READING STRAND: Students should demonstrate their proficiency of these standards both orally and through writing. For students to be college and career ready, they must read from a wide range of high-quality, increasingly challenging literary and informational texts. One of the key requirements of the Standards for Reading is that all students must be able to comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity as they progress through school. Students should also acquire the habits of reading closely and independently for sustained periods of time. They need to connect prior knowledge and experiences to text. They must also show a steadily growing ability to discern more from and make fuller use of text.
READING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS STRAND: The foundational skills are directed toward fostering students’ understanding and working knowledge of concepts of print, the alphabetic principle, and other basic conventions of the English writing system, including handwriting. These foundational skills are necessary and important components of an effective, comprehensive reading program designed to develop proficient readers with the capacity to comprehend texts across a range of types and disciplines. A systematic approach to handwriting instruction (manuscript and cursive) in the elementary grades is essential for students to communicate their ideas clearly.
LANGUAGE STRAND: Language skills are inseparable from and vital to reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Even though these skills are in a separate strand, it is important for students to use effective and correct language skills in all contexts. The NC ELA Language Standards emphasize the use of accurate language skills, not just the identification of accurate language skills.