Maine State Standards for Language Arts: Grade 4

ME.A. Reading: Students read to comprehend, interpret, analyze, evaluate, and appreciate literary and expository texts by using a variety of strategies. They connect essential ideas, evaluate arguments, and analyze the various perspectives and ideas presented in a variety of literary and expository texts.

A.1. Interconnected Elements: Students read and draw conclusions from texts, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, by applying their knowledge and strategies of comprehension, vocabulary, alphabetics, and fluency.

A.1.a. Use a range of strategies as they read including constant monitoring, searching, connecting, and inferring to deepen their understanding of text (s).

A.1.b. Demonstrate ownership of appropriate vocabulary by effectively using a word in different contexts and for different purposes.

A.1.c. Determine the meaning of unknown words by using a variety of strategies including applying knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and homographs.

A.1.d. Use phonics including word parts and common root words to read fluently and build meaning as they read.

A.1.e. Fluently and accurately read text, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, using appropriate pacing, phrasing, intonation, and expression.

A.1.f. Demonstrate comprehension of text(s) by stating connections or inferences made and stating questions or conclusions that indicate deeper understanding(s).

A.2. Literary Texts: Students read fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity.

A.2.a. Use knowledge of the situation, setting, and a character's traits, motivations, and feelings to determine the causes for that character's actions.

A.2.b. Identify the main events of the plot including the cause and the effect of events on future actions and the major theme(s).

A.2.c. Define ''narrator'' and identify the narrator or speaker in a selection or story to aid comprehension.

A.2.d. Identify and describe the effect of common literary devices on the reader, including figurative language and symbolism, to understand the text.

A.2.e. Explain theme(s) that are explicitly stated in text(s).

A.2.f. Identify rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and onomatopoeia in poetry and use this knowledge to understand poems.

A.2.g. Identify the main purpose of a passage or particular parts of a passage to aid comprehension.

A.3. Informational Texts: Students read, paraphrase, and summarize informational texts, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, for different purposes.

A.3.a. Create questions that can be answered by the text using text features and information found within the text.

A.3.b. Use organizational text features including headings and sub-headings, bullets, bold-face fonts, illustrations, maps, and charts to locate information or to aid comprehension.

A.3.c. Identify the main idea(s) of and details from the text which support the main idea(s) succinctly stating this information.

A.3.d. Draw conclusions about information from text.

A.3.e. Follow multi-step written instructions with four or more steps.

A.3.f. Identify the main purpose of a text, particular paragraphs, or a section of the text to aid comprehension.

ME.B. Writing: Students write to express their ideas and emotions, to describe their experiences, to communicate information, and to present or analyze an argument.

B.1. Interconnected Elements: Students use a writing process with an emphasis on the development of a central idea, for a variety of audiences and purposes.

B.1.a. Select a purpose for writing.

B.1.b. Pre-write using graphic organizers or other structures to organize their ideas.

B.1.c. Establish an organizing structure and maintain a consistent focus.

B.1.d. Include an introduction and conclusion.

B.1.e. Write coherent paragraphs that have supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

B.1.f. Revise original drafts to improve coherence, provide better descriptive details, and to convey voice.

B.1.g. Edit for correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.

B.1.h. Create legible final drafts.

B.2. Narrative: Students write narratives that relate events, ideas, observations, or recollections.

B.2.a. Provide enough details and description in an organized manner so the reader can imagine the event or experience.

B.2.b. Develop major events, settings, and characters and deal with problems and solutions in a story.

B.2.c. Provide insight into why the selected event or experience is memorable.

B.2.d. Include sensory details.

B.3. Argument/Analysis: Students write to identify and explain a position to an identified audience.

B.3.a. Summarize information from reading, listening, or viewing.

B.3.b. Write about a central question or idea by using relevant supporting facts and details.

B.4 Persuasive: Students write to persuade a targeted audience.

B.4.a. Establish a clear position on a topic and support the position with relevant evidence.

B.5. Practical Application: Students write letters, other requests for information or directions for completing a process.

B.5.a. Write a letter including a date, salutation, body, closing, signature and, when appropriate, an inside address.

B.5.b. Write multi-step directions for completing a task.

ME.C. Research: Students engage in inquiry by developing research questions, accessing and verifying a variety of sources, communicating findings, and applying the conventions of documentation. Students present findings orally, in writing, or using mixed media.

C.1. Research: Students create, identify, and answer research questions by gathering information from print and non-print sources and documenting sources and communicating findings.

C.1.a. Identify key words and concepts related to research questions, making adjustments when appropriate.

C.1.b. Locate and access information by using text features.

C.1.c. Collect, evaluate, and organize information for a specific purpose.

C.1.d. Communicate findings from a variety of print and non-print sources.

C.1.e. Describe plagiarism and demonstrate appropriate citation.

ME.D. Language: Students write and speak using the conventions of Standard American English. They apply knowledge of grammar and usage when reading to aid comprehension. They know and apply rules of mechanics and spelling to enhance the effectiveness and clarity of communication.

D.1. Grammar and Usage: Students use parts of speech and vary sentence structure to communicate.

D.1.a. Use forms of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, and interjections correctly.

D.1.b. Use simple, compound, and complex sentences.

D.2. Mechanics: Students apply the rules of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling to communicate.

D.2.a. Use end marks correctly.

D.2.b. Capitalize correctly.

D.2.c. Spell high-frequency grade-level words.

ME.E. Listening and Speaking: Students listen to comprehend and speak to communicate effectively.

E.1. Listening: Students apply active listening skills.

E.1.a. Ask clarifying questions.

E.1.b. Attend and respond appropriately to classmates and adults.

E.1.c. Follow multi-step oral instructions.

E.2. Speaking: Students use active speaking skills to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.

E.2.a. Explain ideas clearly and respond to questions with appropriate information.

E.2.b. Speak using eye contact, clear enunciation, clear gestures for emphasis, and appropriate volume and rate.

E.2.c. Share information summarized from reading, listening, or viewing and form a position on a topic, supporting the position with a variety of print and non-print sources.

ME.F. Media: Students recognize and can explain the effects that both print and non-print sources have on listeners, viewers, and readers, in order to develop an awareness of the effects that the media have on forming opinions and making decisions.

F.1. Analysis of Media: Students explain that the same information can have different effects when presented through different forms of media.

F.1.a. Compare the effects of the same kind of information as found in books, movies, newspapers, magazines, and/or on the Internet and television.

F.1.b. Recognize that there are multiple roles and purposes of media.