Grade 8 ELA Idaho Standards

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

Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.

Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, and conditional mood.

Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice to achieve particular effects.

Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences.

Expand, combine, or reduce sentences (e.g., adding or deleting modifiers, combining, or breaking up sentences) for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of English punctuation and capitalization when writing and reading aloud to create meaning.

Use commas, ellipsis, and dashes when writing and reading aloud to indicate a pause, break, or omission.

Spell derivatives correctly by applying knowledge of bases and affixes.

Engage in collaborative discussions about grade-level topics and texts with peers by following rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, defining individual roles, and tracking progress on specific goals; propelling conversations forward by posing and responding to questions, relating the current discussion to broader themes, and connecting the ideas of several speakers; and when warranted, qualifying or justifying one's views considering new evidence heard.

Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the intent (e.g., social, political, commercial) behind its presentation.

Analyze a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Report orally on a topic or text or present an argument, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, and well-chosen details; use appropriate vocabulary, volume, and clear pronunciation.

Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.

Consider the evidence websites or blog posts use to support their position (e.g., Are they transparent about their sources? Do they link to peer-reviewed articles?).

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums—print or digital text—to present a particular topic or idea.

Integrate digital displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.

Independently and proficiently read and comprehend texts representing a balance of genres, cultures, and perspectives that exhibit complexity at the higher end of the grades 6–8 band.

Regularly engage in a volume of reading, independently, with peers, or with modest support related to the topics and themes being studied to build knowledge and vocabulary.

Draw several pieces of evidence from grade-level texts that strongly supports both what is said explicitly and what is implied, including quoting, and paraphrasing from relevant sections and accurately and citing textual references.

Read grade-level text with accuracy, automaticity appropriate rate, and expression in successive readings to support comprehension.

Use evidence from literature to demonstrate understanding of grade-level texts.

Explain stated or implied themes, analyzing their development over the course of texts, and the relationship of characters, setting, and plot to those themes.

Analyze how characters are revealed through particular lines of dialogue or events in literary texts.

Analyze how authors structure texts to advance a plot, explaining how each event gives rise to the next or foreshadows a future event.

Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader created with dramatic irony result in such effects as suspense or humor.

Relate themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works to contemporary stories, poems, or drama.

Use evidence from nonfiction works to demonstrate understanding of grade-level texts.

Explain stated or implied central ideas of texts, analyzing their development over the course of the texts, including the relationship of individuals, ideas, or events to the central ideas; provide objective summaries of texts.

Analyze how texts make connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

Analyze the structural elements of a text, including the role of specific sentences, paragraphs, and text features in developing and refining key concepts.

Trace the argument and specific claims in texts and assess whether all the evidence presented is relevant and whether irrelevant evidence was introduced.

Analyze cases in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.

Conduct brief as well as multi-day research tasks to take some action or share findings orally or in writing by formulating research questions and generating additional questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration; gathering and assessing the relevance and credibility of information from multiple sources; and summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citations.

Read a series of texts organized around a variety of conceptually related topics to build knowledge about the world. (These texts should be at a range of complexity levels so students can read the texts independently, with peers, or with modest support.)

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

Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Use common Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., in readings about mathematics, determine the meanings of the words percentile and perimeter).

Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), print or digital, to find the pronunciation of a grade-level word and determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.

Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary.

Determine how words and phrases provide meaning and nuance to texts.

Interpret figurative language (e.g., verbal irony, puns) in context.

Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., homonyms, person to location, object to use) to better understand each of the words.

Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., crowd versus mob, fired versus laid off).

Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

Acquire and use accurately general academic and content-specific words and phrases occurring in grade-level reading and content; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. Use these words in discussions and writing.

Develop flexibility in writing by routinely engaging in the production of shorter and longer pieces for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. This could include, among others, summaries, reflections, descriptions, critiques, letters, and poetry, etc.

Write arguments or make claims that support well-defined points of view effectively with relevant evidence and clear reasoning in ways that logically advance the claim(s) made; demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic; and provide a concluding section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

Write informational texts that introduce the topic clearly; preview what is to follow by establishing and maintaining a clear focus with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples from multiple sources using appropriate strategies, such as description, enumeration, classification, comparison, problem-solution, and/or cause-effect; and provide a concluding section that follows from the information presented.

Write personal or fictional narratives that establish a situation and narrator; engage and orient the reader to the context and one or multiple points of view; use a variety of techniques such as description, dialogue, pacing, and precise words and phrases, sensory language and transition words to develop the characters, capture the action and convey sequence, and signal shifts from one timeframe or setting to another; and provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated event(s).

Produce clear and coherent organizational structures in which ideas and other information are logically grouped; headings, other formatting, and graphics (e.g., charts and tables) support the purpose; and precise language, content-specific vocabulary, and varied transitions create cohesion and clarify the relationships between and among ideas and concepts.

With support from adults and peers, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. (Editing should demonstrate command of grade-level Grammar and Conventions.)

Write by hand or with technology to produce and publish writing, link to and cite sources, present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently, and interact and collaborate with others.

