MCNL - Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations

Modern, Classical and Native Languages Glossary
Age-Appropriate
Benchmarks
Content Standards
Cumulative
Language System
Level-Appropriate
Multiple Entry Points
Activities, resources, and assessments that are designed for the cognitive
level of a particular developmental age group.
A statement of what all students should know and be able to do in a
content area by the end of designated grades or levels. The grade
groupings used for this purpose are kindergarten-grade 4; grade 5-grade
8; and grade 9-grade 12 checkpoints for evaluating progress towards
achieving the content standards.
A broad description of the knowledge and skills students should acquire in
a particular subject area.
The overall accrued total of skills, knowledge, or items.
A means for learning the following: communication using the language,
cultural understanding, connection of the language with other disciplines.
The language system includes all of the elements of meaning to be used
by and with a language: pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, grammar
and word use rules, syntax, writing, non-verbal communication including
gestures and other non-verbal behavior), status and discourse style,
“learning what to say to whom and when”, and other aspects of cultural
understanding.
Activities, resources, and assessments that are designed for the cognitive
level of a particular school grade or cluster of grades.
The entry curriculum that may be used with a wide range of ages or levels
of students. This is particularly needed in the learning of languages, since
students may enter the beginning stage at very different maturity/ cognitive
levels (early childhood, elementary, middle, high school, or adult).
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