A knowledge and skills statement is a broad statement of what students must know and be able to do. It generally begins with a learning strand and ends with the phrase “The student is expected to:” Knowledge and skills statements always include related student expectations.
Glossary Support for ELA.2.1
This knowledge and skills statement is unique in that it focuses exclusively on the first two domains of language, listening and speaking, which are the precursors to reading and writing. In the oral language substrand, students will develop and enhance their skills in active listening, following and giving instructions, collaborating, and giving oral presentations.
Over time, oral communication skills develop from social and less complex to more academic and complex as students progress through grade levels. Students reach higher levels of language complexity by regularly engaging with language through the acts of listening, speaking, and participating in discussions. Students should have opportunities to act as both the recipient of messages (so they can practice listening to understand the meaning) and as the presenter of verbal messages (so they can practice constructing language to convey meaning).
