Employability Skills

21st Century Skills: Each Iowa student will have the academic and social skills as well as the personal characteristics that empower them to be productive, caring, and competent citizens.

• ES1: I can work appropriately and productively both individually and with others (without oversight).

• ES2: I can accept and provide feedback in a constructive and considerate manner.

• ES3: I can demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior by taking ownership for actions, doing my own work, writing without plagiarizing, and demonstrating trustworthiness and honesty in all environments).

• ES4: I can turn in my work on time.

• ES5: I can demonstrate appropriate risk-taking, accepting and owning my mistakes as a part of learning.

• ES6: I can follow directions.

• ES7: I can keep my materials organized; I have the materials I need for class.

• ES8: I can ask appropriate questions to seek clarification and deepen my understanding, contribute to the class by expressing ideas, and listen to understand the ideas of others.
  

• ES9:I can use technology to set and track goals, demonstrate learning, solve problems, create new and imaginative solutions to problems, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, broaden perspectives, understand others, and work effectively in teams.

• ES10: I can produce high-quality work.

Essential Standard: SL71 - Collaborative Discussions

SL71 : Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics

• SL71a: I can come to discussions prepared, having read the material, and drawing on preparation by referring to evidence and notes on the topic, text, or issue.

• SL71a1: I can ask questions that further discussion.

• SL71a2: I can respond to others’ questions and comments with relative observations and ideas that bring discussions back on track as needed.

• SL71a3: I can acknowledge new information and modify views when warranted.

• SL71b: I can follow the rules for collegial discussion, defining roles as needed.

Essential Standard SL74 - Oral Presentations

SL74: Present claims and findings so that the organization, development, and style are appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience; emphasize important points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation

Organization

• SL74a: I can present information, claims, findings, and evidence logically so that others can follow my reasoning.

• SL74a1: I can determine important or key points and emphasize them when presenting.

• SL75b: I can transition in and out of multimedia components and visual displays efficiently and effectively.

Development

• SL74b: I can include enough relevant descriptions, facts, details, and examples to support my claims, findings, and ideas without being wordy, repetitive, or long-winded.

• SL75a: I can include media and visual displays to emphasize important points, clarify claims, or clarify findings.

Style

• SL74c: I can present in a style appropriate to my task, purpose, and audience.

• SL76: I can adapt my speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.

• SL76a: I can demonstrate a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

• SL74c1: I can use appropriate presentation skills (volume; eye contact; rate; inflection; appropriate, well-timed, and well-placed gestures; pronunciation; enunciation; expression; stance; posture; elimination of nervous habits).

Essential Standard: R71 - Reading and Comprehension

R71: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

• R71a: I can read closely to determine what the text says explicitly.

• R71b: I can make logical inferences from the text.

• R71c: I can cite several pieces of specific textual evidence to support analysis, inferences, & research (W79).

• R75:I can analyze text structure and how it contributes to meaning (in a story, drama, poem) and how the structure contributes to the whole.

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  R72a I can determine a theme or two or more central ideas of a text.

• R72b I can analyze the development of central ideas or themes throughout a text.

• R72c I can provide an objective summary of the text.

• R710a: I can read and comprehend grade-level complex literary texts independently and proficiently.

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  R73c: I can determine and identify the elements (parts) of a short story or text.

• R73a: I can analyze how elements such as characters, setting, events, or ideas develop & interact over the course of a text (how setting shapes character or plot, etc).

• R73b: I can analyze the interactions between individuals, events & ideas in a text (how ideas influence individuals/events & vice versa).

Essential Standard: R77/SL72 - Integrating and Evaluating Content

R77/SL72: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words and orally.

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  R77: I can compare/contrast a written story, drama, poem, or informative text to an audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version.

• R78a/SL73a: I can trace the arguments and claims in a text or speech.

• R79a: I can compare/contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character to a historical account of the same period to understand how authors use or alter history.

• R76a/SL73: I can determine the point-of-view (POV) or purpose of the author or speaker.

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  SL72: I can analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media (formats) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

• R77a: I can analyze the effects of techniques unique to each medium (lighting, sound, color, camera focus, angles, etc).

• R77b2: I can analyze each different medium’s portrayal of the subject (how the speech delivery affects the impact of the words).

• R79b: I can analyze how two or more authors writing about the same topic emphasize different evidence or interpret facts differently to shape their presentations.

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  R78c/SL73c: I can evaluate if there is enough relevant evidence to support claims in a text or speech.

• R78b/SL73b: I can decide if the reasoning used to support arguments and claims in a text or speech is sound (logical and valid).

• R76c: I can analyze how an author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.

• R76/SL73: I can assess how the point of view or purpose of the author shapes the content or style of a text.

Essential Standard: R74 - Vocabulary

R74: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choice shapes meaning.

Identifying and determining meaning:

• L76a: I can learn grade-appropriate vocabulary words and phrases.

