Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA)

The instructional materials for Core Knowledge Language Arts Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 meet expectations all criteria across Gateways 1, 2, and 3. The materials for K-2 include strong foundational skills to support young students' reading development as they move from learning how to read to comprehending complex texts. Support for teachers to attend to the critical need of foundational skills is explicit and comprehensive, providing guidance and targeted instruction. The texts included with the materials are rich and rigorous, offering students a balance of informational and literary reading over the course of the school year. Materials provide many opportunities for students to complete questions and tasks in reading, writing, speaking, and listening that are grounded in evidence. The materials for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 meet the expectations of Gateway 2. Texts are organized to support students' building knowledge of different topics, and sets of text-dependent questions and tasks provide opportunities for students to analyze ideas and grow their vocabulary. The materials include process writing instruction and a progression of writing skills, a progression of focused shared research and writing projects. The materials for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 meet the expectations of Gateway 3. Materials are well-designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing. Materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards. Materials offer teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards. Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners so that they demonstrate independent ability with grade-level standards. Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.

Core Knowledge Language Arts Grades 3, 4, and 5 instructional materials meet the expectations of alignment. Texts are of quality and are consistently and appropriately complex. Texts are organized and supported with questions and tasks to support students’ growing literacy skills. These questions and tasks build students’ knowledge on topics while engaging them in academic vocabulary practice. Writing instruction over the course of the school year is consistent and organized to support students’ development of different types of writing as outlined in the standards. Through on-demand and process writing activities and tasks, students build stamina and learn techniques to improve writing. Teachers may need to incorporate outside resources to support grammar practice out of context. The materials may need supplements to fully engage students in their foundational skills development. The Grade 5 materials fully meet the expectations of Gateway 2, as they consistently engage students in studying ideas within and among texts as they work with rich academic vocabulary practice and build knowledge and literacy skills.