

Use multiple sources to extend writing

Use strategies to extend communicative competence

Understand spoken English to participate in social contexts

Follow simple and complex directions

Listening

Writing

Use English to interact in the classroom

Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners on a variety of topics

Make inferences, predictions, and conclusions from reading

Demonstrate initial print awareness that print carries message

Know the order of the alphabet; name and identify each letter of the alphabet

Know the difference between capital and lower case letters

Distinguish letters from words

Demonstrate directionality by tracking print from left to right, and using return sweep

Recognize that sentences in print are made up of separate words

Recognize that words have correct spelling

Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book

Understand that printed materials provide information

Use knowledge of simple spelling patterns when reading

Recognize capitalization and punctuation to convey meaning

Demonstrate that print represents spoken language

Understand that as letters change, so do sounds

Use knowledge of consonants and vowels sounds to match sounds to letters

Use knowledge of consonants, consonant blends, and vowel sounds in decoding words

Read common word families and rhyming words

Use decoding skills to read known and unfamiliar words

Match oral words to printed words

Recognize high frequency words

Develop basic sight words

Identify simple words with multiple meanings

Identify simple literary terms (title, author, illustrator)

Name characters and identify setting of story

Recognize the beginning, middle and end of narratives

Answer factual, simple questions about content of text

Participate in discussions describing characters, setting, events and plot

Identify common signs and logos

Use prior background knowledge to approach text

Use print from the environment to derive and reinforce meaning

Read and follow simple written directions

Use simple reference materials (such as picture dictionaries) to acquire concepts

Read and follow sequential or multiple step written directions to complete tasks and assignments

Use pictures/graphics to make predictions about text, and discuss conclusions

Use pictures to make predictions about stories and informational text

Make and confirm predictions about the subject/story from text clues

Identify elements of a story, including character, setting, and sequence of events

Recognize format differences between poetry and prose

Recognize differences between expository and narrative text

Use graphic displays (photos, art, pictures, icons, symbols) and textual aides (sub-heading, graphs, charts) to understand stories and informational text

Differentiate between fiction and non-fiction

Understand literary forms by recognizing and distinguishing among stories, poems, and information books

Use learned phrases to respond to questions and directions

Make requests and obtain information from the community

Participate in conversations on social topics by asking and requesting information

Acquire goods, services, or information by spoken request

Communicate basic wants and needs in English

Use common social greetings and simple repetitive phrases

Participate in social conversations with peers and adults on familiar topics by asking and answering questions and requesting information

Participate in social conversations with peers and adults on unfamiliar topics by asking and answering questions and restating and requesting information

Maintain eye contact when communicating in person

Recognize some gestures, facial expressions and body language

Recite rhymes, songs and simple stories

Respond orally to factual questions

Ask and respond to questions using phrases or simple sentences

Participate in classroom discussions

Restate in basic terms the main idea of oral presentations using subject area content

Ask and answer instructional questions using simple sentences

Give directions or instructions to classmates

Participate in guided discussions

Give simple oral reports

Participate actively in cooperative group activities and projects

Participate actively in content area discussions with peers and teachers

Answer instructional questions by using simple sentences

Answer instructional questions with supporting details

Respond to messages by asking questions, challenging statements, or offering examples that affirm the message

Talk about experiences using expanded vocabulary, descriptive words and paraphrasing

Use clearly spoken single words and learned phrases to be understood by a native speaker

Speak understandably with awareness of English intonation and phonological patterns

Speak clearly and comprehensibly by using standard English grammatical forms, pronunciation, phrasing and intonation

Describe a concrete object or concept with prepared text

Prepare and deliver short oral presentations

Retell stories and participate in short conversations

Ask for clarification and repetition

Make requests relevant to the teaching learning process (homework instructions)

Formulate and pose questions during classroom discussions

Respond to messages by asking questions or by challenging statements

Summarize orally with accurate representation of the content of the conversation

Write the English alphabet legibly in manuscript (printing) using upper and lower case

Write messages from left to right and top to bottom of the page

Use word and letter spacing to make messages readable

Write personal information (name, address, phone number)

Write labels, notes and captions for illustrations, charts, and objects

Write words and short sentences from dictation with developmental spelling

Copy from a model text with attention to using lines, margins, and spacing

Write several sentences on a topic related to a visual prompt

Write the English alphabet legibly in cursive using upper and lower case

Write simple sentences using key words available in the classroom environment

Use capitalization and punctuation to begin and end sentences

Use nouns (singulars and plurals), verbs (singular and plural), pronouns, adjectives, adverbs in writing

Use basic grammatical constructions in simple sentences

Capitalize and punctuate correctly to clarify and enhance meaning (such as capitalizing titles, using possessives, commas in a series, apostrophes and contractions, and abbreviations)

Identify and correctly use subject verb agreement and past, present, and future tenses in writing simple sentences

Demonstrate knowledge of negatives and contractions

Use descriptive vocabulary to clarify details

Compose simple declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences appropriate for language arts and other content areas based on a classroom model

