Arkansas K–6 english language arts standards

Participate in collaborative conversations.

Ask and answer questions orally about what a speaker says to gather additional information and clarify understanding.

Use specific details to orally describe people, places, things, and events.

Use visual displays to provide additional detail.

Speak audibly in collaborative communication and presentations.

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 and that print carries meaning (e.g., the spoken word "dog" is represented in print by d-o-g).

Point to words, using one-to-one correspondence to demonstrate that words are separated by spaces.

Name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet in print.

Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds in three sound words.

Blend two to four individual sounds to create one-syllable words (e.g., /a/ /t/ to at; /s/ /i/ /p/ to sip; /c/ /a/ /t/ /s/ to cats).

Segment one-syllable words into individual sounds.

Distinguish between sounds based on place of articulation (where in the mouth it is produced) and manner of articulation (voicing and air flow) (e.g., /p/ vs. /b/; /ch/ vs. /j/).

Decode one-syllable words with single consonants and all short vowels (e.g., bag, sip, web, hog, cut).

Decode one-syllable words with consonant digraphs (sh, ch, th) and all short vowels (e.g., wish, chap, that).

Decode one-syllable words with single consonants and final long vowels (e.g., we, go).

Read high-frequency words.

Decode words with suffix -s (e.g., sits, maps, runs).

Encode one-syllable words with single consonants and all short vowels (e.g., cat, net, hit, pop, pup).

Encode one-syllable words with single consonants and final long vowel sounds (e.g., a, me, go).

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

Encode words with final suffix -s (e.g., cats, runs).

Demonstrate proper pencil grip.

Form upper and lowercase letters and numerals correctly, using a common path of movement.

Name all upper and lowercase letters in non-sequential order with accuracy and automaticity.

Produce the most common sound for each letter of the alphabet with accuracy and automaticity.

Orally read texts consisting of previously taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences, self-correcting as necessary.

Use common nouns.

Use singular nouns.

Use plural nouns.

Use pronoun "I."

Use regular action verbs.

Use singular nouns with verbs that agree in basic sentences (e.g., He hops.).

Produce simple sentences independently.

Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

Capitalize the pronoun "I."

Use all end punctuation marks.

Ask questions about key details in a text.

Answer questions about key details in a text.

Orally retell a text after listening to it read aloud; include the main topic and key details.

Build general and academic vocabulary and background knowledge of age and grade-appropriate topics through discussion, reading, and writing.

Explain the roles of both the author and the illustrator.

Use background knowledge and details, including illustrations, charts, and graphs, to make predictions and inferences about what happens in a text.

Demonstrate comprehension of age and grade-appropriate texts by speaking or writing.

Identify the major characters in a text.

Identify settings and events in a text.

Compare and contrast the characters in texts.

Explain how visual images support understanding of a text.

Recognize literary texts, using text elements (e.g., title, illustrations, story elements, literary introductions such as "Once upon a time").

Identify the main points an author uses in a text.

Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic.

Recognize informational texts, using text elements (e.g., title, photographs, diagrams, descriptions).

Identify text features (e.g., title, author, illustrator, table of contents, bold font, italics).

Explain how visual images (e.g., charts, graphs, illustrations) support understanding of a text.

Determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text read aloud.

Use sentence-level clues to identify the meaning of a word or phrase during read-aloud instruction.

Sort and categorize objects and images by concepts.

Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs (e.g., march, run, jog, strut, prance).

Use most common prefixes (e.g., un-, re-) and suffixes (e.g., -ed, -s) as clues to meaning.

Write an opinion piece about a topic or text, including a reason.

Write an informative piece with facts.

Write a narrative with the events in chronological order.

Produce writing, using precise language and grade-appropriate conventions.

Revise word choice in writing.

Edit writing to include grade-appropriate conventions for publishing (e.g., capitalize the first word in the sentence, capitalize the pronoun "I," use end punctuation marks).

Participate in teacher-led research projects and produce simple findings.

Participate in collaborative conversations, following class created discussion guidelines.

Ask and answer questions orally about what a speaker says to gather additional information and clarify understanding.

Use relevant details to express ideas and feelings when orally describing people, places, things, and events.

Use visual displays to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

Speak audibly in collaborative communication and presentations.