Mechanics

Writing Strand

Handwriting and Keyboarding

Volume of Reading to Build Knowledge

Grammar and Usage

Oral and Digital Communications Strand

Inquiry Process to Build, Present, and Use Knowledge

Literature

Reading Fluency

Oral Communications

Nonfiction Text

Academic Vocabulary

Textual Evidence

Word Building

Research Strand

Range of Writing

Reading Comprehension

Vocabulary Development

Text Complexity

Grammar and Conventions

Deep Reading on Topics to Build Knowledge

Digital Communications

Follow Oral Directions

Understand Social and Academic Conversations

Understand Main Idea of Information Presented Orally

Ask and Answer Questions

Communicate Information Orally

Organize Oral Presentations

Deliver Oral Presentations

Use Text Features to Understand Information

Use Graphic Features to Support Understanding of Text

Decode Words Using Phonological Awareness Skills

Decode Words Using Knowledge of Syllables

Decode and Determine Meaning of Words Using Knowledge of Word Parts

Identify and Use Synonyms, Antonyms, and Words With Multiple Meanings

Read With Fluency

Follow Written Directions

Describe Main Idea in Text

Make Inferences and Draw Conclusions Based on Text

Analyze Characters, Settings, and Plots

Plan, Write, Revise, and Edit a Draft

Write Narratives

Write Reports

Spell Words Correctly

Write a Variety of Sentence Types

Apply Capitalization and Punctuation Rules

Use Grammatical Forms

Ask questions to elicit information about a speaker's content to determine the speaker's position.

Decode words of two to four syllables at independent reading level using knowledge of syllable types and patterns.

Identify and use subject-verb agreement and basic verb tenses in simple sentences.

Read simple sentences with familiar vocabulary with fluency and accuracy appropriate to reading level.

Analyze characterization, setting, and plot development in near grade-level text.

Speaking

Identify and apply grade-level capitalization and punctuation rules with some errors.

Interpret graphic features of text near grade level.

Decode and determine meaning of words using knowledge of common roots, prefixes, and suffixes in brief, simple text.

Reading Comprehension

Follow multi-step written directions.

Retell experiences in response to prompts using phrases and simple sentences.

Identify and apply increasingly complex capitalization and punctuation rules.

Analyze basic aspects of characters, setting, and plot in stories with visuals at independent reading level.

Write a longer research report focused on a main idea with some important details and examples from multiple sources.

Interpret graphic features of text at grade level.

Briefly describe the main idea and some supporting details of information presented orally.

Deliver brief narrative and informative oral presentations, maintaining a focus on a topic and using more detailed sentences.

Draw conclusions orally based on brief, simple text read aloud with visuals.

Follow simple one- and two-step written directions.

Identify and write very simple declarative sentences.

Identify a few basic text features (e.g., title, author, headings, illustrations) in informational text.

Read sight words and other familiar words and phrases accurately.

Analyze characterization, setting, and plot development in grade-level text.

Write a full-length research report focused on a main idea with supporting details compiled through a formal research process.

Summarize the literal or inferential main idea and some critical details from text at independent reading level.

Identify common antonyms and synonyms and some words with multiple meanings.

Apply spelling rules to spell correctly words from text at the independent reading level, and independently use reference tools to correct spelling.

Draw a sequence of pictures or complete a graphic organizer to show ideas for a narrative.

Organize oral presentations that maintain a clear focus.

Writing Process

Identify and use subject-verb-object order in very simple sentences.

Apply the writing process to: organize more complex ideas and supporting details; write a draft; revise for meaning and clarity; and use a modified grade-level editing checklist.

Identify first, middle, and last sounds in a single-syllable word; match vowel and consonant sounds to all letters.

Complete a graphic organizer to show ideas for a narrative; write a series of short sentences; and use a simple editing checklist of very basic rules with support.

Identify and apply basic capitalization and punctuation rules in simple sentences.

Express needs and state facts using more detailed sentences.

Apply common root words, prefixes, and suffixes, to decode and determine meaning of words in text at independent reading level.

Write a series of simple sentences using sentence frames that include some facts and details.

Summarize major ideas and supporting details.

Summarize main ideas and supporting details of information presented orally at grade level.

Identify orally the main characters and basic sequence of events in simple stories read aloud with visuals.

Writing Conventions

Ask simple questions to determine a speaker's opinion about a familiar topic.

Analyze text features and organizational structures in informational text at grade level to locate and explain key points.

Reading Process

Reading

Follow simple multi-step written directions.

Speaking Applications

Write simple expository sentences using sentence frames.

Make inferences, draw conclusions, and locate some evidence in brief text at the independent reading level.

Read grade-level text with fluency and accuracy.

Identify and write sentences of varying types and complexity at grade level.

Use a few basic text features in informational texts to locate a few key points.

Apply context to identify the meaning of unfamiliar words and words with multiple meanings in text at independent reading level.

Spell many one-syllable, familiar words correctly.

Identify and write simple declarative, exclamatory, and interrogative sentences.

Identify a few familiar graphic features (e.g., diagrams, maps) in informational text at independent reading level.

Use a few familiar graphic features in informational text at independent reading level to locate a few key points.

Explain relationships among words including connotation and denotation, antonyms, synonyms, and words with multiple meanings in grade-level text.

