Literacy Standards (Grade 2)

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Literacy Standards

The following indicators outline the developmental benchmarks and literacy behaviors that most children display at a particular age/grade. All are aligned with guidelines and standards established by the Arizona Department of Education. Seen together, they show the progression of development over time, but it is important to remember that all children develop at a different pace and follow varied patterns of development.

For very young children, key components of language and communication development include modeling conversations, book handling, and picture/story comprehension. For preschool and K-3 students, indicators of developing language and emergent literacy provide a clear overview of the learning goals to be achieved by the end of each year. Across the higher grades, indicators may have similar wording, but they are to be applied with increased focus to progressively more challenging texts and tasks.

Age / Grade Range

Reading Standards for Literature

Independently and proficiently reads and understands a variety of literature from multiple cultures.
Identifies key characteristics of literature.
Describes the overall structure of a story or poem.
Asks and answers questions, such as who, what, when, where, why, and how, to show understanding of a story or poem.
Determines the central idea of a story or poem.
Compares and contrasts versions of the same story by different authors or cultures.

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Asks and answers questions, such as who, what, when, where, why, and how, to show understanding of a text.
Identifies the main idea of a multi-paragraph text, including what an author wants to explain, describe, or answer.
Uses various text features, such as glossaries, icons, and indexes, to locate key facts and information.
Makes connections between a series of historical events, scientific ideas, or steps in technical procedures.
Compares and contrasts important points between two texts of the same topic.

Reading Standards for Foundational Skills

Decodes words with common prefixes and suffixes.
Reads irregularly-spelled words.
Reads with purpose and understanding.
Reads grade-level text with fluency for understanding.
Applies grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Writing Standards

Writes opinion and explanatory pieces that include reasons to support ideas, linking words, and a conclusion.
Writes narratives that include a clear sequence of events, details that describe actions and thoughts, and words that indicate a change in time.
Revises writing based on feedback from adults and peers.
Participates in shared research projects.
Gathers information from provided sources to answer a question.

Writing Foundational Standards

Spells irregular and pattern-based words.
Uses proper manuscript letter formation when writing.
Demonstrates command of the conventions of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

Speaking and Listening Standards

Engages in a range of discussions with different partners, listening actively and speaking clearly.
Asks and answers questions about information from readings and presentations to clarify understanding.
Integrates reading skills to present ideas, thoughts, and feelings in a variety of ways.

Language Standards

Uses correct grammar when writing or speaking.
Uses understanding of root words, prefixes, and suffixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Uses glossaries and dictionaries to determine the meaning of unknown words.

Source: Arizona Department of Education, Arizona English Language Arts Standards

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