• R74a: I can determine the figurative, connotative, and technical meanings of words and phrases used in a text.

• L74a: I can use context clues to figure out the meanings of unknown or multiple-meaning words.

• L74b: I can use word parts (Greek or Latin affixes and roots) as clues to word meanings.

• L74c: I can use general and specialized print and digital reference materials (dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to verify word meanings or to find pronunciations, definitions, and parts of speech.

• L75a1: I can define and identify figurative language and figures of speech.

• L75a: I can interpret figures of speech (literary, biblical, mythological, allusions, etc) in context.

• L75c: I can distinguish between connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions); example: refined, respectful, polite, diplomatic, condescending or cheap vs. inexpensive).

Impact of word choice:

• R74c: I can analyze how word choice shapes meaning or tone.

• R74b: I can analyze the impact of rhyme and the repetition of sounds on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.

Essential Standard: W78 - Research

W78: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information without plagiarizing.

Researching

• W77b: I can generate additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

• W78b: I can use search terms effectively.

• W78a:I can gather relevant information from multiple sources.

• W78c: I can assess the credibility & accuracy of each source.

• W77c: I can demonstrate an understanding of the subject being researched.

• SLIA75: I can prepare and conduct interviews.

Avoiding plagiarism

• W78d1:I can define and identify plagiarism.

• W78d2: I can quote and paraphrase correctly.

• W78d3: I can format in-text citations correctly.

• W78d4: I can format citations found on a works cited or bibliography page correctly.

  • novels/books

  • anthologies (a piece in a collection)

  • websites

  • newspapers

  • others (songs, interviews, etc)

• W78d5: I can create correctly formatted works cited or bibliography pages (properly labeled, alphabetized, spaced).

• W76b: I can use technology to link and cite sources.

Esswential Standard: W74 - Production of Clear, Coherent Writing

W74: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Conventions

• L71b: I can write in complete sentences (without run-ons or fragments).

• L71ac: I can place phrases and clauses correctly in sentences (avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers) and explain

their function.

• L71d: I can use the parts of speech correctly in sentences (word choice, placement, parallelism, verb tense, etc.).

• L72a: I can use commas correctly.

  • in words, phrases, or clauses in a series (lists)

  • to separate coordinate adjectives

  • with coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)

  • after introductory clauses, phrases, and words before the main clause

  • to off-set non-essential clauses, phrases, and words (non-essential is nice to know but not needed)

  • in geographical names, dates, addresses, and titles in names

• L72b: I can spell correctly.

• L72c: I can capitalize correctly (proper nouns, beginnings of sentences).

• L72d: I can use punctuation correctly (colon, semi-colon, period, quotation marks, apostrophes, question marks, etc).

Development

• W7123b: I can develop the topic, support my ideas, and demonstrate my understanding by using enough relevant facts, definitions, details, quotations, or other information, examples, and evidence in my work.

• W71a: I can write arguments to support claims, introduce claim(s), and acknowledge alternate or opposing claims.

• W71b: I can support my claims with valid/ logical reasoning.

• W72: I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine & convey complex ideas and information clearly & accurately.

• W71b1: I can demonstrate an understanding of the topic/text.

W73: Write narratives to develop real/imagined experiences/events.

• W73a: I can engage & orient readers in narrative writing by establishing context & point of view & introducing a narrator and/or characters.

• W73d: Use relevant descriptive details, & sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

Organization

• W72g: I can format short answers correctly (using PACE or PQA).

• W7123a: I can provide an interesting, engaging, and effective intro crafted to hook the audience and transition into the content (it is original, establishes context or moves from broad to specific and has a thesis, and previews information to follow).

• W71a1:I can organize my reasons and evidence logically.

• W7123f: I can provide a conclusion that follows form; it ties to the introduction, supports arguments, information, explanations, or personal experiences/events presented, and provides closure.

• W72a1: I can format my writing to help others understand my ideas by using strategies (definition, classification, comparison & contrasts, cause & effect) and by including headings, graphics (charts/tables), and multimedia when useful and appropriate.

• W73a1: I can organize an event sequence in narrative writing that unfolds naturally and logically.

• W75: I can show evidence of using the writing process (planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach) focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

Style

• W712e: I can establish and maintain a formal style when appropriate (avoiding slang, personal pronouns, contractions, abbreviations, informal language, etc.).

• W7123c:I can use transitions to connect ideas; clarify relationships among ideas, concepts, claims, reasons, and evidence; show sequence; and signal shifts from one time frame/setting to another.

• L71c: I can vary my sentence patterns (simple, compound, complex, & compound-complex) and beginnings for meaning (signaling differing relationships among ideas), reader interest, and style.

• L73a: I can use precise and concise word choice (I am not wordy nor repetitive).

• L76b: I can use grade-appropriate vocabulary words and phrases correctly when writing or speaking.

• W73b: Use narrative techniques (dialogue, pacing,& description) to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.