1. (a) Introduction.

   1. (1) In Kindergarten, students engage in many activities that help them develop their oral language skills and help them begin to read and write. Kindergarten students take part in language activities that extend their vocabulary and conceptual knowledge. Students learn to follow directions and develop the language of schooling. Students discuss the meanings of words from familiar and conceptually challenging selections read aloud. Students express themselves in complete thoughts. In Kindergarten, students listen to a wide variety of children's literature, including selections from classic and contemporary works. Students also listen to nonfiction and informational material. Students learn to listen attentively and ask and respond to questions and retell stories. Students know simple story structure and distinguish fiction from nonfiction. Kindergarten students identify and write the letters of the alphabet. Students learn that individual letters are different from printed words, that words have spaces between them, and that print is read from left-to-right and from top-to-bottom. Through meaningful and organized activities, kindergarten students learn that spoken language is composed of sequences of sounds. Students learn to segment and identify the sounds in spoken words. Students name each letter of the alphabet, begin to associate spoken sounds with the letter or letters that represent them, and begin to use this knowledge to read words and simple stories. In Kindergarten, students write the letters of the alphabet, their name, and other words. Initially, students dictate messages and stories for others to write. Students begin to use their knowledge of sounds and letters to write by themselves.

   2. (2) For students whose first language is other than English, the native language serves as the foundation for English language acquisition. Cognitive skills transfer from one language to another, and students literate in their first language will apply these skills and other academic proficiencies to the second language.

      1. (A) The development of receptive (listening/reading) and expressive (speaking/writing) skills in second language learners may be at different stages. In some instances, second language learners undergo silent periods of varying durations when they first begin to learn a new language. Students often understand more than they can produce and may repeat words in sentences that they do not entirely understand. Second language learners may also draw upon the resources of their language and culture as they acquire a new language and culture.
      2. (B) It is important to understand that limited knowledge of English structure and vocabulary is neither related to the students' intellectual capabilities nor their ability to use higher-order thinking skills. Literacy development across the content areas is essential in building academic skills in a second language and can accelerate the learning of both English language skills and higher-order thinking skills.

   3. (3) English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) students are at different stages of language acquisition. The following general proficiency levels are not grade specific: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. The ESOL student may exhibit different proficiency levels within the four language components: listening, speaking, reading and writing. An ESOL student may exhibit oral skills at the advanced level, reading skills at the intermediate level, and writing skills at the beginning level. Any combination of these components is possible and is affected by opportunities for interaction in and outside school.

      1. (A) Beginning ESOL students associate utterances with meanings as they make inferences based on actions, visuals, text, tone of voice, and inflections. They use unanalyzed short phrases of language sporadically such as It's my turn and Who is it? Because receptive language is acquired earlier than oral production, ESOL students at the beginning level may need to use the native language to demonstrate comprehension. Beginning ESOL students, through carefully sequenced listening opportunities, expand their vocabulary to evaluate and analyze spoken English for a variety of situations and purposes.
      2. (B) Intermediate ESOL students produce spoken English with increasing accuracy and fluency to convey appropriate meaning. These ESOL students use the listening process to improve comprehension and oral skills in English. Through meaningful listening and speaking interactions, ESOL students clarify, distinguish, and evaluate ideas and responses in a variety of situations.
      3. (C) Advanced ESOL students participate successfully in academic, social, and work contexts in English using the process of speaking to create, clarify, critique, and evaluate ideas and responses. These students begin to read and write in English using graphophonic cues, syntax, visuals, the context of the text, and their prior knowledge of language and structure of text.
      4. (D) Some ESOL students exhibit additional first language and/or academic needs due to their previous educational experiences that may include interrupted and/or limited schooling. In addition, there are ESOL students who have achieved oral proficiency in English but need additional academic competency skills. These needs, as well as acculturation issues, should be considered when making programmatic and instructional decisions.
   4. (4) The essential knowledge and skills as well as the student expectations for kindergarten are described in subsection (b) of this section and are identical to the knowledge and skills and student expectations in Chapter 110 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading) with additional expectations for students of Spanish Language Arts and English as a Second Language. All expectations apply equally to second language learners; however, it is imperative to recognize critical processes and features of second language acquisition and to provide appropriate instruction to enable students to meet these standards. The knowledge and skills and/or student expectations that are applicable specifically to students of Spanish Language Arts and/or English as a Second Language are indicated parenthetically by SLA and ESL. The additional grades at which these expectations are demonstrated, at increasingly sophisticated levels, are also indicated by parenthetical notation.
   5. (5) To meet Public Education Goal 1 of the Texas Education Code, §4.002, which states, "The students in the public education system will demonstrate exemplary performance in the reading and writing of the English language," students will accomplish the essential knowledge and skills as well as the student expectations at Kindergarten as described in subsection (b) of this section.
   6. (6) To meet Texas Education Code, §28.002(h), which states, "each school district shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United States and Texas history and the free enterprise system in regular subject matter and in reading courses and in the adoption of textbooks," students will be provided oral and written narratives as well as other informational texts that can help them to become thoughtful, active citizens who appreciate the basic democratic values of our state and nation.