Blend three to five sounds in one-syllable words (e.g., /s/ /i/ /p/ to sip; /s/ /l/ /i/ /p/ to slip; /s/ /i/ /f/ /t/ to sift; /b/ /l/ /a/ /s/ /t/ to blast).

Segment the sounds in one-syllable words (e.g., sip to /s/ /i/ /p/; slip to /s/ /l/ /i/ /p/; sift to /s/ /i/ /f/ /t/; blast to /b/ /l/ /a/ /s/ /t/).

Distinguish between sounds based on place of articulation (where in the mouth it is produced) and manner of articulation (voicing and air flow) (e.g., /p/ vs. /b/; /ch/ vs. /j/).

Decode one-syllable words with consonant clusters and predictable vowel patterns (e.g., blast, spell, dry, flake, star, swerve).

Decode one-syllable words with consonant digraphs (e.g., sh, th, ch, wh, ng, ck) and trigraphs (e.g., tch, dge) with predictable vowel patterns (e.g., shy, chart, shave, thick, white, bring, catch, fudge).

Decode one-syllable words with common vowel teams (e.g., rain, play; seed, beach; high, pie; boat, snow, toe; book; new, moon).

Decode one-syllable words with diphthongs (e.g., oi, oy, ou, ow).

Decode one-syllable words containing multiple sounds of s (e.g., sock, is).

Decode two-syllable base words with grade level letter-sound correspondences (e.g., napkin, cupcake, poodle, super).

Read high-frequency words.

Decode words with inflectional suffixes (e.g., -ed, -ing, -s/es, -er).

Encode one-syllable words with consonant clusters and short vowel patterns (e.g., flat, drift, quit, stand, frost, sprint, strap).

Encode one-syllable words with consonant digraphs and short vowel patterns (e.g., with, flash, chick, shaft, song).

Encode one-syllable words with double-letter endings (e.g., fill, pass, buzz).

Encode one-syllable words containing single consonants with multiple spellings for /z/ and /k/ (e.g., is, nose, zip; kite, cat, luck).

Encode final /v/ with -ve (e.g., give, love, have, five, solve, swerve).

Encode one-syllable words with initial or medial VCe patterns (e.g., use, lake, slime, choke, these).

Encode one-syllable words with predictable vowel-r patterns (e.g., shark, fork, her).

Encode one-syllable words with the most common spellings for final long vowel sounds (e.g., say, play, cry, why, tree, snow).

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

Encode words with inflectional suffixes that do not require a spelling change (e.g., jumps, jumped, jumping).

Form upper and lowercase manuscript letters and numerals correctly with proportion, line awareness, and spacing (between words and letters).

Produce manuscript writing with accuracy and automaticity.

Use concrete nouns.

Use proper nouns.

Use irregular plural nouns (e.g., children, mice).

Use singular possessive common and proper nouns.

Use personal pronouns.

Use pronoun/antecedent agreement.

Use common adjectives.

Use article adjectives (a, an, the).

Use regular past, present, and future tense verbs.

Use singular and plural nouns with verbs that agree in basic sentences (e.g., He hops. We hop.).

Use conjunctions (and, but, or).

Produce and expand simple sentences independently, using simple and compound subjects and predicates.

Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

Capitalize the pronoun "I."

Capitalize dates.

Capitalize names of people.

Use all end punctuation marks.

Use commas in dates.

Ask questions about key details in a text.

Answer questions about key details in a text.

Retell (orally or in writing) a text read aloud, including main idea and key details to demonstrate understanding of the central message or topic.

Build general and academic vocabulary and background knowledge of age and grade-appropriate topics through discussion, reading, and writing.

Use background knowledge and details, including illustrations, charts, and graphs, to make predictions and inferences about what happens in a text.

Demonstrate comprehension of age and grade-appropriate texts by speaking or writing.

Describe the major characters and settings in a text.

Describe the settings (when and where) and events in a text.

Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in texts.

Explain how visual images support a text by clarifying story elements (settings, characters, and events).

Identify the narrator at various points in a text.

Identify major differences between types of text and text features (e.g., title, author, illustrator, bold font, italics).

Identify reasons an author provides to support the main points in a text.

Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic.

Identify text elements (e.g., title, captions, photographs, diagrams, descriptions) in an informational text.

