Maine State Standards for Language Arts: Kindergarten

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: Comprehension, Vocabulary, Alphabetics, Fluency: Students read texts, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, and apply their knowledge and strategies of comprehension, vocabulary, alphabetics, and fluency.

A.1.a. Use comprehension strategies to understand texts within a grade appropriate span of text complexity.

A.1.b. Develop vocabulary using knowledge of word parts and relationships among words including action words and different words that describe similar meanings.

A.1.c. Demonstrate phonemic awareness and use phonics to decode new words.

A.1.d. Read fluently and accurately with appropriate pacing and expression.

A.1.e. Demonstrate comprehension by making logical predictions based on text or stating connections made.

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

A.2.a. Identify and describe settings and characters.

A.2.b. Retell the sequence of events and include essential details.

A.2.c. Answer questions about information found directly in the text.

A.2.d. Read dramatic scripts with support.

A.2.e. Read a variety of poems with support.

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

A.3.a. Ask and answer relevant questions.

A.3.b. Restate facts from the text.

A.3.c. Follow one-step and two-step written instructions.

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 to communicate their ideas.

B.1.a. Select a focus for writing and develop an idea, including a beginning, middle, and end.

B.1.b. Respond to clarifying questions and suggested revisions.

B.1.c. Edit, with assistance, for correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.

B.1.d. Create legible final drafts.

B.2. Narrative: Students write stories that describe an experience.

B.2.a. Include descriptive details that enable the reader to create mental images.

B.3. Argument/Analysis: Students write to inform an audience on a specific topic.

B.3.a. Write brief descriptions of objects, people, places, or events.

B.3.b. Record and share, in writing, information that has been gathered.

B.4. Persuasive: Students write to explain likes and dislikes.

B.4.a. Support opinions with examples.

B.5. Practical Application: Students convey simple needs in writing.

B.5.a. Write a personal letter.

B.5.b. Complete simple informational forms.

B.5.c. Write one-step and two-step directions for completing a simple 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 answer research questions by gathering information from print and non-print sources.

C.1.a. Follow an established procedure for locating sources appropriate to reading level.

C.1.b. Collect information for a specific purpose.

C.1.c. Organize findings.

C.1.d. Share information gathered using oral and visual examples.

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 demonstrate an understanding of the parts of speech and simple sentence structures to communicate.

D.1.a. Identify and use nouns and verbs correctly.

D.1.b. Use simple sentences.

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

D.2.a. Use commas in the greeting and closure of a letter and in dates.

D.2.b. Capitalize proper nouns and words at the beginning of sentences.

D.2.c. Use periods, question marks, and exclamation points.

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

D.2.e. Use phonics patterns to aid in spelling.

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

E.1. Listening: Students use early active listening skills.

E.1.a. Ask relevant questions at appropriate times.

E.1.b. Converse without interrupting.

E.1.c. Follow one-step and two-step oral instructions.

E.2. Speaking: Students use speaking skills to communicate.

E.2.a. Make clear requests at appropriate times.

E.2.b. Make simple presentations using eye contact.

E.2.c. Use voice level appropriate to the situation.

E.2.d. Share stories and information and support opinions using oral and visual examples.

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 understand that there are differences among the kinds of information in different forms of media.

F.1.a. Identify the different types of media in the daily lives of most people.

F.1.b. Describe their reactions to a variety of print and/or non-print sources.