Case Summary
Susan, a bright fourth grader, reads two levels above average, though her fluency matches her grade; she enjoys horses, castles, and mysteries.
Comparison of VDOE and Common Core English Standards
School students in grade 4 usually follow the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) English Standards and the Common Core State Standards in Virginia. The most common similarities between the standards are reading and writing methods. VDOE (2023) showed the importance of comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts in grade 4. Moreover, “Common Core State Standards” (n.d.) stressed that it is essential for students to understand literature and informational texts. The standards also emphasize the need for and effectiveness of writing narrative, informative, and opinion papers.
Nevertheless, there are some differences in statements that teachers should consider while producing programs for students in grade 4. For example, VDOE English Standards consist of six parts: reading, writing, research, communication, media literacy, and literary analysis (VDOE, 2023). However, the CCSS includes only four standards: reading, writing, language, and speaking with listening (“Common Core State Standards”, n.d.). The testing also differs in these two standards as VDOE is produced specifically for Virginia, and CCSS is adjusted to different states.
Literacy Development Indicators in Virginia’s ELDS
Literacy skills are crucial in understanding how to write texts. Therefore, Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards include phonological awareness, print knowledge, and emergent writing (“Early childhood standards curriculum & instruction”, 2021). Phonological awareness explains how to recognize sounds in language and distinguish syllables. Print knowledge is related to visualization and understanding how to read words and letters. Finally, emergent writing is the first attempt to write easy words.
Student Literacy Stage
Students should receive materials that apply to their level of knowledge. Based on Susan’s case, who is moving to grade 4 of elementary school, the child should receive books aimed at grade 6 because of her extraordinary reading talent. The child’s literacy development stage is called Transitional, meaning the student can read and understand more complex text (Sunde et al., 2020).
Recommended Independent Reading Materials
The fictional book that may meet the need to read mystery stories is “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, translated by Michael Morpurgo. The book is appropriate for Susan because it can build a healthy friendship from an adult point of view. “The Hardy Boys” by Franklin W. Dixon is a good example of a nonfiction book that shows a story of boys who love mysterious adventures. It is Susan’s primary interest, and the text stays appropriate. Children should not spend much time on gadgets, and “Captain Jake” by Shannon Stewart is a short story suitable for Susan’s reading level.
References
Common Core State Standards. (n. d.). CCSSO. Web.
Early childhood standards, curriculum & instruction. (2021). Virginia Department of Education. Web.
Sunde, K., Furnes, B., & Lundetrae, K. (2020). Does introducing the letter faster boost the development of children’s letter knowledge, word reading and spelling in the first year of school? Scientific Studies of Reading, 24(2), 141-158. Web.
VDOE. (2023). Standards of learning for English. Virginia Department of Education. Web.