Course Content
A. Story Elements
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A.01. Identify basic story elements (characters, setting, plot).
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A.02. Describe the roles and relationships between characters in a story.
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A.03. Identify the problem and solution in a story.
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A.04. Summarise the main events of a story in sequential order.
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A.05. Analyse how the setting influences the plot and characters.
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A.06. Evaluate how different story elements contribute to the overall meaning.
B. Inference
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B.01. Use explicit details to infer information not directly stated in a text.
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B.02. Draw conclusions about characters’ feelings and motivations based on their actions and dialogue.
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B.03. Make predictions about what might happen next in a story based on evidence from the text.
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B.04. Compare and contrast characters’ perspectives based on inferred information.
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B.05. Support inferences with specific evidence from the text.
C. Point of View
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C.02. Distinguish between first-person and third-person point of view.
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C.03. Explain how the point of view affects the reader’s understanding of the story.
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C.04. Compare and contrast different characters’ perspectives in a story.
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C.05. Analyse how the narrator’s point of view influences the tone and bias of the text.
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C.01. Identify the narrator of a text.
D. Sensory Details
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D.01. Recognise examples of sensory details (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) in a text.
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D.02. Identify which sense each sensory detail appeals to.
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D.03. Explain how sensory details contribute to the reader’s experience.
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D.04. Sort examples of sensory details based on the sense they evoke.
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D.05. Analyse how sensory details enhance the mood and imagery of a text.
E. Visual Elements
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E.01. Describe the visual elements in an illustration.
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E.02. Explain how visual elements relate to the text.
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E.03. Compare different illustrations of the same subject.
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E.04. Evaluate how visual elements contribute to the overall meaning of a literary text.
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E.05. Analyse the impact of specific artistic choices (e.g., color, composition) on the interpretation of an illustration.
F. Main Idea
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F.01. Identify key details in a passage.
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F.02. Determine the main idea of a paragraph.
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F.03. Identify the main idea of a passage.
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F.04. Summarise a text using the main idea and supporting details.
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F.05. Combine main ideas from multiple texts on the same topic.
G. Text Structure
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G.01. Recognise chronological order in informational texts.
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G.02. Identify cause-and-effect relationships in a text.
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G.03. Recognise compare and contrast relationships in informational texts.
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G.04. Match problems with their solutions as presented in informational texts.
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G.05. Identify common text structures (e.g., description, sequence, problem/solution).
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G.06. Explain how the text structure helps organise information and convey the author’s message.
H. Author’s Purpose and Tone
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H.01. Identify the author’s purpose (e.g., to inform, persuade, entertain).
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H.02. Recognise the tone of a text (e.g., formal, informal, humorous).
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H.03. Differentiate between formal and informal language.
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H.04. Explain how word choice and sentence structure contribute to the author’s tone.
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H.05. Analyse how the author’s purpose influences their tone and language choices.
I. Literary Devices
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I.01. Recognise examples of similes and metaphors.
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I.02. Determine the meaning of similes and metaphors in context.
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I.03. Analyse the effects of figures of speech (similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole) on meaning and tone.
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I.04. Explain how literary devices enhance the reader’s understanding and appreciation of a text.
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I.05. Identify and interpret different types of figurative language (e.g., personification, hyperbole).
J. Theme
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J.01. Identify the main topic of a short story.
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J.02. Determine the themes of short stories by analysing character actions and conflicts.
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J.03. Explain how the theme relates to the characters and plot.
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J.04. Compare and contrast themes across different short stories.
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J.05. Analyse how the author uses literary devices to develop the theme.
K. Literary texts: level 1
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K.01. Read and comprehend fantasy stories with illustrations.
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K.02. Read and comprehend realistic fiction stories with illustrations.
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K.03. Read and comprehend historical fiction stories with illustrations.
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K.04. Summarise the plot, characters, and setting of literary texts at Level 1.
L. Literary texts: level 2
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L.01. Read and comprehend realistic fiction.
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L.02. Read and comprehend historical fiction.