Listening Comprehension

Paraphrase a speaker's point of view and ask questions about the speaker's content and position.

Organize oral presentations that maintain a clear focus and use expanded word choice and sentence structure.

Identify and write sentences of varying types and increasing complexity.

Explain relationships among words including connotation and denotation, antonyms, synonyms, and words with multiple meanings in near grade-level text.

Follow simple two-step oral directions.

Apply spelling rules and some Greek and Latin derivatives to correctly spell multisyllabic words near grade level, and independently use reference tools to correct spelling.

Apply spelling rules and Greek and Latin derivatives to correctly spell multisyllabic words at grade level, and independently use reference tools to correct spelling.

Use knowledge of vowel digraphs, diphthongs, and r-controlled letter-sound associations to read new words.

Write simple sentences using sentence frames for the beginning, middle, and end of a narrative.

Identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives in very simple sentences.

Demonstrate comprehension of brief, very simple social conversations and academic language on familiar topics with contextual support.

Describe orally the main characters, setting, and sequence of events in simple stories with visuals.

Use text features and organizational structures in informational text near grade level to locate and describe key points.

Decode basic words of two to three syllables using knowledge of syllable types and patterns.

Summarize the main idea and most supporting details of information presented orally near grade level.

Identify and use grade-level grammatical forms (e.g., verb tense, pronouns, adjectives, conjunctions) with some errors.

Decode most grade-level multisyllabic words using knowledge of syllable types and patterns.

Organize a central idea and some supporting details; write a brief paragraph; revise for meaning; and use a simple editing checklist of basic rules.

Complete a graphic organizer or an outline for narrative and informative presentations using key sentence starters.

Write a brief research report with increasingly complex sentences that includes facts, details, and examples, aided by a template.

Identify literal concepts in very brief, simple information presented orally with visual support.

Determine the number of syllables in familiar one- to three-syllable spoken words.

Spell familiar words correctly.

Briefly describe information on familiar topics presented orally with visual support.

Identify orally the main idea and some supporting details in brief text with visuals read with support.

Identify common, simple antonym pairs (e.g., hot/cold).

Identify and use grade-level grammatical forms (e.g., verb tense, pronouns, adjectives, conjunctions) with few errors.

Identify and write sentences of varying types and complexity near grade level.

Summarize the literal and inferential main ideas and critical details from near grade-level text.

Demonstrate comprehension of simple social conversations and academic language on mostly familiar topics with contextual support.

Deliver narrative and informative oral presentations that maintain a focus on main ideas and significant details.

Read text at independent reading level with fluency and accuracy appropriate to reading level.

Write a short narrative with increasingly complex sentences that develops a standard plot line, aided by a template.

Deliver informative and persuasive oral presentations that maintain a focus on main ideas and significant details, engage the interests of the audience, and quote from sources when summarizing articles.

Apply root words, prefixes, and suffixes, including Greek and Latin derivatives, to decode and determine meaning of complex words in grade-level text.

Summarize the literal and inferential main ideas and critical details from grade-level text.

Ask very simple questions about a speaker's briefly stated opinion about a familiar topic.

Use graphic features in informational text at independent reading level to describe key points.

Demonstrate comprehension of academic discussions on mostly concrete topics.

Draw conclusions orally based on brief, simple text with visuals on a familiar topic.

Write longer narratives about personal events or situations.

Writing Applications

Demonstrate comprehension of social conversations and simple academic discussions on mostly familiar, concrete topics.

Follow simple one-step oral directions.

Complete a graphic organizer on a familiar topic that follows a logical sequence of events using sentence frames.

Write a series of simple sentences using sentence frames for a narrative that has a beginning, middle, and end.

Identify orally the main idea in brief text read aloud with visuals.

Complete a graphic organizer or label a series of illustrations on an experience or familiar story using phrases or simple sentences.

Follow written procedures in informational text and identify the main purpose.

Use word patterns and/or word families to decode words.

Apply the writing process to: organize ideas and select an appropriate format; write a draft; revise for meaning and clarity; and use a grade-level editing checklist.

Identify and apply grade-level capitalization and punctuation rules.

Follow some simple multi-step written directions.

Writing

Deliver brief narrative or informative oral presentations on familiar topics in response to some prompts using expanded sentences.

Follow simple multi-step oral directions.

Read near grade-level text with fluency and accuracy.

Use text features and basic organizational structures in informational text at independent reading level to locate and describe key points.

Apply root words, prefixes, and suffixes, including some Greek and Latin derivatives, to decode and determine meaning of some complex words in near grade-level text.

Decode and determine meaning of words using knowledge of common base words and a few simple prefixes and suffixes.

Follow multi-step oral directions.

Make inferences, draw conclusions, form opinions, and locate evidence in grade-level text.

Express basic needs and state facts using phrases and simple sentences.

Make inferences, draw conclusions, form opinions, and locate evidence in text near grade level.

Demonstrate comprehension of academic discussions on concrete and abstract topics.

Apply knowledge of letter-sound associations to decode regular words and recognize irregular words.

Listening

Identify the main idea and a few supporting details in brief, simple information presented orally with visual support.