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The American Heritage Children's Dictionary

Books to Build on: A Grade-By-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series)

Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children: A Lively, Opinionated Guide

2.1. describe people, places, things, location, size, color, shape and action

2.2. recite short poems, rhymes, and songs

2.3. relate an experience or creative story in a logical sequence

2.1. recite poems, rhymes, songs, and stories

2.2. retell stories using basic story grammar, sequencing story events by answering who, what, where, when, how and why questions

2.3. relate an important event in life using simple sequencing

2.4. provide descriptions with careful attention to sensory detail

2.1. recount experiences or present stories that

1) move through a logical sequence of events

2) describe story elements such as characters, plot, and setting

2.2. report on a topic including appropriate facts and details and drawing from several sources of information

2.1. make brief narrative presentations that:

1) provide a context within which an incident occurs

2) provide insight into why this incident is memorable

3) include well-chosen detail to develop character, setting and/or plot

2.2. plan and present dramatic interpretations of experiences, stories, poems, or plays, using clear diction and pitch, tempo, and tone

2.3. make descriptive presentations that use concrete sensory details to present and support unified impressions of people, places, things, or experiences

2.1. make narrative presentations that:

1) relate ideas, observations, and/or memories using narrative strategies

2) provide a context to enable the listener to imagine the world of the event or experience

3) provide insight into why this incident is memorable

2.2. make research presentations that

1) frame a key question

2) demonstrate a literal understanding about the topic

3) contain facts, details, examples, and descriptions that clearly support the main idea

4) draw from more than one source of information (speakers, books, newspapers, media sources)

2.1. make narrative presentations that

1) establish a situation, plot, point of view, setting, and/or conflict with descriptive words and phrases

2) show rather than tell the listener what happens

2.2. make presentations speculating on causes and effects that

1) describe the situation

2) establish the connection between the situation and the postulated causes or effects,

3) offer simple persuasive evidence for the validity of the proposed causes or effects

2.3. make informative reports about a key idea, issue, or situation that

1) frame questions to direct the investigation and establish

a controlling idea/topic

3) develop the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations

2.1. make narrative presentations that

1) establish a context or create a point of view that offers some insight or meaning to the experience narrated

2) include sensory details and concrete language to develop plot and character

3) use a range of narrative strategies such as dialogue and tension or suspense

2.2. make presentations speculating on problems and solutions that

1)) establish a connection between the situation, the postulated causes and effects, definition of the problem and at least one solution

2) offer persuasive evidence for the validity of definition of the problem, and the proposed solution(s)

2.3. make informative reports that

1) pose relevant questions narrow enough to be completely and thoroughly covered

2) develop the topic with facts, details, examples, and explanations from multiple authoritative sources (speakers, periodicals, on-line searches)

2.4. deliver a response to literature that

1) develops an interpretation which exhibits careful reading, understanding, and insight

2) organizes the interpretation around several clear ideas, premises, or images

3) develops and justifies the interpretation through sustained use of examples and textual evidence

2.5. make persuasive presentations designed to convince the reader to accept a proposition or proposal that

1) state a clear position

2) support position with organized and relevant evidence

2.1. make narrative presentations that

1) develop a standard plot line (beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, denouement)

2) develop complex major and minor characters and a definite setting

3) use a range of appropriate strategies, such as dialogue, suspense, naming, and specific narrative action (e.g., movement, gestures, expressions)

2.2. deliver summaries of articles and books that

1) contain the main ideas of the event/article plus the most significant details

2) use own words, except for material quoted from the source

3) reflect the underlying meaning of the source, not just the superficial details

2.3. make research reports that

1) pose relevant and tightly drawn questions about the topic

2) convey a clear and accurate perspective on the subject

3) include evidence generated through the formal research process (e.g., card catalogue, Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, computer catalog, magazines, newspapers, dictionaries)

4) credit reference sources



2.4. make persuasive presentations that

1) state a clear position or perspective in support of a proposition or proposal

2) describe the points in support of the proposition, employing well-articulated evidence

2.1. deliver biographical or autobiographical presentations that

1) relate a clear, coherent incident, event or situation by using well-chosen details

