English Language Arts Common Core Standards:
The Common Core Standards are not a curriculum, but instead are a set of expectations aimed at raising the achievement level for all students so that they will be more prepared for college and careers. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core State Standards. The English Language Arts Standards are divided into three areas. Students are required to demonstrate increasing competence in their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills as they advance through the grades. 
- Reading includes informational and literary texts,
- Writing includes narrative, informative, and argument/opinion,
- Speaking and Listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.
Here are some ways to provide support for a child’s developing Language Arts skills.
- Encourage a love of reading. Reading for pleasure is by far the best way to enable your child to understand the value of reading and to progress to more difficult books.
- Focus on informational texts. The Standards concentrate on reading informational texts in a variety of subjects. You can help by providing access to magazine articles, diaries, essays, speeches, legal documents and scientific articles.
- Reading aloud helps a child to handle more challenging books. Since listening skills develop more quickly than reading comprehension skills, reading aloud is a way to draw in reluctant readers, so they can learn to enjoy books and build up confidence.
- Talking about books is another important component of the Language Arts Standards. Asking questions about what your child is reading, and incorporating literacy into daily activities are valuable ways to support reading progress.
- Practice writing. The more time kids spend writing and reading, the stronger their writing skills become. Help your child write stories, songs, plays, how-to manuals, recipes, journals – anything that makes writing fun and interesting.
Leveled Reader is your ideal resource for finding books for every level of reading development. We make it easy to find books your kids will love, and reading enjoyment creates more practice. Reading practice leads to reading proficiency. Buy a set of books and watch your readers take off.
