Comprehensive Literacy: English Instructional Plans

Introduction

Sample English Instructional Plans help teachers align instruction with the 2017 English Standards of Learning (SOL) by providing examples of how the knowledge, skills and processes found in the SOL and curriculum framework can be presented to students in the classroom.

The concepts, skills, and content in English Language Arts spiral; teachers should note each grade level builds skills that carry to the following grades.  Teachers should review the instructional resources for the scope of learning in each of the strands in previous grades and in the grades to follow. 

Although the strands are developed separately, they are expected to be seamlessly integrated in the classroom. As a result, there are always two or more integrated English standards in each instructional plan, but the plans are listed by the primary SOL addressed.

The resources presented below differ in length and time commitment for classroom use.  Pacing of the plans may differ based on the needs of students. While some resources may fit neatly into one class period, others may resemble unit plans and 1-2 weeks of instruction.  Furthermore, many resources are designed so that individual elements or larger lessons can be used in isolation and adapted to fit individual classroom needs.

New in the resources for the 2017 standards are Grades 9-12 Performance Assessment Examples that give the instructional steps and materials teachers used to implement successful performance assessments.

Communication and Multimodal Literacy

Communication Skills Progression by Grade (Word)

Grades 3-5 Instructional Plans

• Analyzing Media Messages (Word)  4.3 5.3
• Applying Knowledge of Media Messages (Word)  4.3 5.3

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Differentiating Between Formal and Informal Language (Word) 8.2
• Analyzing Media Messages (Word) 6.3 7.3 8.3
• Action Research (Word)  6.2 7.2 8.2 9.1

Grades 9-12 Instructional Plans

• Persuasive Speech Critique (Word)  9.1 10.1
• Evaluating Media Messages (Word)  9.2 10.2
• Becoming a Smart Consumer: Analyzing Media Messages (Word)  9.2 10.2
• Rhetorical Appeal (Word) 10.2 11.2

Reading

Reading Skills Progression by Grade (Word)

Word Knowledge and Vocabulary

Grades K-5 Instructional Plans

• Segmenting and Blending (Word) K.3 1.3
• Long Vowel Patterns: Vowel Teams (Word) 2.4 3.3
• Syllable Generalizations: Vowel Teams (Word) 2.3 3.3
• Word Knowledge-Context Clues (Word) 3.33.4
• Using Context to Determine Meaning of Unfamiliar Words (Word) 3.4 4.4 5.4
• Context Clues Grades 4-5 (Word)  4.4 5.4
• Identifying Figurative Language (Word) 5.4 6.4
• Word Solving in Context (Word) 5.4 6.4 7.4 8.4

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Identifying Figurative Language (Word) 5.4 6.4
• Word Solving in Context (Word)  5.4 6.4 7.4 8.4
• Word Maps to Expand Vocabulary (Word)  6.4 7.4 8.4
• Vocabulary and Figurative Language (Word)  6.4 6.5 7.4 7.5
• Understanding Connotation (Word) 7.4 8.4
• Vocabulary Skits (Word)  8.4 8.5
• Evaluating Connotation Mood (Word) 8.4
• Identifying Denotation and Connotation (Word) 7.4 8.4
• Using Context Clues with Connotations (Word) 8.4 8.5
• Vocabulary and Author’s Tone (Word) 8.6 9.5

Grades 9-12 Instructional Plans

• Allusions and Figurative Language (Word) 9.3 10.3
• Analyzing Word Choice in Paired Texts (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5
• Vocabulary and Author’s Tone (Word) 8.6 9.5
• The Use and History of Idioms (Word) 10.3

Fiction

Grades K-2 Instructional Plans

• Introducing Theme in K-1 (Word) K.8 1.9
• Introducing Story Elements and Plot (Word) K.8 1.9
• Asking and Answering Questions in Fiction (Word) K.9 1.9 2.7
• Retelling in Sequential Order (Word) K.8 1.9

Grades 2-5 Instructional Plans

• Describing Characters (Word) 2.7 3.5
• Identifying Theme (Word) 2.7 3.5
• Retelling: Bridging to Summarizing (Word) 2.7 3.5
• Story Elements: Plot Grades 2-3 (Word) 2.7 3.5
• Characterization: Grade 4 (Word) 4.5
• Characterization: Character Development Grade 5 (Word) 5.5
• Story Elements and Plot (Word) 4.5 5.5
• Summarizing: Grades 4-5 (Word) 4.5 5.5
• Identifying Theme and Lessons Learned (Word) 4.5 5.5
• Tone and Voice (Word) 5.7
• Making, Confirming & Revising Predictions (Word) 3.5
• Summarizing Fiction (Word) 3.5 4.5 5.5

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Comparing and Contrasting Details in Text (Word) 6.5
• Word Choice in Paired Texts (Word)  6.57.58.5
• Plot and Characterization (Word) 7.5
• Setting and Plot (Word) 7.5
• Cause and Effect and its Impact on Plot (Word)  6.5 7.5 8.5
• Direct and Indirect Characterizations (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5
• Compare and Contrast Paired Texts (Word) 8.5 9.4
• Making Inferences (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5
• Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions (Word) 8.5 9.4
• Plot Elements (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5
• Theme Analysis (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5
• Characters and Impact on Plot (Word) 8.5 9.4
• Analyzing Tone (Word) 6.5 7.5 8.5
• Paired Passages Choice Boards (Word) 8.5 8.6 9.5 9.6

