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Grade 5 reading and writing skills

The reading, writing and language skills in our grade 5 courses (Reading and Writing), listed against the Common Core ELA standards. This is a comparison, not a claim of alignment: 24 of 43 standards are covered, 15 partly and 4 not covered.

24covered
15partly covered
4not covered

Why some skills are only partly covered: lessons teach the parts of an essay or a story and check them with questions and short typed answers, but children don't write and hand in whole pieces in the app, and speaking and listening with others happens away from the screen.

Reading: Literature
Reading: Informational Text
Reading: Foundational Skills
Writing
Speaking and Listening
Language

Reading: Literature RL · 9 standards · 8 covered, 1 partly covered

RL.5.1
Covered
Quote accurately from a story to explain it and draw inferences
- Reading · Unit 1 · Comparing Characters and Themes: Quoting Evidence
- Reading · Unit 9 · Inferences and Quoting (whole unit, 9 lessons)
RL.5.2
Covered
Find a theme, including from how characters meet challenges, and summarize
- Reading · Unit 1 · Comparing Characters and Themes: Comparing Themes, Summarizing a Longer Story
- Reading · Unit 8 · How Stories Are Built: Theme Through Challenges
RL.5.3
Covered
Compare two or more characters, settings or events
- Reading · Unit 1 · Comparing Characters and Themes: Comparing Characters
RL.5.4
Covered
Work out word meanings, including similes and metaphors
- Reading · Unit 11 · Figurative Language (whole unit, 7 lessons)
RL.5.5
Covered
Explain how chapters, scenes or stanzas fit together
- Reading · Unit 8 · How Stories Are Built: How Chapters Build a Story
- Reading · Unit 15 · Drama and Scenes: Scenes That Build
RL.5.6
Covered
Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view shapes the story
- Reading · Unit 2 · Narrators and Point of View: How the Narrator Shapes a Story, Narrator's Attitude
- Reading · Unit 7 · Poetry Craft: Speaker and Mood
RL.5.7
Covered
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements add to a text
- Reading · Unit 2 · Narrators and Point of View: How Visuals Add Meaning
- Reading · Unit 20 · Genres Old and New: Graphic Novel Panels
RL.5.9
Covered
Compare stories in the same genre on similar themes
- Reading · Unit 8 · How Stories Are Built: Comparing Stories in the Same Genre
- Reading · Unit 17 · Mysteries and Adventure: Comparing Two Mysteries
- Reading · Unit 20 · Genres Old and New: Comparing Genres on One Theme
RL.5.10
Partly covered
Read grade 4–5 stories, dramas and poems independently and proficiently
Short passages in lessons; no longer texts are assigned in lessons (the Library has chapter books).
- Reading · Unit 8 · How Stories Are Built (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Reading · Unit 17 · Mysteries and Adventure (whole unit, 7 lessons)

Reading: Informational Text RI · 10 standards · 9 covered, 1 partly covered

RI.5.1
Covered
Quote accurately from a fact text to explain it and draw inferences
- Reading · Unit 9 · Inferences and Quoting: Choosing the Best Quote, Inferring in Nonfiction
RI.5.2
Covered
Find two or more main ideas, explain how details support them and summarize
- Reading · Unit 10 · Main Ideas and Summaries (whole unit, 6 lessons)
RI.5.3
Covered
Explain relationships between people, events and ideas
- Reading · Unit 6 · Science and Technology Texts: Explaining Relationships
- Reading · Unit 12 · Connections in Nonfiction (whole unit, 7 lessons)
RI.5.4
Covered
Work out the meaning of academic and subject words
- Reading · Unit 6 · Science and Technology Texts: Technical Vocabulary
- Reading · Unit 14 · Word Study for Big Words: Academic Vocabulary
RI.5.5
Covered
Compare the structures of two or more texts
- Reading · Unit 3 · Reasons and Evidence: Comparing Text Structures
RI.5.6
Covered
Compare several accounts of the same event and their points of view
- Reading · Unit 13 · Multiple Accounts (whole unit, 7 lessons)
RI.5.7
Covered
Use several print or digital sources to find answers quickly
- Reading · Unit 16 · Research With Many Sources: Locating Answers Quickly, Skimming and Scanning
RI.5.8
Covered
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support points
- Reading · Unit 3 · Reasons and Evidence: Claims and Reasons
- Reading · Unit 18 · Judging Arguments: Which Reasons Support Which Points, Strong and Weak Evidence
RI.5.9
Covered
Combine information from several texts on the same topic
- Reading · Unit 3 · Reasons and Evidence: Using Two Sources
- Reading · Unit 16 · Research With Many Sources: Integrating Several Texts
RI.5.10
Partly covered
Read grade 4–5 informational texts independently and proficiently
Short passages in lessons.
- Reading · Unit 6 · Science and Technology Texts (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Reading · Unit 16 · Research With Many Sources (whole unit, 6 lessons)

Reading: Foundational Skills RF · 2 standards · 1 covered, 1 partly covered

RF.5.3
Covered
Use letter-sound knowledge, syllables and word parts to read unfamiliar words
- Reading · Unit 14 · Word Study for Big Words (whole unit, 7 lessons)
RF.5.4
Partly covered
Read grade 5 texts aloud accurately and smoothly, with understanding
Fluency is taught, but the app doesn't listen to children read aloud.
- Reading · Unit 19 · Fluency and Expression (whole unit, 6 lessons)

