english language arts grade level considerations for grades 6–8
TRANSCRIPT
English Language Arts Grade Level Considerations for Grades 6–8
Considerations for Middle School (Grades 6–8)
• Reading level
• Contexts
• Item Difficulty
• Assessment Targets
Style Guide
Reading Level
• Increasingly complex text, independence and proficiency
• Claim 1 (Reading) and 3 (Speaking and Listening) passages range from being above, at, or below grade level
• For claim 2 (Writing) and 4 (Research) the passages one grade below the assessed grade
Vocabulary
• Use language that is clear and vocabulary that is at or below the assessed grade level
• Appropriate to middle school students
• Vocabulary measured in context must be at least two levels above grade
Middle School Context
• Appropriate– historical figures
and events – space exploration– school community– robots
• Inappropriate– fear of dentists– philosophy– constitutional
construction– driving– voting– work
Item Difficulty
• Items should include a range of difficulty
• Anticipated difficulty for sample items
Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Claims and Assessment Targets
• Claim 1: Reading
• Claim 2: Writing
• Claim 3: Speaking & Listening
• Claim 4: Research
Middle School Claim 1: Reading
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, and Technology-Enhanced Items
• 45% Literary texts: stories, poems, plays/drama, myths, mysteries, science fiction, historical fiction
• 55% Informational texts: literary nonfiction, historical documents, scientific articles, technical texts
Students can read closely and analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly
complex literary and informational texts.
Middle School Claim 2: Writing
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, Technology-Enhanced Items and Performance Tasks
• Middle School Claim 2 Performance Tasks include:– Narrative writing– Informational/explanatory writing– Argumentative writing
Students can produce effective and well-grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.
Middle School Claim 3: Speaking & Listening
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, or Technology-Enhanced Items
• Middle School Performance Tasks– Oral presentations
Students can employ effective speaking and listening skills for a range of
purposes and audiences.
Middle School Claim 4: Research
• Selected Response, Constructed Response, and Technology-Enhanced Items
• Performance Tasks
• Real world sources
• Multiple sources
Students can engage in research / inquiry to investigate topics, and to analyze, integrate, and present information.
Middle School English Language ArtsGrade Level Considerations
• Vocabulary, style, context, and item difficulty
• Claims and assessment targets from the Smarter Balanced Content Specifications