Grades 9-12 Instructional Plans

• Compare and Contrast Texts (Word) 9.4
• Individuality and Fictional Characters’ Responses to Injustice: Themes and Symbols (Word) 9.4 10.4
• Cross Cultural Literacy (Word) 9.4
• Text Analysis Basics (Word)9.4 10.4 11.4 12.4
• Exploring Concepts Across Cultures (Word)  10.4
• Identity, Individuality and Society; Themes in History and Literature (Word) 10.4 11.4
• Provoking Change Through Text (Word) 11.4
• Addressing Themes, Characters, and Motifs in African American Literature (Word) 11.4 12.4
• American or British Romantic Poetry Analysis (Word) 11.4 12.4

Nonfiction

Grades K-2 Instructional Plans

• Identifying Text Features in Non-fiction (Word) K.9 1.10 2.8
• Identifying the Main Idea in 1-2 (Word)  1.10 2.8

Grades 3-5 Instructional Plans

• Using Text Features in Nonfiction (Word) 3.6
• Using and Gathering Information with Text Features (Word)  4.6 5.6
• Using Details to Determine Main Idea: Grades 3-5 (Word) 3.6 4.6 5.6

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Main Idea Nonfiction (Word)  5.6, 6.6, 7.6, 8.6
• Developing Objective Summaries (Word)  6.6
• Using the GIST Method to Summarize (Word)  6.6 7.6 8.6
• Nonfiction Inferencing (Word)  8.6 9.5
• Literary Analysis Close Read (Word)  6.5 6.6 7.5 7.6 8.5 8.6
• Social Pressures Paired Passages (Word)  6.5 6.6 7.5 7.6 8.5 8.6

Grades 9-12 Instructional Plans

• Paired Passages Choice Board (Word) 8.5 9.5
• Paired Passages for Deeper Analysis (Word) 8.6 9.5 10.5
• Current Events: Persuasive Debate (Word) 9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5
• Paired Passages – The Threat of Conformity and the Power of the Individual (Word)  9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5
• Analyzing the Rhetoric of Persuasive Speeches (Word)  9.5 10.5 11.5
• Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences: Crime Scene Analysis (Word) 9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5
• Analyzing False Premise in Persuasive Writing (Word)  11.5
• Analyzing Sarcasm and Ambiguity in Media and Text (Word) 11.5
• Crowd Sourcing False Premise Analysis and Rewriting for Clarity (Word) 11.5 12.5
• Social Media in the Workplace (Word) 9.5 10.5 11.5
• Beowulf and Black Panther (Word) 12.4
• Critical Reading of Nonfiction (Word) 11.5

Writing

• Writing Skills Progression by Grade (Word)
• Grammar Skills Progression by Grade (Word)

Grades K-2 Instructional Plans

• Descriptive Writing for K-1 (Word) K.11 1.12
• Narrative Writing About Experiences (Word) K.11 1.12
• Introducing Opinion Writing in Grades 1 and 2 (Word) 1.12 2.10

Grades 2-5 Instructional Plans

• Expository Writing: Grades 2-3 (Word)  2.10 3.8
• Narrative Writing: Cumulative Tales Grades 2-3 (Word)  2.10 3.8
• Opinion Writing: Grades 3-4 (Word)  3.8 4.7
• Expository Writing: Grades 4-5 (Word)  4.7 5.7
• Narrative Writing: Grades 4-5 Writing an Effective Conclusion (Word)  4.7 5.7
• Persuasive Writing: Grade 5 (Word)  5.7

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Developing Fluency (Word) 6.7 7.7 8.7
• Writing Response to Literature (Word)  6.7 7.7 8.7 9.7
• Developing Thesis Statements (Word) 6.7 7.7 8.7
• Thesis Statement Writing for Persuasive Essays (Word) 7.7 8.7 9.6
• Writing a Narrative (Word) 6.7 7.7 8.7
• Analyzing and Planning Persuasive Writing (Word) 7.7 8.7

Grades 9-12 Instructional Plans

• Crowd Sourcing Thesis Writing (Word)  10.6 11.6 12.6
• Professional Writing in the Workplace (Word) 10.6 11.6 12.6
• The Elements of an Effective Resume (Word) 11.6 12.6
• Writing for Personal Job Qualifications (Word) 11.6 12.6
• Self-editing Setup (Word) 9.710.711.7 12.7
• Writing Response to Literature (Word) 6.7 7.7 8.7 9.7

Grades 9-12 Performance Assessment Instructional Plans

• Persuasive Essay with Viable, Research-based Action Step (Word)
• Comparative Analysis of Two Texts Brown V. Board (Word)
• Comparative Analysis of Two Texts (Word)
• Argumentative Essay Performance Task (Word) 11.6

Research

Research Skills Progression by Grade (Word)

Grades K-2 Instructional Plans

• Generating Questions for Research (Word)  K.12 1.14

Grades 2-5 Instructional Plans

• Research: Grades 2-3 (Word)  2.12 3.10
• Research: Grades 4-5 (Word)  4.9 5.9
• Research: Evaluating Sources (Word)  4.9 5.9
• Research: Evaluating Sources Grades 3-5 (Word)

Grades 6-8 Instructional Plans

• Citing Sources: Grades 6-8 (Word)  6.9 7.9 8.9
• Determining the Validity of Sources (Word)  6.9 7.9 8.9
• Plagiarism (Word)  6.9 7.9 8.9
• Research and Debates (Word)  6.9 7.9 8.9
• Action Research (Word)  6.9 7.9 8.9 9.1

Acknowledgments

The development of the Comprehensive Literacy English Instructional Plans was a joint effort between the Virginia Department of Education and a team of writers and editors from across the commonwealth.