How big are "Martin's Big Words"? Thinking big about the future

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • listening.
    • discussion.
    • book talks.
    • book clubs.
    • seminars.
    • viewing.
    • role play.
    • studying author's craft.
  • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., dictionary, glossary) to confirm decoding skills, verify spelling, and extend meanings of words.
  • Objective 1.06: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
    • increase fluency
    • build background knowledge
    • extend vocabulary.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
    • fiction (short stories, novels, fantasies, fairy tales, fables).
    • nonfiction (biographies, letters, articles, procedures and instructions, charts, maps).
    • poetry (proverbs, riddles, limericks, simple poems).
    • drama (skits, plays).
  • Objective 2.08: Listen actively by:
    • facing the speaker.
    • making eye contact.
    • asking questions to clarify the message.
    • asking questions to gain additional information and ideas.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • considering the differences among genres.
    • relating plot, setting, and characters to own experiences and ideas.
    • considering main character's point of view.
    • participating in creative interpretations.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters and events.
    • reflecting on learning, gaining new insights, and identifying areas for further study.
  • Objective 3.02: Identify and discuss similarities and differences in events, characters, concepts and ideas within and across selections and support them by referencing the text.
  • Objective 3.03: Use text and own experiences to verify facts, concepts, and ideas.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
    • discuss.
    • sustain conversation on a topic.
    • share information and ideas.
    • recount or narrate.
    • answer open-ended questions.
    • report information on a topic.
    • explain own learning.

Grade 4

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.03: Identify key words and discover their meanings and relationships through a variety of strategies.
  • Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
    • knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
    • writing process elements.
    • writing as a tool for learning.
    • seminars.
    • book clubs.
    • discussions.
    • examining the author's craft.
  • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
  • Objective 1.06: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
    • increase fluency.
    • build background knowledge.
    • expand vocabulary.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies to comprehend text and to clarify meaning of vocabulary (e.g., reread the text, consult other sources, ask for help, paraphrase, question).
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
    • fiction (legends, novels, folklore, science fiction).
    • nonfiction (autobiographies, informational books, diaries, journals).
    • poetry (concrete, haiku).
    • drama (skits, plays).
  • Objective 2.09: Listen actively by:
    • asking questions.
    • paraphrasing what was said.
    • interpreting speaker's verbal and non-verbal messages.
    • interpreting speaker's purposes and/or intent.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • analyzing the impact of authors' word choice and context.
    • examining the reasons for characters' actions.
    • identifying and examining characters' motives.
    • considering a situation or problem from different characters' points of view.
    • analyzing differences among genres.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters, events and themes.
  • Objective 3.05: Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).

Grade 5

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.02: Select key vocabulary critical to the text and apply appropriate meanings as necessary for comprehension.
  • Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • word reference materials.
    • content area study.
    • writing process elements.
    • writing as a tool.
    • debate.
    • discussions.
    • seminars.
    • examining the author's craft.
  • Objective 1.04: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, on-line reference tools) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
  • Objective 1.05: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
    • increase fluency.
    • build background knowledge.
    • expand and refine vocabulary.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
    • making predictions.
    • formulating questions.
    • supporting answers from textual information, previous experience, and/or other sources.
    • drawing on personal, literary, and cultural understandings.
    • seeking additional information.
    • making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, such as:
    • fiction (tall tales, myths).
    • nonfiction (books of true experience, newspaper and magazine articles, schedules).
    • poetry (narrative, lyric, and cinquains).
    • drama (plays and skits).
  • Objective 2.05: Evaluate inferences, conclusions, and generalizations and provide evidence by referencing the text(s).
  • Objective 2.09: Listen actively and critically by:
    • asking questions.
    • delving deeper into the topic.
    • elaborating on the information and ideas presented.
    • evaluating information and ideas.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions.
    • making judgments.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • analyzing word choice and content.
    • examining reasons for a character's actions, taking into account the situation and basic motivation of the character.
    • creating and presenting a product that effectively demonstrates a personal response to a selection or experience.
    • examining alternative perspectives.
    • evaluating the differences among genres.
    • examining relationships among characters.
    • making and evaluating inferences and conclusions about characters, events and themes.
  • Objective 3.02: Make connections between texts by recognizing similarities and differences based on a common lesson, theme, or message.
  • Objective 3.05: Integrate main idea and supporting details from multiple sources to expand understanding of texts.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).