2. (b) Knowledge and skills.

   1. (1) Listening/speaking/purposes. The student listens attentively and engages actively in a variety of oral language experiences. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) determine the purpose(s) for listening such as to get information, to solve problems, and to enjoy and appreciate (K-3);
      2. (B) respond appropriately and courteously to directions and questions (K-3);
      3. (C) participate in rhymes, songs, conversations, and discussions (K-3);
      4. (D) listen critically to interpret and evaluate (K-3);

      5. (E) demonstrate the expectation appropriate for ESL or SLA, as follows:

         1. (i) listen responsively to stories and other texts read aloud, including selections from classic and contemporary works (K-3/ESL); or
         2. (ii) listen responsively to stories and other texts read aloud, including selections from classic and contemporary works in Spanish (K-3/SLA);
      6. (F) identify the musical elements of literary language, including its rhymes or repeated sounds (K-1);
      7. (G) distinguish and produce sounds and intonation patterns of English (K-8/ESL); and
      8. (H) infer meaning by making associations of utterances with actions, visuals, and the context of the situation (K-3/ESL).

   2. (2) Listening/speaking/culture. The student listens and speaks to gain knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements of cultures. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) connect experiences and ideas with those of others through speaking and listening (K-3); and
      2. (B) compare language and oral traditions (family stories) that reflect customs, regions, and cultures (K-3).

   3. (3) Listening/speaking/audiences/oral grammar. The student speaks appropriately to different audiences for different purposes and occasions. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) demonstrate the expectation appropriate for ESL or SLA, as follows:

         1. (i) choose and adapt newly acquired spoken language appropriate to the audience, purpose, and occasion in the new culture, including using appropriate volume and rate (K-3/ESL); or
         2. (ii) choose and adapt spoken language appropriate to the audience, purpose, and occasion, including using appropriate volume and rate (K-3/SLA);

      2. (B) demonstrate the expectation appropriate for ESL or SLA, as follows:

         1. (i) use verbal and nonverbal communication in effective ways when making announcements, giving directions, or making introductions (K-3/ESL); or
         2. (ii) use verbal and nonverbal communication in effective ways when making announcements, giving directions, or making introductions, including using Spanish conventions such as formal and informal pronouns (tu/usted) (K-3/SLA);
      3. (C) ask and answer relevant questions and make contributions in small or large group discussions (K-3);
      4. (D) present dramatic interpretations of experiences, stories, poems, or plays (K-3);
      5. (E) gain increasing control of grammar when speaking such as using subject-verb agreement, complete sentences, and correct tense (K-3); and
      6. (F) employ English content area vocabulary in context (K-8/ESL).

   4. (4) Listening/speaking/communication. The student communicates clearly by putting thoughts and feelings into spoken words. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) learn the vocabulary of school such as numbers, shapes, colors, directions, and categories (K-1);
      2. (B) use vocabulary to describe clearly ideas, feelings, and experiences (K-3);
      3. (C) clarify and support spoken messages using appropriate props such as objects, pictures, or charts (K-3); and
      4. (D) retell a spoken message by summarizing or clarifying (K-3).

   5. (5) Reading/print awareness. The student demonstrates knowledge of concepts of print. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) recognize that print represents spoken language and conveys meaning such as his/her own name and signs such as Exit and Danger (K-1);
      2. (B) know that print moves left-to-right across the page and top-to-bottom (K-1);
      3. (C) understand that written words are separated by spaces (K-1);
      4. (D) know the difference between individual letters and printed words (K-1);
      5. (E) know the difference between capital and lowercase letters (K-1);
      6. (F) recognize how readers use capitalization and punctuation to comprehend (K-1);
      7. (G) understand that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters (K-1);
      8. (H) recognize that different parts of a book such as cover, title page, and table of contents offer information (K-1).