Writing W · 10 standards · 0 covered, 8 partly covered

W.5.1
Partly covered
Write opinion pieces with logically ordered reasons, facts and a conclusion
Each part is taught and practiced with short answers; children don't write and hand in whole essays in the app.
- Writing · Unit 3 · Opinion Essays (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 14 · Opinion Writing in Depth (whole unit, 9 lessons)
W.5.2
Partly covered
Write informative pieces with clear structure, facts, quotes and a conclusion
Taught step by step and practiced with short answers; no full pieces are written in the app.
- Writing · Unit 6 · Informative Essays (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 11 · Informative Essays in Depth (whole unit, 9 lessons)
W.5.3
Partly covered
Write narratives with dialogue, pacing, description and transitions
Taught step by step and practiced with short answers; no full pieces are written in the app.
- Writing · Unit 5 · Narrative Writing (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 13 · Narrative Workshop (whole unit, 9 lessons)
W.5.4
Partly covered
Write clearly for the task, purpose and audience
Practiced through short answers and examples.
- Writing · Unit 18 · Language Variety: Choosing Words for Your Audience
W.5.5
Partly covered
With help, plan, revise and edit writing
Practiced on sample writing, not the child's own.
- Writing · Unit 4 · Research and Revision: Revising and Editing
- Writing · Unit 11 · Informative Essays in Depth: Revising for Clarity
- Writing · Unit 13 · Narrative Workshop: Revising a Narrative
- Writing · Unit 14 · Opinion Writing in Depth: Revising an Opinion Essay
W.5.6
Not covered
Use technology to publish and work with others, with keyboarding skills
W.5.7
Partly covered
Do short research projects using several sources
Lessons explain how; projects happen away from the app.
- Writing · Unit 16 · Research Projects (whole unit, 9 lessons)
W.5.8
Partly covered
Gather information, summarize or paraphrase it and list sources
- Writing · Unit 4 · Research and Revision: Paraphrasing, Giving Credit to Sources
- Writing · Unit 16 · Research Projects: Taking Organized Notes, Summarizing Sources, Making a Source List
W.5.9
Partly covered
Use evidence from texts to support analysis and reflection
Practiced with short answers.
- Writing · Unit 7 · Writing About Texts (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 20 · Writing About Literature in Depth (whole unit, 9 lessons)
W.5.10
Not covered
Write routinely, over short and extended time frames
The app doesn't include regular free writing.

Speaking and Listening SL · 6 standards · 0 covered, 4 partly covered

SL.5.1
Not covered
Take part in collaborative discussions
Speaking and listening with others happen away from the app.
SL.5.2
Partly covered
Summarize a text read aloud or information shown in other media
"Read it to me" reads lessons aloud; listening isn't practiced with others.
- Reading · Unit 2 · Narrators and Point of View: How Visuals Add Meaning
SL.5.3
Partly covered
Summarize a speaker's points and the reasons and evidence behind them
- Reading · Unit 13 · Multiple Accounts: Speeches and Their Purpose
SL.5.4
Partly covered
Report on a topic or present an opinion, speaking clearly
Presenting is explained; children don't present in the app.
- Writing · Unit 14 · Opinion Writing in Depth: Opinion Speeches
- Writing · Unit 16 · Research Projects: Presenting Your Research
SL.5.5
Not covered
Add multimedia and visual displays to presentations
SL.5.6
Partly covered
Adapt speech to the situation, using formal English when it fits
Taught in writing; speaking isn't practiced.
- Writing · Unit 18 · Language Variety: Speaking Versus Writing

Language L · 6 standards · 6 covered

L.5.1
Covered
Use grade 5 grammar: conjunctions, prepositions, interjections, perfect tenses, tense shifts
- Writing · Unit 1 · Grammar in Action (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 9 · Perfect Tenses and Tense Shifts (whole unit, 9 lessons)
L.5.2
Covered
Punctuate items in a series, introductory elements and titles; spell grade 5 words
- Writing · Unit 2 · Punctuation Power (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 10 · Commas and More (whole unit, 9 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 19 · Spelling and Word Patterns (whole unit, 9 lessons)
L.5.3
Covered
Expand, combine and reduce sentences; compare dialects and registers of English
- Writing · Unit 8 · Language for Effect: Combining and Reducing Sentences
- Writing · Unit 17 · Sentence Style (whole unit, 9 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 18 · Language Variety: Dialects in Stories, Regional Words
L.5.4
Covered
Use context, Greek and Latin affixes and roots, and reference works to find meanings
- Reading · Unit 4 · Word Relationships: Greek and Latin Affixes
- Reading · Unit 14 · Word Study for Big Words (whole unit, 7 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 12 · Vocabulary in Writing: Greek and Latin Roots, Using a Thesaurus and Dictionary
L.5.5
Covered
Understand figurative language, idioms, adages and homographs
- Reading · Unit 4 · Word Relationships (whole unit, 4 lessons)
- Reading · Unit 11 · Figurative Language (whole unit, 7 lessons)
- Writing · Unit 12 · Vocabulary in Writing: Homographs
L.5.6
Covered
Use grade 5 academic words, including transition words
- Reading · Unit 14 · Word Study for Big Words: Academic Vocabulary
- Writing · Unit 12 · Vocabulary in Writing: Academic Transition Words

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Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. The standard descriptions on these pages are KidUniversity's own short summaries, not the official text; read the full standards at thecorestandards.org. KidUniversity is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NGA Center or CCSSO.