Rather than list a lot of standards that may fit this project, we have listed some of the Language Arts standards from the Michigan Curriculum Framework. These are for grade seven. Each grade has a similar standard. We have also included some of the assessment standards that are addressed by this project. Some ASK programs will address social studies and science standards in addition to the language arts standards.

Language Arts

Content Standard 1

1. Read with developing fluency a variety of texts, such as short stories, novels, poetry, plays, textbooks, manuals, and periodicals.

2. Read with developing fluency a variety of texts, such as short stories, novels, poetry, plays, textbooks, manuals, and periodicals. (Note: You may wish to find a expository piece to have students read as well as the novel)

Content Standard 3:

1. Employ multiple strategies to construct meaning, such as generating questions, studying vocabulary, analyzing mood and tone, recognizing how authors use information, generalizing ideas, matching form to content, and developing reference skills.

2. Respond to a variety of oral, visual, written, and electronic texts by making connections to their personal lives and the lives of others.

3. Read and write fluently, speak confidently, listen and interact appropriately, view critically, and represent creatively. Examples include reporting formally to an audience, debating issues, and interviewing members of the public.

Tasks and Assessment Standards

Students participating in an ASK program engage in the following tasks in relationship to the assessment standards established in the Michigan Curriculum Framework:

• Reading good literature - The students read with more purpose since they are going to be interviewing the author who wrote the book or content specialist who has also read the book. All of the questions from the interview must be based on the book, but the answers can't be in the book. Assessment Standard: Disciplinary Content, The task asks students to show, understand and/or use ideas, theories or perspectives considered central to an academic or professional disciple.
• Journal Writing - The new MEAP Reading Test (2002) will stress writing in the student's voice. In ASK the teachers model and work with the student to write their journal entries in their voice. Assessment Standard: Consideration of Alternatives, The task asks students to consider alternative solutions, strategies, perspectives, or points of view in addressing a concept, problem, or issue.
• Question Writing - The students work in cooperative groups to determine their best questions. The questions normally stress compare and contrast, analysis, or evaluation. One example of this was when the students read an historical fiction book about Kosovo, Adem's Cross. When the students asked a Kosovo refugee about his experiences the questions often stressed the comparison between the main character Adem and the experiences of the refugee. Assessment Standard: Problem Connected to the World Beyond the Classroom, the task asks students to address a concept, problem or issue that is similar to the one that they have encountered or are likely to encounter in life beyond the classroom.
• Interviewing the author or specialist - Not only are the students asking questions of the author or specialist, they are also asking their questions in front of another classroom of students connected to them via video. Assessment Standard: The task asks students to communicate their knowledge, present a product, or performance or take some action for an audience beyond the teacher, classroom, and school building.

These tasks allow the teacher to use the authentic assessment standards in evaluating the performance of individual students and the instructional unit.

The technology is not the focus of the program. The technology enables students to participate in the activity from their classroom. It connects classrooms, experts and students in a real world experience

and the Michigan Department of Education Curriculum and Instruction for English Language Arts web page.