Madison Metropolitan School District
Content Standards and Grade Level Performance Standards

Language Arts: Introduction

These Grade Level Performance Standards state expectations for students at specific grade levels. The levels of these standards were deemed appropriate both by research and experiences of teachers working with students both within and outside of the Madison Metropolitan School District. It is critical to understand that these Performance Standards represent the essential content, skills and strategies that need to be addressed at each grade level, but they do not represent the entire curriculum that is to be taught. An equally important understanding is that a student's development is unique and influenced by many factors and therefore the accomplishment of these Performance Standards may occur in grade levels other than those at which they are designated.

A statement at the end of each cluster of standards therefore states:

These Grade Level Performance Standards describe behaviors typical at the specified grade level. They represent behaviors students generally exhibit as they move from novice to expert in their ability to take control of language processes. It is important to remember, however, that literacy learning may not be sequential and each child has a unique developmental pattern.

Language Arts itself is a developmental subject. "Much of what we expect students to be able to do at the end of their formal education is introduced as early as kindergarten. Students listen, read, speak, write, use language, and enjoy literature at all levels and grades. The difficulty of the materials, the complexity of what students do with them, and the sophistication of their skills change as they grow older." (Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards Document)

Finally, although there are four language arts standards, it is important to keep in mind their connectedness. "To use media, one must read or listen. To write, one must acquire knowledge by reading, listening, and viewing. To do research, one must read. To communicate in any form, one must know how the language works." Since all communication has content, the language arts standards are closely connected to all other content areas. (Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards Document)

The Madison Metropolitan Language Arts Standards Are:

• Standard 1: Reading/Literature
• Standard 2: Writing
• Standard 3: Language/Communication
• Standard 4: Inquiry/Research

This document could not have been produced without the willingness of staff to contribute ideas, time and feedback. Recognition and thanks are due to all the language arts teachers who participated in the evolution of this document.