Use text features (e.g., title, author, illustrator, table of contents, bold font, italics) to locate key facts and information.

Explain how visual images (e.g., charts, graphs, illustrations) support a text by clarifying or providing key details.

Identify the author's purpose of a text.

Orally read texts with accuracy, automaticity, and expression at an appropriate rate to support comprehension, self-correcting as necessary.

Determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in texts read aloud.

Use sentence-level clues to identify the meaning of words or phrases.

Sort and categorize words by concepts.

Distinguish shades of meaning among adjectives differing in intensity/degree (e.g., scared, afraid, terrified, horrified).

Use base words and their inflectional forms (e.g., look, looks, looking) and common prefixes and suffixes (e.g., re-, pre-, -ful, -less) as clues to meaning.

Write an opinion piece about a topic or text, including at least one supporting reason.

Write an informative or explanatory piece about a topic, using facts from a source.

Write a narrative, using a logical sequence of events.

Produce clear and coherent writing, using precise language, relevant details, and grade-appropriate conventions.

Organize writing to include a sense of closure.

Use transitional words to connect ideas.

Revise writing to expand simple sentences by adding details as appropriate.

Edit writing to include K-1 language conventions for publishing.

Participate in teacher-led research projects and gather information from experiences and/or provided sources to produce a response.

Participate in collaborative conversations following class created discussion guidelines to expand upon conversations.

Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says to gather additional information and clarify understanding.

Use relevant, descriptive details to orally share a story or experience that includes appropriate facts.

Use visual displays to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

Speak audibly in collaborative communication and presentations.

Decode one-syllable words with vowel teams (e.g., haul, straw, clue, chief, key, bread).

Decode one-syllable words containing multiple sounds of c and g (e.g., clamp, sent, cinch; goat, gland, germ, gem).

Decode words with silent letters (e.g., knit, gnat, wrap, comb).

Decode two-syllable base words with grade level letter-sound correspondences (e.g., dollar, wrestle, kidney).

Decode with common prefixes and suffixes (e.g., un-, re-, -ly, -able).

Encode one-syllable words with consonant trigraphs and short vowel patterns (e.g., catch, judge).

Encode two-syllable words with short vowels (e.g., candid, combat).

Encode final /s/ spelled as ss, ce, and se (e.g., dress, face, moose).

Encode two-syllable words with medial VCe patterns (e.g., compete, mistake, console).

Encode one-syllable words with less predictable vowel-r patterns (e.g., girl, burn, world).

Encode two-syllable words with open syllables (e.g., robot, music, jumbo).

Encode long vowel patterns (e.g., wild, told, kind, most, colt).

Encode one-syllable words with common vowel teams (e.g., rain, pay; beach; high, pie; boat, snow, toe; book; new, moon).

Encode one-syllable words with diphthongs (i.e., oi, oy, ou, ow).

Encode two-syllable words with consonant-le (Cle) (e.g., candle, noble, steeple, startle, giggle, sparkle).

Encode one and two-syllable words with common prefixes and suffixes, applying spelling changes [e.g., -e drop (game to gaming); doubling (run to running); change y to i (cry to cries)] to the base word when necessary.

Form upper and lowercase cursive letters correctly, using a common path of movement.

Orally read texts with accuracy, automaticity, and expression at an appropriate rate to support comprehension, self-correcting as necessary.

Use abstract nouns (e.g., love, peace, joy).

Use regular and irregular plural nouns (e.g., branches, elves; geese, sheep).

Use singular possessive common and proper nouns.

Use subject pronouns (e.g., I, he, she).

Use possessive pronouns (e.g., mine, his, hers)

Use pronoun/antecedent agreement.

Use common adjectives.

Recognize words adjectives modify.

Use irregular verbs (e.g., sang, came).

Use subject/verb agreement for singular and plural nouns.

Use adverbs.

Use conjunctions (and, but, or) in compound sentences.

Expand and combine simple sentences to create compound sentences, using two independent clauses.

Capitalize holidays.

Capitalize product names.

Use all end punctuation marks.

Use commas with words and items in a series.

Use commas in greetings.

Use commas in closing of letters.

Use commas before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

Ask questions about key details in a text.

Answer questions about key details in a text.

