The English language arts "strand curriculum" of the Iowa Department of Public Instruction depicts a "framework" for a K-12 program and encourages teachers to be concerned with three major dimensions of learning--concepts, attitudes, and skills. "Optimum Goals" and "Basic Considerations" are outlined for each "skill strand" and for each "content strand". The "skill strands" are: listening, speaking, reading, writing, studying, and thinking. The "content strands" are: literature--form, genre, and mood; literature--depth reading; literature--guided individualized reading; experience or idea-centered units; mass media; language usage and dialects; the grammatical system; semantics; and history and development of language. Two large charts indicate the desired attainments for each skill, the knowledge to be emphasized in each "content strand," and the thought processes to be developed at each educational level. Elective courses are recommended for grades 11 and 12. (JS)