Q is for duck: Using alphabet books with struggling writers

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • listening.
    • discussion.
    • book talks.
    • book clubs.
    • seminars.
    • viewing.
    • role play.
    • studying author's craft.
  • Objective 1.06: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
    • increase fluency
    • build background knowledge
    • extend vocabulary.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.05: Draw conclusions, make generalizations, and gather support by referencing the text.
  • Objective 2.06: Summarize main idea(s) from written or spoken texts using succinct language.
  • Objective 2.08: Listen actively by:
    • facing the speaker.
    • making eye contact.
    • asking questions to clarify the message.
    • asking questions to gain additional information and ideas.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • considering the differences among genres.
    • relating plot, setting, and characters to own experiences and ideas.
    • considering main character's point of view.
    • participating in creative interpretations.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters and events.
    • reflecting on learning, gaining new insights, and identifying areas for further study.
  • Objective 3.03: Use text and own experiences to verify facts, concepts, and ideas.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
    • discuss.
    • sustain conversation on a topic.
    • share information and ideas.
    • recount or narrate.
    • answer open-ended questions.
    • report information on a topic.
    • explain own learning.
  • Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
  • Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
  • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic by using preliminary plans.
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).
  • Objective 4.10: Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.
• Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
  • Objective 5.01: Use correct capitalization (e.g., geographical place names, holidays, special events, titles) and punctuation (e.g., commas in greetings, dates, city and state; underlining book titles; periods after initials and abbreviated titles; apostrophes in contractions).
  • Objective 5.02: Use correct subject/verb agreement.
  • Objective 5.03: Demonstrate understanding by using a variety of complete sentences (declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory) in writing and speaking.
  • Objective 5.06: Proofread own writing for spelling and correct most misspellings independently with reference to resources (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, word walls).
  • Objective 5.07: Edit (with assistance) to use conventions of written language and format.
  • Objective 5.08: Create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript and cursive).