Retell (orally or in writing) a text read aloud including main idea and key details to demonstrate understanding of the central message or topic.

Build general and academic vocabulary and background knowledge of age and grade-appropriate topics through discussion, reading, and writing.

Use background knowledge and details, including illustrations, charts, and graphs, to make predictions and inferences about what happens in a text.

Demonstrate reading comprehension of age and grade-appropriate texts by speaking or writing.

Describe a character's traits.

Identify the main story elements (characters, settings, events, problem, and solution) in a text.

Compare and contrast two versions of the same story (e.g., Three Little Pigs vs. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs).

Explain how specific visual images contribute to and clarify story elements (setting, characters, and events).

Identify differences in the perspectives of characters.

Describe the overall structure of a story and the purpose of the parts (e.g., paragraphs, sections, chapters, stanzas, lines).

Explain how an author uses reasons/evidence to support main ideas in a text.

Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic.

Determine the purpose of a section of a text (e.g., paragraphs, sections).

Use text features (e.g., headings, table of contents, glossaries, bold font, italics) to locate key facts and information.

Explain how specific visual images (e.g., charts, graphs, illustrations) contribute to and clarify a text.

Identify the author's purpose of a text.

Determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text read aloud or independently.

Use sentence-level clues to identify the meaning of words or phrases.

Sort and categorize words by multiple attributes (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, size, color, type).

Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).

Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context.

Use knowledge of base words (including compound words) and common prefixes and suffixes (e.g., un-, re-, pre-, dis-, -ly, -able) as clues to meaning (e.g., add, addition, additional).

Write an opinion piece about a topic or text with details to support the opinion.

Write an informative or explanatory piece about a topic, using facts from a source.

Write a narrative, using a logical sequence of events.

Produce clear and coherent writing, using precise language, relevant details and descriptions, and grade-appropriate conventions.

Organize writing logically, constructing an introduction, body, and a sense of closure.

Use transitional words to connect ideas.

Revise writing to expand and combine simple sentences to create compound sentences.

Edit writing to include K-2 language conventions for publishing.

Participate in shared research projects to gather information from experiences and/or provided sources to produce writing.

Participate in collaborative conversations following class created discussion guidelines to expand upon conversations.

Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says to gather additional information and clarify understanding.

Use relevant, descriptive details to orally report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

Use visual displays and/or audio appropriately to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details when presenting.

Speak audibly in collaborative communication and presentations.

Decode one-syllable words with vowel teams (e.g., vein, eight, fruit, youth, prey).

Decode multisyllable base words with grade-level letter-sound correspondences (e.g., neighbor, suitcase, fascinate, suggest).

Decode words, using knowledge of most common Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixes including inflectional and derivational suffixes.

Encode two-syllable words with double letter endings (e.g., virus vs. confess).

Encode final /j/ and /ch/ (e.g., badge, cage, merge, gouge; clutch, couch, starch, pinch, screech).

Encode two-syllable words with medial long vowel teams (e.g., complain, canteen).

Encode two-syllable words with vowel-r patterns (e.g., forget, doctor, cartoon, mustard).

Encode words, using knowledge of most common Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixes including inflectional and derivational suffixes.

Write legibly in cursive, using correctly formed letters with appropriate slant, spacing, and line awareness.

Produce cursive writing with accuracy and automaticity.

Orally read texts with accuracy, automaticity, and expression at an appropriate rate to support comprehension, self-correcting as necessary.

Use abstract nouns (e.g., justice, freedom).

Use collective nouns (e.g., group, flock, herd).

Use plural possessive nouns with correct apostrophe placement (e.g., dogs' house vs. dog's house).

Use indefinite pronouns (e.g., all, any, many, each).

Use object pronouns (e.g., me, him, her).

Use possessive pronouns (e.g., their, whose).

Use pronoun/antecedent agreement.

Use proper adjectives (e.g., French, Spanish).

Use comparative and superlative adjectives (e.g., larger, largest).

Use regular and irregular verbs in past and present tenses.

Use subject/verb agreement.

Use adverbs.

Use coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS).

Use interjections (e.g., ouch, boo).

Use prepositional phrases.

Form contractions, using an apostrophe.

Create, expand, and combine independent clauses to create compound sentences.

Capitalize words in titles.

