Big Ideas
Big Ideas
Language and story
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
can be a source of creativity and joy.
Stories
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
and other textsText and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
help us learn about ourselves and our families.
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Stories
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
and other textsText and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
can be shared through pictures and words.
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Everyone has a unique story
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
to share.
Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world.
Playing with language helps us discover how language works.
Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
Content
Learning Standards
Content
Story
- structure of storybeginning, middle, end (or first, then, last)
- literary elements and devicesexamples include sound concepts (e.g., rhyme, rhythm, musical, and poetical qualities of language) and humorous and creative texts (e.g., tongue twisters, nursery rhymes, fables, traditional stories)
Strategies and processes
- reading strategiesmaking meaning using predictions and connections; making meaning from story using pictures, patterns, memory, and prior knowledge; retelling some elements of story; and recognizing familiar words/names and environmental print (e.g., street signs, food packaging)
- oral language strategiesadjusting volume, pace, tone, and articulation; focusing on the speaker; taking turns; asking questions related to the topic; making personal connections; making relevant contributions to discussion
- metacognitive strategiestalking and thinking about learning (e.g., through reflecting, questioning, goal setting, self-evaluating) to develop awareness of self as a reader and as a writer
- writing processes
Language features, structures, and conventions
- concepts of printthe conventional features of written English, such as:
- the symbolic nature of writing
- the correspondence of spoken words to printed words (one-to-one matching)
- the association of letters and sounds
- the distinctive features of letters and words
- the correspondence between uppercase and lowercase letters
- left-to-right directionality
- the use of space to mark word boundaries
- the use of specific signs and symbols for punctuation (e.g., period, exclamation point, question mark)
- front and back of a book - letter knowledgerecognizing and naming most letters of the alphabet, recognizing most letter-sound matches, recognizing some familiar words
- phonemic and phonological awarenessPhonological refers to the sounds of words (as opposed to their meanings):
- Phonemic awareness is a specific aspect of a learner’s phonological awareness: a child’s ability to segment spoken words into phonemes (e.g., c / a / t) and to blend phonemes into words indicates a developing phonemic awareness.
- Phonological awareness involves the abilities to hear and create rhyming words, segment the flow of speech into separate words, and hear syllables as “chunks” in spoken words. - letter formationthe use of scribble writing or letter strings to communicate meaning; distinguishes drawing from writing
- the relationship between reading, writing, and oral language
Curricular Competency
Learning Standards
Curricular Competency
Comprehend and connect (reading, listening, viewing)
Use sources of information and prior knowledge
personal stories and experiences
to make meaning
Use developmentally appropriate reading, listening, and viewing strategies
examples include distinguishing drawing from writing, asking questions to construct and clarify meaning, using active listening, predicting, making connections to self
to make meaning
Explore foundational concepts of print, oral, and visual texts
concepts include directionality of print, difference between letter and word, difference between writing and drawing, spacing, letter-sound relationship, understanding that pictures convey meaning, taking turns, expressing ideas and needs, and role-playing
Engage actively as listeners, viewers, and readers
connecting to personal knowledge, experiences, and traditions; participating in community and cultural traditions and practices; asking questions related to the topic at hand
, as appropriate, to develop understanding of self, identity, and community
Recognize the importance of story
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
in personal, family, and community identity
Use personal experience and knowledge to connect to stories
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
and other textsText and texts are generic terms referring all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements)
to make meaning
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements)
Recognize the structure of story
beginning, middle, end (or first, then, last)
Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
Exchange ideas and perspectives
taking turns in offering ideas related to the topic at hand, focusing on the speaker without interrupting, and generally contributing to the discussion
to build shared understanding
Use language to identify, create, and share ideas, feelings, opinions, and preferences
Create stories
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers.
and other textsText and texts are generic terms referring all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements)
to deepen awareness of self, family, and community
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements)
Plan and create stories and other texts
involves experimenting with print and storytelling; supporting communication, including through stories and the use of manipulatives such as puppets, storyboards, digital tools, and toys
for different purposes and audiences
Explore oral storytelling processes
creating an original story or finding an existing story (with permission), sharing the story from memory with others, using vocal expression to clarify the meaning of the text