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L.03. Read and comprehend poetry.
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L.04. Read and comprehend drama.
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L.05. Identify the main themes and literary devices used in literary texts at Level 2.
M. Informational texts: level 1
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M.01. Read and comprehend informational texts about animals.
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M.02. Read and comprehend informational texts about art, music and traditions.
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M.03. Read and comprehend informational texts about famous places.
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M.04. Read and comprehend informational texts about sports and hobbies.
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M.05. Identify key facts and details in informational texts at Level 1.
N. Informational texts: level 2
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N.01. Read and comprehend informational texts about famous people.
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N.02. Read and comprehend informational texts about business and technology.
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N.03. Read and comprehend informational texts about science and nature.
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N.04. Read and comprehend informational texts about history.
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N.05. Summarise the main ideas and supporting evidence in informational texts at Level 2.
O. Descriptive Details
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O.01. Identify character emotions and traits in a written passage.
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O.02. Use strong verbs to enhance writing.
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O.03. Revise sentences by replacing weak verbs with stronger, more descriptive verbs.
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O.04. Incorporate sensory details to create vivid descriptions.
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O.05. Show, don’t tell: Use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.
P. Introductions and Conclusions
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P.01. Identify the topic sentence in a paragraph.
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P.02. Choose the most effective topic sentence to begin a paragraph.
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P.03. Identify the concluding sentence in a paragraph.
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P.04. Choose the most effective concluding sentence to summarise a paragraph.
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P.05. Write a clear and concise introduction that grabs the reader’s attention.
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P.06. Craft a thoughtful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.
Q. Organising Writing
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Q.01. Arrange sentences in a logical order to create a coherent paragraph.
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Q.02. Use coordinating conjunctions to connect related ideas.
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Q.03. Select the best transition words to improve the flow of writing.
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Q.04. Organise information from most general to most specific.
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Q.05. Organise information by topic to create well-structured paragraphs.
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Q.06. Identify and remove sentences that are irrelevant to the main idea.
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Q.07. Create outlines to organise ideas before writing.
R. Developing and Supporting Arguments
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R.01. Distinguish between facts and opinions.
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R.02. Identify an author’s statement of opinion in a text.
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R.03. Choose relevant reasons to support an opinion.
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R.04. Identify supporting details in literary texts.
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R.05. Identify supporting details in informational texts.
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R.06. Evaluate the strength and validity of supporting evidence.
S. Editing and Revising
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S.01. Use the correct form of frequently confused words (e.g., there/their/they’re).
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S.02. Correct errors involving frequently confused words in a sentence.
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S.03. Proofread writing for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
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S.04. Revise writing to improve clarity, coherence, and style.
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S.05. Use feedback from others to improve writing.
T. Research Skills
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T.01. Understand the concept of plagiarism.
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T.02. Identify examples of plagiarism.
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T.03. Correct instances of plagiarism by properly citing sources.
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T.04. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources.
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T.05. Summarise information from multiple sources and synthesise it into a coherent argument.
U. Categories
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U.01. Identify members of a specific category.
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U.02. Select words that do not belong in a given category.
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U.03. Create categories based on shared characteristics.
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U.04. Explain the relationships between different categories.
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U.05. Apply categorical thinking to understand complex concepts.
V. Synonyms and Antonyms
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V.01. Choose the synonym of a given word.
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V.02. Identify synonyms in context.
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V.03. Choose the antonym of a given word.
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V.04. Identify antonyms in context.
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V.05. Explain the nuances in meaning between synonyms.
W. Prefixes and Suffixes
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W.01. Define and identify words with the prefix “pre-“.
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W.02. Define and identify words with the prefix “re-“.
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W.03. Define and identify words with the prefix “sub-“.
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W.04. Define and identify words with the prefix “mis-“.
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W.05. Define and identify words with the prefixes “un-“, “dis-“, “in-“, “im-“, and “non-“.
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W.06. Define and identify words with the suffix “-ful”.
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W.07. Define and identify words with the suffix “-less”.