   6. (6) Reading/phonological awareness. The student orally demonstrates phonological awareness (an understanding that spoken language is composed of sequences of sounds). The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) demonstrate the concept of word by dividing spoken sentences into individual words (K-1);
      2. (B) identify, segment, and combine syllables within spoken words such as by clapping syllables and moving manipulatives to represent syllables in words (K-1);
      3. (C) produce rhyming words and distinguish rhyming words from non-rhyming words (K-1);

      4. (D) demonstrate the expectation appropriate for ESL or SLA, as follows:

         1. (i) identify and isolate the initial and final sound of a spoken word (K-1/ESL); or
         2. (ii) identify vowel and consonant sounds (K-1/SLA);
      5. (E) blend sounds to make spoken words such as moving manipulatives to blend phonemes in a spoken word (K-1); and
      6. (F) segment one-syllable spoken words into individual phonemes, clearly producing beginning, medial, and final sounds (K-1).

   7. (7) Reading/letter-sound relationships. The student uses letter-sound knowledge to decode written language. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) name and identify each letter of the alphabet (K-1);
      2. (B) understand that written words are composed of letters that represent sounds (K-1); and

      3. (C) demonstrate the expectation appropriate for ESL or SLA, as follows:

         1. (i) learn and apply letter-sound correspondences of a set of consonants and vowels to begin to read (K-1/ESL); or
         2. (ii) learn and apply letter-sound correspondences of consonants-vowel patterns to produce syllables to begin to read (K-1/SLA).

   8. (8) Reading/vocabulary development. The student develops an extensive vocabulary. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) discuss meanings of words and develop vocabulary through meaningful/concrete experiences (K-2);
      2. (B) develop vocabulary by listening to and discussing both familiar and conceptually challenging selections read aloud (K-3); and
      3. (C) identify words that name persons, places, or things and words that name actions (K-1).

   9. (9) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) use prior knowledge to anticipate meaning and make sense of texts (K-3);
      2. (B) establish purposes for reading or listening such as to be informed, to follow directions, and to be entertained (K-3); and
      3. (C) retell or act out the order of important events in stories (K-3).

   10. (10) Reading/literary response. The student responds to various texts. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) listen to stories being read aloud (K-1);
       2. (B) participate actively (react, speculate, join in, read along) when predictable and patterned selections are read aloud (K-1);
       3. (C) respond through talk, movement, music, art, drama, and writing to a variety of stories and poems in ways that reflect understanding and interpretation (K-1); and
       4. (D) describe how illustrations contribute to the text (K-1).

   11. (11) Reading/text structures/literary concepts. The student recognizes characteristics of various types of texts. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) distinguish different forms of texts such as lists, newsletters, and signs and the functions they serve (K-3);
       2. (B) understand simple story structure (K-1);
       3. (C) distinguish fiction from nonfiction, including fact and fantasy (K-3);
       4. (D) understand literary forms by recognizing and distinguishing among such types of text as stories, poems, and information books (K-2); and
       5. (E) understand literary terms by distinguishing between the roles of the author and illustrator such as the author writes the story and the illustrator draws the pictures (K-1).

   12. (12) Reading/inquiry/research. The student generates questions and conducts research about topics introduced through selections read aloud and from a variety of other sources. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) identify relevant questions for inquiry such as "Why did knights wear armor?" (K-3);
       2. (B) use pictures, print, and people to gather information and answer questions (K-1);
       3. (C) draw conclusions from information gathered (K-3); and
       4. (D) locate important areas of the library/media center (K-1).

   13. (13) Reading/culture. The student reads or listens to increase knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements of cultures. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) connect his/her own experiences with the life experiences, language, customs, and culture of others (K-3); and
       2. (B) compare experiences of characters across cultures (K-3).

   14. (14) Writing/spelling/penmanship. The student develops the foundations of writing. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) write his/her own name and other important words (K-1);
       2. (B) write each letter of the alphabet, both capital and lowercase (K-1);
       3. (C) use phonological knowledge to map sounds to letters to write messages (K-1);
       4. (D) write messages that move left-to-right and top-to-bottom on the page (K-1); and
       5. (E) gain increasing control of penmanship such as pencil grip, paper position, and beginning stroke (K-1).

   15. (15) Writing/composition. The student composes original texts. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) dictate messages such as news and stories for others to write (K-1);
       2. (B) write labels, notes, and captions for illustrations, possessions, charts, centers (K-1);
       3. (C) write to record ideas and reflections (K-3);
       4. (D) generate ideas before writing for self-selected topics (K-3);
       5. (E) generate ideas before writing on assigned tasks (K-1); and
       6. (F) use available technology to compose text (K-3).