Compose multiple sentences around a topic

Support a central idea with relevant details and examples

Prewriting: Generate ideas for writing by using prewriting techniques such as drawing and teacher assisted listing of key thoughts

Editing: Edit writing for punctuation, capitalization and spelling with teacher assistance; create legible final copy

Prewriting: Use graphic organizers as a prewriting activity to demonstrate prior knowledge, add information and prepare to write

Editing: Edit draft for basic grammatical constructions; expand use of adjectives and adverbs; check for singular and plural agreement

Prewriting: Plan ideas through independent organizing activities such as listing, webbing, clustering, sequencing, and classifying in English

Write basic information on classroom assignments, such as, name, date, class subject, teacher

Write to communicate basic personal information such as filling out forms, autobiographical sketches, home-culture descriptions

List, label, or summarize content area information

Write a few words or phrases about an event or character from a story read by the teacher

Write a short narrative story that includes elements of setting and character

Write in different forms for different purposes including lists to inform, letters to invite or thank, and stories to entertain

Write brief responses to selected literature with factual understanding of the text using simple sentences

Write a brief narrative include elements of setting, character, and events

Narrate a sequence of events with some detail

Record or dictate knowledge of a topic in a variety of ways, such as by drawing pictures, making lists, or using graphic organizers to show connections among ideas

Identify questions for investigating a given topic

Identify an audience for writing in English

Demonstrate emerging understanding of letter and word use.

Demonstrate emerging understanding of letter and word use. A. With guidance and support, distinguish between letters and other symbols or shapes.

Demonstrate emerging knowledge of word meanings: with guidance and support, demonstrate understanding of words used in every day routines.

Demonstrate emerging understanding of word relationships.

With guidance and support, use words acquired through conversations, being read to, and during shared reading activities.

Demonstrate emerging understanding of the organization of print.

Demonstrate emerging understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

Demonstrate emerging awareness of print.

Engage in purposeful shared reading of familiar text.

With guidance and support, identify a detail in a familiar text.

With guidance and support, actively engage in shared reading of informational text.

With guidance and support, identify the topic of a familiar text.

With guidance and support, identify individuals, events, or details in a familiar informational text.

With guidance and support, indicate when an unknown word is used in a text.

With guidance and support, identify the front cover of a book.

With guidance and support, distinguish between words and illustrations in an informational text.

With guidance and support, identify illustrations or objects/tactual information that go with a familiar text.

With guidance and support, identify points the author makes in an informational text.

With guidance and support, match similar parts of two familiar texts on the same topic.

With guidance and support, identify details in familiar stories.

With guidance and support, actively engage in shared reading.

With guidance and support, identify major events in familiar stories.

With guidance and support, identify characters and settings in a familiar story.

With guidance and support, indicate when an unknown word is used in a text.

With guidance and support, recognize familiar texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

With guidance and support, distinguish between words and illustrations in a story.

With guidance and support, identify illustrations or objects/tactual information that go with a familiar story.

With guidance and support, identify the adventures or experiences of a character in a familiar story.

Participate in conversations with others.

Demonstrate an emerging understanding of a familiar text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by answering questions.

Ask for help when needed.

With guidance and support, identify familiar people, places, things, and events.

With guidance and support, add or select drawings or other visual or tactual displays that relate to familiar people, places, things, and events.

With guidance and support, communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

With guidance and support, select a familiar book and use drawing, dictating, or writing to state an opinion about it.

With guidance and support, select a familiar topic and use drawing, dictating, or writing to share information about the topic.

With guidance and support, select an event and use drawing, dictating, or writing and share information about it.

With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce individual or group writing.

With guidance and support, participate in shared research and writing objects.

With guidance and support from adults, identify information, objects, or events that relate to personal experiences.

With guidance and support, demonstrate an understanding of common verbs.

Conventions of Standard English

Speaking and Listening

With guidance and support, recognize environmental print.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Usage

With guidance and support, demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring opposites.

Writing: Text Types and Purposes

With guidance and support, demonstrate understanding of common prepositions: on, off, in, out.

Students can comprehend text in increasingly complex ways.

With guidance and support, identify answers to simple questions (e.g., who, what) from an array of choices.

Using Language

With guidance and support, link two or more words together in communication.

Students can investigate topics and present information.

With guidance and support during shared reading, demonstrate understanding that books are read one page at a time from beginning to end.

With guidance and support, sort common objects into familiar categories.

With guidance and support, recognize first letter of own name in print.

With guidance and support, use frequently occurring nouns in communication.

Students can produce writing for a range of purposes and audiences.

With guidance and support, use frequently occurring plural nouns.

Accessing Narrative Text

With guidance and support, use words to communicate in real-life situations.

With guidance and support, identify single-syllable spoken words with the same onset (beginning sound) as a familiar word.

Students can communicate for a range of purposes and audiences.

With guidance and support, recognize the number of words in a spoken message.

Participate in multiple-turn communication exchanges with support from adults.

Accessing Informational Text

With guidance and support, recognize rhyming words.

Research and Inquiry

Reading (Foundational Skills)

Communicate directly with supportive adults or peers.