Review of

NC Standard Course of Study for

English Language Arts

Draft 3

For Grades K 3

Anchor Standards RL 1-9

The Standards are appropriate as proposed for the most part. There are single words that could
be more accurate or helpful.

In RL 10 the phrase for sustained periods of time has been inserted. A child can either read
and understand literature at his complexity level or not sustaining the time period should have
no effect on whether he achieves the Standard of reading, understanding, or applying past
knowledge.

Anchor Standards RI 1-2

Appropriate Standards, but some word confusion.

In RI 3, Gr. 2 and 3, the use of descriptive words (historical, scientific, technical, etc.) both
limits and presumptively drives the Standard as opposed to having the child master the skill
itself.

In RI 5 and 6 wording needs to be examined for redundancy and accuracy.

In RI 10 the proposed Standard has the insertion of for sustained periods of time. This is
inappropriate for the same reason: child can either perform or not. (It is not like holding ones
breath.)

Cursive Writing Standards:

Anchor Standard RF 2 (Grades K-3)

This needs to be reorganized in a sequential manner. For example: print either upper or
lowercase first, then learn the other case. Then be able to interchange them. THEN teach
cursive (connecting letters together).

There is a confusion between Standards RF.K.3 (Phonological Awareness) and RF.K.3 (Phonics
and Word Recognition). There is no RF. 1 or 2 for the Phonics.

The proposed Standards (same as current) RF. 4, Grades 1 and 2 need to be completely
rewritten in appropriate sequential form.

Writing Standards W.1 (Grades K-3) need to be rewritten in an age appropriate manner. The
term opinion for a 5-7 year old is not applicable, nor is a Standard for writing an opinion

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 piece when neurologically the 5-7 year old is a concrete thinker (and learner). The Standards as
written would not aid a teacher in training a young childs writing ability.

The proposed W.2 (Grades K-3) Standards need to be reevaluated for verbiage and
expectations. The current Standards are actually more clear.

Language Strand

Anchor Standard L. 1

The current Standards are much more explicit though need to be modified. The proposed
Standards simply allude to the K-1 or 2-3 grammar continuum. This continuum is not
comprehensive in its outline and does not cover what is now in the current Standards. As
written, the Gr. K Standards should be done orally and Gr. 1-3 should be mastered orally first,
then written.

Language Standard 1 Grammar Continuum.

Note the description of Sentences for K-1, not age appropriate.

Anchor Standard L. 2. For kindergarten not age appropriate regarding spelling and punctuation
proficiency.

In Standard L.5. (Gr. K-3), it needs to be specified that children can understand, sort and use
word meanings orally before using them in written expression to provide proper learning
sequence.

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My general view is that while the NC Standards represent the main parts of a Language/Reading
program, they are not sequentially specific or sufficiently comprehensive in themselves to assure a
sound Language Arts capabilities in the children targeted.

Standards for K-3 (early learning) are the most important in a childs education. If adequate reading,
writing and computation skills are not achieved before 8 years old, the prognosis is failure in all future
content areas of learning.

In order to prepare the most meaningful Standards, the following is necessary:

Familiarization with the neurological, physical and emotional characteristics and capabilities of
the 58 year old.

Familiarization with the scope and sequence of one or more high success curricula in Phonics,
Grammar, Reading, Spelling, Writing and Mathematics.

Familiarization with a wide range of methodology for initial and remedial teaching that can be
applied to the various types of learners and learning situations that arise in a typical diverse
school population.

Critical: The involvement of experienced K-3 teachers and resource specialists for the
compilation of specific, comprehensive and age appropriate Standards.

Respectfully Submitted
Carole K. Ardizzone M.Ed.
Cofounder/Education Chair
Brookstone Schools
Charlotte NC