Quick Links
Missouri Read-In Day
March 13
Elevate Your Classroom: America 250 ELA Style
On March 5 and 6, educators participated in high-impact, practical, and research-supported approaches designed to transform their classrooms into portals of ideas, critical thinking, and reading strategies while incorporating civic-focused material associated with America’s 250th anniversary.
ELA Junction
Virtual Office Hours: Every 1st Wednesday of the Month from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
This will be a space for educators and administrators to connect with the director for guidance on standards, teaching strategies and supporting diverse learners. Join us to collaborate, share ideas, and learn about opportunities and resources. If the time does not work please email me to schedule a meeting with a time that works for you!
ELA Junction Recordings and Transcripts
- September 3, 2025 Recording: Jenni Ryan, Poetry Out Loud
- October 1, 2025 Recording: Jessica Lucas, Columbia Public Schools, Preview of Debate in the Classroom
- November 5, 2025 Recording: Stacy Waldmann, St. James Middle School, Cross-curricular collaboration and MO LEAP Blocks
- December (no recording or transcript)
- January 7, 2026 Recording: Stacy Waldmann, St. James Middle School, Classroom Strategies
- February 4, 2026 Recording: Jessica Lucas, Columbia Public Schools, Debate in the Classroom
Use this link to schedule an individual meeting with Kayla Stewart.
ELA Communications
Communications from the ELA section use the ELA-Journalism Core Data contact email and those submitted through the ELA/Library ListServ. If you are an educator in elementary school please sign up through the ELA/Library ListServ link here, and educators in secondary schools may subscribe to the ELA Junction Newsletter here.
Assessment Development Recruitment
As a part of the assessment development cycle, DESE Assessment invites Missouri educators to participate in the process to help provide expertise. Missouri is always looking for educators to participate in these meetings. If you wish to be considered for participation for any future development meetings, please complete the online submission form. Once finished, you will receive an email to the personal email address provided to confirm your submission.
- Instructional Resources
Instructional Resources
Additional Resources
(America 250 and Constitution Days to come)
- Professional Development
Opportunities
Details
ELA Junction Virtual Collaboration
First Wednesday of each month, August - May
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Click here to join the ELA Junction meeting.2026 Content Meetings March 5 (K-5)
March 6 (6-12)
October 8 (K-5)
October 9 (6-12)8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Department of Natural Resources
1730 E. Elm St.
Jefferson City, MORegister for free via the Curriculum Calendar at the bottom of the Curriculum page here.
- Missouri Learning Standards (MLS)
English Language Arts Missouri Learning Standards
Document Description MLS Expectations K-5 PDF Expectations adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education in April 2016; state testing over these new expectations began during the 2017-18 school year. MLS Expectations K-5 Word MLS Expectations 6-12 PDF MLS Expectations 6-12 Word MLS Expectations K-12 Excel MLS Expectations K-5 with Examples Replication of the K-5 MLS Expectations document above with explanations and examples added. MLS ELA Expectations Grade 6 with Examples Merging of the MLS Expectations 6-12 and MLS Expectations Terminology 6-12 documents in an easy-to-follow format at each grade level. MLS ELA Expectations Grade 7 with Examples MLS ELA Expectations Grade 8 with Examples MLS ELA Expectations Grades 9-10 with Examples MLS ELA Expectations Grades 11-12 with Examples MLS Expectations Coding System Provides examples and explanations of coding used to refer to expectations in ELA, math, science, and social studies. ELA Glossary K-12 Definitions for terms used frequently in the ELA curriculum; working document for educators intended as a guide to assist with classroom instruction. ELA/Social Studies Crosswalk Example Links ELA and social studies to support critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning in elementary classrooms. Vertical Progressions 6-12 Chart of each new MLS expectation by grade level. MLS Expectations Terminology 6-12 Explanations and examples for selected terms in the 6-12 MLS Expectations. The PDF version of the 6-12 MLS Expectations contains hyperlinks from the terms to this document. - Assessment Resources
Assessment Resources
ELA Item Specifications
Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grades 9-10 Grades 11-12 Guide to Creating Quality Assessments
Grade-Level Assessment Resources End-of-Course Resources Performance Level Descriptors
Grade-Level Assessment Scoring Guides
- Argumentative (Grades 6-8)
- Informational Explanatory(Grades 3-8)
- Narrative(Grades 3-8)
- Opinion(Grades 3-5)
Grade 4 Writing Samples
- Practice Form – Informative/Explanatory Prompt
- OTT Form – Opinion Prompt
- Robotics Club at School and Vote for the Cooking Clubs Passages
- Released Narrative Prompt
Grade 8 Writing Samples
- Practice Form – Narrative Prompt
- OTT Form – Argumentative Prompt
- Released Passage-Based Reading Items and Informative/Explanatory Writing Prompt
Grade-Level Assessment Writer’s Checklist
Performance Level Descriptors
EOC Scoring Guides
Writing Samples
End-of-Course English I and II Assessment Writer’s Checklist
End-of-Course English I and II Assessment Writer’s Checklist
EOC Practice Tests
Blended Writing Resource Set
Scoring Guide Writing Task Models of Blended Writing Use the materials in this set to see what blended writing looks like and to get an idea about how blended writing can be scored with the new EOC scoring guide.
Introduction Find out about the why’s and how’s behind the new writing prompt and scoring guide. Conventions (2 points) The 10-point guide describes what is expected in different levels of student writing. Content Development/Elaboration (4 points) Organization and Flow (4 points) Prompt Students in a Missouri high school wrote to this prompt during an informal trial in April 2017. The essay models below are from that trial. Source #1 This source from the Kentucky Transportation Office of Highway Safety was used by students during the writing prompt informal trial. (used with permission) Source #2 This source from the City of Bryan, Texas, was used by students during the writing prompt informal trial. (used with permission) Balanced blending of narrative, expository, and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Model B Balanced blending of narrative, expository, and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Balanced blending of expository and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Model D Balanced blending of narrative, expository, and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Model E Balanced blending of expository and argumentative writing (with an attempt at some narrative) is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Strong narrative writing with inclusion of some expository and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Model G Balanced blending of narrative, expository, and argumentative writing is smooth, effective, well thought out, and purposeful. Blending of narrative, expository, and argumentative writing is adequate and generally purposeful. Argumentative writing with minimal addition of expository writing shows little blending of genres. - Curriculum Resources
English Language Arts Curriculum Resources
- Supports for Remote Teaching and Learning
- Text Complexity Rubric - Literary
- Text Complexity Rubric - Informational
- Text Analysis Form
- Curriculum Framework - Provides assistance for districts in planning, writing, revising, and implementing curriculum.
Textbook Review Instrument
- Associations