5th Grade ELA standards

Use verb tense to convey various times, sequences, states, and conditions.

Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence.

Use a comma to set off the words yes and no (e.g., Yes, thank you), to set off a tag question from the rest of the sentence (e.g., It's true, isn't it?), and to indicate direct address (e.g., Is that you, Steve?).

Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis).

Explain the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections in general and their function in particular sentences.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Compare and contrast the varieties of English (e.g., dialects, registers) used in stories, dramas, or poems.

Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, homographs) to better understand each of the words.

Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal contrast, addition, and other logical relationships (e.g., however, although, nevertheless, similarly, moreover, in addition).

Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.*

Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Form and use the perfect (e.g., I had walked; I have walked; I will have walked) verb tenses.

Use correlative conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor).

Use punctuation to separate items in a series.*

Use underlining, quotation marks, or italics to indicate titles of works.

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.

Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.

Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).

Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem.

(Not applicable to literature)

Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.

Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation. (See grade 5 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)

Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence.

Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Apply grade 5 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., "Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point[s]").

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose.

Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.

Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).

Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 5 here.)

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Apply grade 5 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or a drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., how characters interact]").

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially).

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.