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W.08. Define and identify words with the suffixes “-able” and “-ible”.
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W.09. Use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
X. Greek and Latin Roots
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X.06. Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots.
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X.07. Match words with Greek and Latin roots to their meanings.
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X.08. Explain how Greek and Latin roots contribute to the English language.
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X.01. Sort words by shared Greek or Latin roots.
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X.02. Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words.
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X.03. Use the meanings of words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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X.04. Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
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X.05. Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots.
Y. Analogies
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Y.01. Complete simple analogies.
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Y.02. Identify the relationship between words in an analogy.
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Y.03. Create analogies based on different relationships (e.g., synonym, antonym, part-to-whole).
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Y.04. Solve complex analogies by identifying multiple relationships.
Z. Homophones
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Z.01. Use the correct homophone in a sentence.
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Z.02. Differentiate between the meanings of common homophones.
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Z.03. Explain the importance of using the correct homophone in writing.
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Z.04. Identify and correct errors involving homophones.
AA. Multiple-Meaning Words
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AA.01. Identify the correct definition of a multiple-meaning word based on the sentence context.
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AA.02. Choose the sentence that uses a multiple-meaning word correctly based on the given definition.
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AA.03. Explain how context clues help determine the meaning of multiple-meaning words.
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AA.04. Use multiple-meaning words effectively in writing to create nuance and complexity.
BB. Shades of Meaning
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BB.01. Describe the difference in meaning between related words (e.g., happy, joyful, ecstatic).
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BB.02. Understand and identify words with positive and negative connotations.
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BB.03. Explain how shades of meaning can affect the tone and impact of writing.
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BB.04. Choose words with appropriate connotations to convey a specific message.
CC. Context Clues
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CC.01. Identify unfamiliar words using context clues in a sentence.
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CC.02. Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context.
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CC.03. Use context to identify the meaning of a word.
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CC.04. Determine the meaning of domain-specific words with pictures.
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CC.05. Explain different types of context clues (e.g., definition, example, contrast).
DD. Reference Skills
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DD.01. Order words alphabetically based on the first two letters.
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DD.02. Order words alphabetically based on the first three letters.
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DD.03. Order words alphabetically: challenge (more complex ordering).
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DD.04. Use guide words to locate information in a dictionary or other reference material.
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DD.05. Use dictionary entries to understand the meaning, pronunciation, and etymology of words.
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DD.06. Use dictionary definitions to choose the most appropriate meaning of a word in context.
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DD.07. Use thesaurus entries to find synonyms and antonyms for words.
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DD.08. Identify the different sections of a dictionary entry.
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DD.09. Explain the purpose of different types of reference materials.
EE. Nouns
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EE.01. Identify nouns, including abstract nouns, in sentences.
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EE.02. Identify common and proper nouns.
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EE.03. Form plurals of nouns ending in f, fe, o and y.
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EE.04. Form and use plurals of nouns ending in f, fe, o and y in writing.
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EE.05. Review the rules for forming plurals of nouns.
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EE.06. Review the rules for forming and using plurals of nouns in writing.
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EE.07. Identify plurals, singular possessives, and plural possessives.
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EE.08. Form the singular or plural possessive of a noun.
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EE.09. Identify and correct errors with plural and possessive nouns in sentences.
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EE.10. Explain the difference between plural and possessive nouns.
FF. Pronouns
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FF.01. Identify personal pronouns in sentences.
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FF.02. Choose between subject and object personal pronouns correctly.
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FF.03. Replace nouns with appropriate personal pronouns.
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FF.04. Use ‘I’ and ‘me’ correctly in compound subjects and objects.
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FF.05. Use personal pronouns correctly in compound subjects and objects.
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FF.06. Use possessive pronouns correctly.
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FF.07. Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns correctly.
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FF.08. Use reflexive pronouns correctly.
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FF.09. Identify relative pronouns in sentences.
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FF.10. Use relative pronouns “who” and “whom” correctly.
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FF.11. Use relative pronouns “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” correctly.
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FF.12. Explain the difference between subject and object pronouns.