   16. (16) Writing/inquiry/research. The student uses writing as a tool for learning and research. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) record or dictate questions for investigating (K-1); and
       2. (B) record or dictate his/her own knowledge of a topic in various ways such as by drawing pictures, making lists, and showing connections among ideas (K-3).

   17. (17) Second language acquisition/learning strategies. The ESOL student uses language learning strategies to develop an awareness of his/her own learning processes in language arts and all content areas. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) develop and expand repertoire of learning strategies such as reasoning inductively or deductively, looking for patterns in language, and analyzing expressions (K-3/ESL);
       2. (B) use prior knowledge and experiences to understand meanings in English (K-8/ESL);
       3. (C) monitor oral and written language production and employ self-corrective techniques or other resources (K-8/ESL);
       4. (D) use strategic learning techniques such as semantic mapping, imagery, memorization, and reviewing (K-3/ESL);
       5. (E) use learning strategies such as using circumlocution, synonyms, and non-verbal cues and requesting assistance from native speakers when speaking English (K-8/ESL);
       6. (F) make connections across content areas and use and reuse language and concepts in different ways (K-8/ESL); and
       7. (G) use accessible language and learn new and essential language in the process (K-8/ESL).

   18. (18) Second language acquisition/listening. The ESOL student listens to a variety of speakers including teachers, peers, and electronic media to gain an increasing level of comprehension and appreciation for newly acquired language in language arts and all content areas. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) use active listening comprehension in a variety of situations such as following directions, responding to requests, and listening for specific purposes (K-3/ESL);
       2. (B) understand basic structures, expressions, and vocabulary such as school environment, greetings, questions, and directions (K-8/ESL);
       3. (C) recognize and distinguish phonological elements of newly acquired vocabulary such as long and short vowels, silent letters, and consonant clusters (K-8/ESL);
       4. (D) listen to and extract meaning from a variety of media such as audio tape, video, and CD ROM in all content areas (K-8/ESL);
       5. (E) analyze and evaluate spoken discourse for appropriateness of purpose with a variety of audiences such as formal, consultative, casual, and intimate language registers (K-8/ESL).

   19. (19) Second language acquisition/speaking. The ESOL student speaks in a variety of modes for a variety of purposes with an awareness of different language registers (formal/informal) using developmental vocabulary with increasing fluency and accuracy in language arts and all content areas. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) identify people, places, objects, events, and basic concepts such as numbers, days of the week, foods, occupations, and time (K-8/ESL);
       2. (B) share prior knowledge with peers and others to facilitate communication and to foster respect for others (K-8/ESL);
       3. (C) ask and give information such as directions and address, as well as, name, age, and nationality (K-8/ESL);
       4. (D) initiate authentic discourse with peers and others by employing newly acquired vocabulary and concepts (K-3/ESL);
       5. (E) express ideas and feelings such as gratitude, needs, opinions, and greetings (K-8/ESL);
       6. (F) describe the immediate surroundings such as classroom, school, or home (K-8/ESL);
       7. (G) arrange phrases, clauses, and sentences into correct and meaningful patterns (K-8/ESL);
       8. (H) produce phonological elements of simple vocabulary and phrases (K-3/ESL); and
       9. (I) produce phonological elements of newly acquired vocabulary such as long and short vowels, silent letters, and consonant clusters (K-8/ESL).

   20. (20) Second language acquisition/reading. The ESOL student reads a variety of texts for a variety of purposes with an increasing level of comprehension in language arts and all content areas. The following expectations apply to the second language learner at his/her level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) learn sound/symbol relationships as they apply to the phonological system of English (K-8/ESL);
       2. (B) recognize directionality of English reading such as left to right and top to bottom (K-8/ESL);
       3. (C) read authentic literature to develop vocabulary, structures, and background knowledge needed to comprehend increasingly-challenging language (K-8/ESL);
       4. (D) participate in shared reading (K-8/ESL);
       5. (E) develop basic sight vocabulary (K-8/ESL);
       6. (F) use a combination of skills to decode words such as pattern recognition and identification of cognates, root words, and affixes (K-8/ESL);
       7. (G) read silently with increasing ease for longer periods (K-8/ESL);
       8. (H) use print from the environment to derive meaning (K-8/ESL); and
       9. (I) use graphic organizers as pre-reading activities to prepare for reading text (K-3/ESL).

Source Note:The provisions of this §128.2 adopted to be effective September 1, 1998, 22 TexReg 7773.