Elementary English & Reading Instructional Resources
Standards of Learning
English K-12 
Includes:
- Curriculum Frameworks
- Enhanced Scope & Sequence
- Test Blueprints
- Released Tests
- Writing Practice Tool
- Performance Expectations
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released test items, other elementary instructional resources include:
- Elementary Reading Comprehension & Vocabulary Strategies Videos – demonstrations by Virginia teachers of vocabulary and comprehension strategies
- Effective Elementary Reading Programs Assessment and Planning Instrument (PDF) – provides criteria to evaluate the implementation of schoolwide reading programs
- Elementary Reading Program Planning and Implementation Tool (PDF) – provides guidance in developing, implementing, sustaining and refining a comprehensive and effective schoolwide reading program and serves as a self-assessment tool to evaluate the overall reading program
- Assessment Instrument for Planning Effective Professional Development in Reading (PDF) – overview of components of reading instruction supported by scientific research and a guide to content that should be emphasized in a professional development program
- Virginia Reads (PDF) – parent brochure highlighting preschool Foundation Blocks for Early Learning and the K-5 English SOL with suggestions for assisting children in achieving these school-readiness and reading standards
- Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online.
K-3 Specific Instructional Resources
- K-3 Reading Achievement Record Samples (Revised 2003):
- Revised Sample K-3 English Achievement Records – Superintendent's Memo –, April 4, 2003
- Explanation of Sample Reading Achievement Records (PDF)
- Sample #1 (Word)
- Sample #2 (Word)
- Early Intervention Reading Initiative (EIRI) – provides intervention services to students who demonstrate reading deficiencies on the Phonological and Literacy Screening (PALS) assessment
- Virginia Animals and their Habitats – a model comprehensive, cross-curricular second-grade unit that addresses 40 grade-two Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) in science, mathematics, English, and history and social science.
PK-Specific Instructional Resources
- Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: Comprehensive Standards for Four-Year-Olds-This is a Word document. – describes specific indicators for PK children in the content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and social science
Miscellaneous
- The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) collects, coordinates and conveys a broad range of research and resources in support of an inclusive approach to high quality education for English language learners (ELLs)
- Writing Practice Items and Guides
Additional English & Reading Resources
- Instructional and assessment, resources, professional development & organizations
- Middle school instructional resources
- High school instructional resources
- Instructional Interventions That Have Proven to Be Successful with Low-Achieving Students (PDF)
- Florida Center for Reading Research Program Report Summary Table
- Florida Center for Reading Research Principal Reading Walk Through Checklists
- Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (PDF)
- Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS)
The Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) is the state-provided screening tool for Virginia's Early Intervention Reading Initiative. PALS consists of two screening instruments, PALS-K (for students in kindergarten) and PALS 1-3 (for students in grades one through three), which measure young children's knowledge of important literacy fundamentals, including phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, knowledge of letter sounds, spelling, word recognition in isolation, and oral passage reading. - For Virginia Reading Assessment Contact Information, see Professional Teacher’s Assessment Requirements (PDF)
- Reading Resources from the Center on Instruction
- Understanding Scoring uses actual Virginia student anchor papers to provide examples of SOL scoring in each domain of writing