1. English Language Arts Grade Level Considerations for Grades 3–5

2. Considerations for Elementary School (Grades 3–5) Reading Level Vocabulary Contexts Item Difficulty Assessment Targets

3. Style

4. Reading Level Claim 1 (Reading) and 3 (Speaking and Listening) passages range from being above, at, or below grade level For Claim 2 (Writing) and 4 (Research) the passages one grade below the assessed grade

5. Vocabulary Use language that is clear and vocabulary that is at or below the assessed grade level Appropriate to elementary school students Vocabulary measured in context must be at least two levels above grade

6. Elementary School Context Appropriate – pets – animals – age appropriate science and history – age appropriate games and activities Inappropriate – conflicts with parents – technical passages about driving – jobs or employment – controversial political topics – war or crimes

7. Item Difficulty Items should include a range of difficulty Anticipated difficulty for sample items

8. Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Claims and Assessment Targets Claim 1: Reading Claim 2: Writing Claim 3: Speaking & Listening Claim 4: Research

9. Elementary School Claim 1: Reading Selected Response, Constructed Response, and Technology-Enhanced Items 50% Literary texts: stories, poems, plays/drama, myths, mysteries, science fiction, historical fiction 50% Informational texts: literary nonfiction, historical documents, scientific articles, technical texts Students can read closely and analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly complex literary and informational texts.

10. Elementary School Claim 2: Writing Selected Response, Constructed Response, Technology-Enhanced Items and Performance Tasks Elementary school Claim 2 Performance Tasks include: – Narrative writing – Informational/explanatory writing – Opinion writing Students can produce effective and well grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.

11. Elementary School Claim 3: Speaking & Listening Elementary school Performance Tasks – Oral presentations based on research Locally administered formative and interim Students can employ effective speaking and listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.

12. Elementary School Claim 4: Research Selected Response and Constructed Response Items Performance Tasks Real world sources Multiple sources Students can engage in research / inquiry to investigate topics, and to analyze, integrate, and present information.

13. Elementary School English Language Arts Grade Level Considerations Vocabulary, style, context, and item difficulty Claims and assessment targets from the Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Content Specifications