Language/Reading Curriculum in the Fourth Grade
Reading Policy
In general, reading instruction begins at the preprimary level of education. In Madrid, as in Spain, the main goal of instruction in the area of Spanish language and literature is for students to achieve competence in the linguistic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in an integrated manner.
Summary of Autonomous Curriculum
The education law defines “curriculum” as “the regulation of the elements that determine the teaching and learning processes for each level.” The National Core Curriculum for Primary Education was published in March 2014 and implemented at the fourth grade in the 2015–2016 school year.12
Madridʼs curriculum of Spanish language and literature in primary education follows the content, assessment criteria, and learning standards suggested by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport in the National Core Curriculum. These blocks, or sections, are developed over the six years of primary education. The blocks include:
- Oral Communication: Speaking and Listening
- Written Communication: Reading
- Written Communication: Writing
- Knowledge of the Language
- Literary Education
Reading Curriculum for Primary Education13
Madrid complements the aforementioned blocks by detailing their contents. Those related to reading are included in the Written Communication: Reading block and are organized by grade:
- First grade
- The alphabet, relationships between sounds, and writing
- Reading comprehension of short texts
- Second grade
- Understanding texts; reading aloud and silently
- Reading comprehension of different types of texts; relevant information, vocabulary, main ideas, illustrations
- Third grade
- Reading aloud short texts with rhythm, fluency, and appropriate intonation; respecting punctuation marks
- Reading with comprehension aloud and silently of narrative texts, poems, etc.
- Fourth grade
- Reading comprehension of different types of texts read aloud and silently
- Use of reference books and other sources of information
- Fifth grade
- Reading comprehension of different types of texts
- Use of different strategies for reading comprehension
- Use of the library to search for information and as a learning source; responsible and efficient use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Sixth grade
- Reading comprehension of different types of texts read aloud and silently
- Efficient and responsible use of ICT to search for information and present projects
The Autonomous Community of Madrid places a special emphasis on literature education from third to sixth grade with specific content and requirements defined in the autonomous curriculum. Some of the content includes:
- Third to fourth grade
- Read and comprehend at least one literary piece each trimester
- Read aloud poems
- Fifth to sixth grade
- Read and comprehend at least six literary pieces during the school year
- Guided reading of oral-traditional narrative texts, classic pieces, and actual literature
- Read aloud poems, following the rhythm
- Read aloud a theater play