The state of Oregon has set certain standards of information that kids should be taught at each grade. There are no national standards. States design their own standards and their own tests. By the end of each year, your child should be able to do the following:
Kindergarten: Reading – Share personal stories; know words with common sounds (like money, mommy, monkey); match a word to each letter of the alphabet (like c – cat, t – turtle); hold a pencil properly; know all letters; Math – know numbers to 10; understand times of day; sort objects by like size, color, length, etc.
Grade 1: Reading – Identify letters, words and sentences; know difference between long and short vowel sounds; can break words down into syllables; can describe what they’ve read/heard in their own words; spell three-and four-letter words; write letters, and simple words and sentences; Math – know numbers to 100; add and subtract with objects; solve simple sums to 9.
Grade 2: Reading – Read common words with more than one syllable; sound out unknown words; describe the plot, setting and characters in a story; create a list of ideas for writing; Math – identify wholes, halves and fourths using objects; answer simple questions related to information in charts; understand time and tell time to nearest ½ hour.
Grade 3: Reading – Read common words with several syllables; read or demonstrate progress toward reading 3rd grade material; use dictionaries, encyclopedia and internet to find information; use subjects and verbs together correctly (i.e. we are instead of we is); write descriptive stories about people, places, things or experiences; Math – know numbers to 1,000; know how to multiply or divide by a whole number; use letters or other symbols to stand for a missing number in simple equations; describe objects like cubes, pyramids and circles.
Grade 4: Reading – Read aloud with the right tone for words important to the story, at the right speed for understanding, and with expression; read textbooks, directions, magazines and informational books; write stories with more than one paragraph using words that describe, explain or give more detail; Math – identify types of angles, and understand how to determine the lengths of sides of objects; be able to create a graph using points; use pictures or words to show how to solve an equation.
Grade 5: Reading – Show full understanding of what is read; read textbooks, news stories, directions and follow multi-step directions; predict outcomes and show why; write detailed pieces; write in cursive; Math – understand fractions and decimals; compare data; understand measurements; understand and measure shapes.
Grade 6: Reading – Make connections between reading text and personal experience; understand and use new vocabulary; demonstrate understanding of more difficult stories; correctly spell frequently misspelled words (like their/they’re); write stories with a plot, setting and point of view; Math – understand ratios; be able to check math answers using other ways; understand variables and estimates.
Grade 7: Reading – Add more difficult words to vocabulary; understand and explain the use of a simple tool by following technical directions; identify and analyze themes such as bravery, loyalty and loss; be able to give a convincing speech; Math – multiply and divide with fractions; correctly create graphs with data.
Grade 8: Reading – Determine word meanings using clues; be able to support conclusions using tables, diagrams or other text; understand text that uses arguments to convince (like newspaper editorials); identify motives of characters (like selfishness); write papers that engage the reader, have a clear message and end clearly; Math – deeply understand shapes, square roots, and linear equations.
See Oregon content standards in other subjects: View content standards for grades K-8 in subjects including, science, social sciences, physical education, health education, second language, and the arts.