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Virginia Standards

5th Grade English SOL

All 21 Virginia English standards for 5th grade, each explained in plain English. The official wording is in Virginia Department of Education's document, linked at the end of this page.

21 standards

Foundations for Reading

1 standard
5.FFR.3
Break long words into syllable types to read and spell them, use roots and affixes to decode words like misinformation, and read fifth grade sight words with ease.

Developing Skilled Readers and Building Reading Stamina

1 standard
5.DSR
Read fifth grade texts with expression, take on books at the hard end of grades 4 to 5, quote evidence for claims, read widely on topics, and use strategies on hard parts.

Reading and Vocabulary

1 standard
5.RV.1
Unlock words with Greek and Latin parts like tele and graph, use synonyms, antonyms, homophones and context, check print or online references, and use new words.

Reading Literary Text

3 standards
5.RL.1
Summarize a story or play and how details build its theme, trace a plot from first event to climax and end, and explain how characters, setting and plot interact.
5.RL.2
Describe how authors build characters through words, thoughts and deeds, and analyze how figurative language, sensory words, rhyme and alliteration shape meaning.
5.RL.3
Set a purpose from what they know, compare how first-person and third-person narrators shape a story, and compare a story with a nonfiction text on a similar theme.

Reading Informational Text

3 standards
5.RI.1
Summarize main ideas and how details build them, explain what happened, how and why in history or science texts, and quote the evidence behind each of an author's points.
5.RI.2
Describe a text's structure and how each part builds on the last, weigh facts from features and search tools, and explain how an author's views or bias shape meaning.
5.RI.3
Use background knowledge, analyze how accounts of one event differ in point of view, and explain how people, events or ideas in history or science texts connect and why.

Foundations for Writing

2 standards
5.FFW.1
Write clearly in both print and cursive across subjects, like a neat cursive paragraph or a labeled diagram, and sign their full name.
5.FFW.2
Use all they know about letter sounds, syllables, roots and affixes to spell words like disagreement, and read and spell grade-level sight words with ease.

Writing

3 standards
5.W.1
Write stories or poems around a conflict using dialogue, reports from several sources, persuasive pieces with clear reasons, and text responses backed by evidence.
5.W.2
Write paragraphs with a clear topic sentence, evidence in logical order, precise words for tone and voice, transitions linking sentences and paragraphs, and an ending.
5.W.3
Revise drafts with classmate and adult input for ideas, organization, flow and precise wording, and edit their own and others' work for grammar, mechanics and paragraphs.

Language Usage

2 standards
5.LU.1
Expand, combine and trim sentences for style, use adverbs like often and probably, interjections and conjunctions, and fix stray shifts in verb tense and agreement.
5.LU.2
Put commas in compound sentences, use colons in times like 3:15 and before lists, hyphenate words split at a line's end, and spell by patterns, checking when unsure.

Communication and Multimodal Literacies

4 standards
5.C.1
Prepare for long discussions, follow agreed rules, agree or disagree politely, ask relevant questions, sum up key points with evidence, and fill an assigned group role.
5.C.2
Give an organized report or opinion talk using subject words and facts, clear speech and gestures, word choices free of stereotypes, and planned audience interaction.
5.C.3
Create engaging multimedia presentations that purposely blend two or more modes, like narration with charts or video, so each strengthens the central message.
5.C.4
Take media messages apart to judge how well they work, name each one's purpose, audience and credibility, and compare techniques like music, animation and photo editing.

Research

1 standard
5.R.1
Refine questions to narrow a topic, search print and digital sources, combine facts while judging credibility, take sourced notes, share findings, and cite borrowed work.

The official Virginia documents

The plain-English lines on this page are EMStudio's own explanations of Virginia's standards, not the official wording, which Virginia Department of Education publishes in the documents above. Codes and strand names identify each standard.