2) reveal the significance of or the writer's attitude about the subject

3) employ narrative and descriptive strategies such as relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description, and comparison or contrast of characters

2.2. deliver a response to literature that

1) extends beyond summary and literal analysis in responding to a literary work

2) connects own responses to the writer's techniques and to specific textual references

3) draws supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience

4) supports judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or to personal knowledge

2.3. make research reports that

1) define a thesis

2) record important ideas, concepts, direct quotes from significant information sources, paraphrasing and summarizing as appropriate

3) use a variety of primary and secondary sources, distinguishing the nature and value of each

4) organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs

2.4. make persuasive presentations that

1) include a well-defined thesis that makes a clear and knowledgeable judgment

2) support arguments with detailed evidence, examples, and reasoning, differentiating evidence from opinion

3) arrange details, reasons, examples, etc., effectively anticipating and answering listener concerns and counter-arguments

4) maintain a reasonable tone

2.1. deliver narrative presentations (autobiographical or fictional) that:

1) narrate a sequence of events and communicates their significance to the audience;

2) locate scenes and incidents in specific places

3) develop the narrative elements with concrete sensory details and language (e.g., visual details of scenes; descriptions of sounds, smells, specific actions, movements and gestures; feelings of characters)

4) effectively paces the presentation of actions to accommodate time or mood changes

2.2. deliver expository presentations that define, inform, explain or do a combination of all three, including essays of analysis and research papers that:

1) marshal evidence in support of a thesis and related claims

2) convey information and ideas from primary and secondary sources accurately and coherently

3) make distinction about the relative value and significance of specific data, facts, and ideas

4) organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs for use as visuals, employing appropriate technology

5) anticipate and address reader's potential misunderstandings, biases, and expectations

6) use technical terms and notations accurately

2.1. apply sound interviewing techniques:

1) prepare and ask relevant questions

2) make notes of responses

3) use language that conveys maturity, sensitivity, and respect

4) respond correctly and effectively to questions

5) demonstrate knowledge of the subject or organization

6) compile and report responses

7) evaluate the effectiveness of the interview

2.2. deliver persuasive arguments, including evaluation, interpretation and speculation about problem/solution and causes and effects that:

1) structure ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion

2) use specific rhetorical devices to back up assertions (e.g., via an appeal to logic through reasoning; via an appeal to emotion or ethical belief; or by personal anecdote, case study, or analogy)

3) clarify and defend positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs, logical reasoning

4) anticipate and address reader's concerns and counterclaims.

2.3. deliver descriptive presentations that:

1) provide a clear spatial perspective on the object being described

2) clearly establish speaker's relationship with the object (e.g., objective, involved)

3) make effective use of factual descriptions of appearance, concrete images, shifting perspectives and vantage points, and sensory detail

2.1. deliver reflective presentations that:

1) explain the significance of personal experiences, events, conditions, or concerns using rhetorical strategies such as narration, description, exposition

2) draw comparisons between the specific incident and broader themes that illustrate the speaker's important beliefs or generalizations about life

3) maintain a balance between describing the incident and relating it to more general abstract ideas

2.2. present oral historical investigation reports that

1) use exposition, narration, description, argumentation, or some combination of the four modes of presentation to support the main proposition

2)analyze several historical records of a single event, examining critical relationships between and among elements of the research topic


3) explain the perceived reason(s) for the similarities and differences, using information derived from primary and secondary sources to support or enhance the presentation

4) consider the validity and reliability of sources

2.1. deliver an oral analysis of literature:

1) advance a judgment that demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of works or passages (i.e., makes and supports warranted assertions about the text)

2) analyze the use of imagery, language, universal themes and unique aspects of text through the use of such rhetorical strategies as narration, description, argumentation, exposition or some combination of the four modes

3) support key ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works

4) demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an appreciation of the effects created

5) identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within text

2.2. deliver multimedia presentations that

1) combine text, images, and sound, synthesizing information from a wide range of materials including television, videos, films, newspapers, magazines, CD ROMs, Internet and computer media generated images;

2) select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation;

3) use the selected media skillfully, including editing and monitoring for quality; and

4) test audience response and revise the presentation accordingly.