Capitalize proper adjectives.

Capitalize geographic names.

Use commas in items in a series.

Use commas in addresses.

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

Ask questions about key details in a text.

Answer questions about key details in a text.

Summarize multi-paragraph texts, providing key details to demonstrate understanding of the central message or topic.

Build general and academic vocabulary and background knowledge of age and grade-appropriate topics through discussion, reading, and writing.

Use background knowledge and details, including illustrations, charts, and graphs, to make inferences about what happens in a text.

Demonstrate reading comprehension of age and grade-appropriate texts by speaking or writing.

Describe how characters respond to major events and challenges.

Describe the main story elements (plot), including characters, setting, events, problem, and solution.

Compare and contrast stories from the same author with the same or similar characters.

Explain how information gained from visual images in a text contributes to understanding the text.

Distinguish the reader's perspective from that of the author, narrator, or character(s).

Describe the major differences in the structural elements of poems, dramas, and stories.

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support specific points in a text.

Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic, identifying key details from each text.

Describe how each successive part or paragraph builds on earlier sections.

Use text features and keywords, sidebars, and hyperlinks to locate information relevant to a given topic.

Explain how information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text, contribute to understanding a text.

Distinguish the reader's perspective from that of the author of the text.

Determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text read aloud or independently.

Use context clues to identify the meaning of words or phrases.

Generate synonyms and antonyms for common nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Distinguish shades of meaning among related words.

Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context.

Use knowledge of most common Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixes (inflectional and derivational) as clues to meaning (e.g., agreeable/disagreeable, comfortable/uncomfortable; company/companion).

Write an opinion to convince the reader to take an action or adopt a position with logical reasons supported by evidence from various sources.

Write informative or explanatory pieces about a topic, using sources.

Write a narrative with a logical plot (sequence of events, characters, and setting).

Produce clear and coherent writing, using precise language, relevant details, elaboration, and grade-appropriate conventions.

Organize writing logically, constructing an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas.

Plan and revise writing, using words, phrases, and sentences for effect.

Edit writing to include K-3 language conventions for publishing.

Conduct short research by gathering information from relevant experiences and/or print and digital sources to produce a response.

Take notes from sources and sort evidence into categories.

Participate in collaborative conversations following class created guidelines to expand upon conversations.

Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support specific points.

Use relevant, descriptive details to orally report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

Use visual displays and/or audio appropriately to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details when presenting.

Speak audibly, using standard English as appropriate to the task and/or situation.

Decode words, using knowledge of Latin prefixes, bases, and suffixes and connectives.

Encode words with less common vowel teams (e.g., vein, ceiling; neighbor; thief; juice).

Encode words with silent letters (e.g., knit, gnat, wrap, comb, ghost).

Encode words, using knowledge of Latin prefixes, assimilated prefixes, bases, and suffixes and with the use of connectives as needed.

Write fluently and legibly in cursive, using correctly formed letters with appropriate slant, spacing, and line awareness.

Orally read texts with accuracy, automaticity, and expression at an appropriate rate to support comprehension, self-correcting as necessary.

Use plural possessive nouns with correct apostrophe placement (e.g., dogs' house vs. dog's house).

Use relative pronouns (e.g., who, which, that, whose, whom).

Use possessive pronouns as adjectives (e.g., their house, her dog).

Use royal order when arranging adjectives (i.e., opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose noun).

Use comparative and superlative adjectives (e.g., funnier, funniest).

Use verb tense to convey various times, sequences, states, and conditions.

Use progressive verb tenses (i.e., helping verbs).

Use subject/verb agreement.

Use comparative and superlative adverbs (e.g., farther, farthest).

Use subordinating conjunctions to produce complex sentences.

Use interjections (e.g., eek, yikes).

Use prepositional phrases.

Use contractions.

Produce complex sentences, using dependent clauses and subordinating conjunctions.

Use correct capitalization.

Capitalize words for emphasis (e.g., WOW! NO!).

Capitalize dialogue.

Use end marks in dialogue.

Use commas in dialogue.

Use commas in quotations from a text.

Use commas to separate an introductory element.

Use quotation marks in dialogue.

Use quotation marks in quotations from a text.

Ask questions about key details in a text.

Answer explicit and inferential questions, using details from a text.