Reflection on my understanding of ELA instruction

With the new Common Core state standards initiative, the goal is to prepare students for college and for the workforce.  The instruction of ELA is not only the responsibility of the ELA teacher but it also lies on all the subject teachers within a school. 

It is my understanding that the push, for elementary students, is to further develop their skill levels with informational text throughout different subject areas.  The upper grades need much more attention focused on a specific content of informational text, literacy non-fiction.  Since the students will be studying literature in the ELA classroom, the other subjects must develop those skills.

There are five different components to ELA standards for instruction.  They are reading, writing, speaking, listening and language. 

The reading component focuses on comprehension and application. Students must be able to understand what they read and be able to synthesize thoughts from what they have read.

The second component is writing. Students must have the ability to plan, revise, edit and publish.

The third and fourth components are Speaking and Listening.  Students need to be able to develop their interpersonal skills and be able to express themselves clearly and concisely. 

Language is the final component and is about use and development of vocabulary.