GG. Verb Types
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GG.01. Identify main verbs and helping verbs in sentences.
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GG.02. Identify the function of modal verbs.
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GG.03. Use the correct modal verb to express a specific meaning.
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GG.04. Explain the difference between action verbs and linking verbs.
HH. Subject-Verb Agreement
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HH.01. Use the correct subject or verb in simple sentences.
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HH.02. Use the correct subject or verb in sentences with compound subjects.
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HH.03. Explain the principle of subject-verb agreement.
II. Verb Tense
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II.01. Identify if a sentence is in the past, present, or future tense.
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II.02. Form and use the regular past tense correctly.
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II.03. Form and use the irregular past tense correctly.
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II.04. Form and use the simple past, present, and future tense correctly.
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II.05. Correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense within a paragraph.
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II.06. Use the progressive verb tenses correctly.
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II.07. Form the progressive verb tenses correctly.
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II.08. Choose between the past tense and past participle correctly.
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II.09. Use the perfect verb tenses correctly.
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II.10. Form the perfect verb tenses correctly.
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II.11. Explain the purpose of different verb tenses.
JJ. Adjectives and Adverbs
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JJ.01. Identify adjectives in sentences.
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JJ.02. Order adjectives correctly according to standard English conventions.
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JJ.03. Identify adverbs in sentences.
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JJ.04. Use relative adverbs correctly.
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JJ.05. Choose between adjectives and adverbs correctly.
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JJ.06. Determine whether a word is functioning as an adjective or adverb in a sentence.
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JJ.07. Use adjectives to compare two or more things (comparative and superlative forms).
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JJ.08. Spell adjectives that compare correctly.
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JJ.09. Use adjectives with “more” and “most” correctly.
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JJ.10. Use adverbs to compare two or more actions or qualities.
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JJ.11. Explain the function of adjectives and adverbs in descriptive writing.
KK. Prepositions
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KK.01. Identify prepositions in sentences.
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KK.02. Identify prepositions and their objects.
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KK.03. Identify prepositional phrases in sentences.
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KK.04. Review the function and usage of prepositions.
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KK.05. Use prepositions correctly to show relationships between words in a sentence.
LL. Conjunctions
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LL.01. Identify coordinating conjunctions in sentences.
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LL.02. Identify subordinating conjunctions in sentences.
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LL.03. Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions.
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LL.04. Fill in the missing correlative conjunction in a sentence.
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LL.05. Explain the purpose of different types of conjunctions.
MM. Contractions
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MM.01. Form and use pronoun-verb contractions correctly.
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MM.02. Form and use contractions with “not” correctly.
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MM.03. Explain the purpose of using contractions in writing.
NN. Commas
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NN.01. Use commas correctly with direct addresses, introductory words, and interjections.
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NN.02. Use commas correctly with compound and complex sentences.
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NN.03. List the rules for using commas in different situations.
OO. Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
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OO.01. Identify if a sentence is declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.
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OO.02. Identify the complete subject or complete predicate of a sentence.
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OO.03. Identify the simple subject or simple predicate of a sentence.
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OO.04. Determine if a group of words is a complete sentence or a fragment.
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OO.05. Determine if a group of words is a complete sentence or a run-on sentence.
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OO.06. Determine if a group of words is a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on sentence.
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OO.07. Identify dependent and independent clauses in complex sentences.
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OO.08. Determine if a sentence is simple or compound.
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OO.09. Determine if a sentence is simple, compound, or complex.
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OO.10. Order words to create a grammatically correct sentence.
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OO.11. Explain the difference between a clause and a phrase.
PP. Capitalisation
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PP.01. Correct capitalisation errors in sentences.
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PP.02. Capitalise titles correctly.
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PP.03. List the rules for capitalising different types of words.
QQ. Formatting
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QQ.01. Format titles of various works (books, articles, poems, etc.) correctly.
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QQ.02. Format and capitalise titles correctly according to standard conventions.
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QQ.03. Explain the purpose of different formatting techniques.