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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Welcome to Maine Department of Education English Language Arts
Listserv. This service is an attempt to keep <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> educators informed about current
issues, upcoming opportunities and resources in ELA. Please send any
responses to <a href="mailto:patsy.dunton@maine.gov">patsy.dunton@maine.gov</a>
or <a href="mailto:diana.dioron@maine.gov">diana.dioron@maine.gov</a> as
this is not a discussion forum. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>April 8, 2008 Topics</span></font></b>:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Reading</span></font></b></st1:City></st1:place><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'> and Middle School Instruction<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Nonfiction
Expertise Within <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>2<sup>ND</sup>
Annual Nonfiction Institute<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Seamless
Transition PK-12 Summer Conference<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Reading in Grades 6-8<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you are new to the listserv, please check the archived posting dated
1 April 08 for information about reading in high school. Next week we
will present information about reading in grades 3-5. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The revised standards, found at <a
href="http://mainegovimages.informe.org/education/lres/pei/ela102207.pdf">http://mainegovimages.informe.org/education/lres/pei/ela102207.pdf</a>,
places all of the reading standards found in the 1997 Maine Learning Results
document into one standard, A. Reading, with four performance indicators.
The first one, Interconnected Elements, includes comprehension, vocabulary,
alphabetics, and fluency. Reading instruction at the middle level
includes each of these elements. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Knowledge of <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>alphabetics</span></u></b>,
the study of letter-sound correspondences and spellings, helps the student read
and spell complex words. This essential knowledge is important to aid in
the comprehension of increasingly complex texts, studying various languages,
and developing content specific vocabulary knowledge. Students have
learned basic letter-sound correspondences but need to continue learning
complex letter-sound patterns in order to improve spelling and word recognition.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Teaching <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>vocabulary</span></u></b>
skills at this level means paying attention to word use. Descriptor-level
language includes an expectation that students will be able to use words in
different contexts. They will have to know parts of speech and how words
function in sentences, the specific roles they play such as whether it is
objective or subjective. Vocabulary instruction at this level provides a
golden opportunity to do some grammar and usage instruction as well. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Reading</span></font></st1:City></st1:place>
<b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>comprehension</span></u></b> at this level
often involves genre specific expectations such as evaluating the use and
purpose of informational text, comparing implicit themes across various
literary texts, and evaluating the logic in persuasive texts. Comprehension
also involves recognizing context cues for meaning (grade 6), understanding and
explaining shades of meaning (grade 7), and determining both connotative and
denotative meaning of words (grade 8). Comprehension also includes
summarizing, paraphrasing, generalizing, and accurately quoting texts.
Genre specific comprehension includes using literary terms, recognizing text
features and text structures that inform comprehension of informational texts,
and evaluating rhetorical devices used in persuasive texts. When you help
students learn these skills, you are teaching reading. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Fluency</span></font></u></b> becomes
most evident in timed situations. A student who reads fluently will
complete a reading task in the time allotted. Alphabetics and
comprehension play a key role in developing the ability to read fluently.
Fluency does not necessarily apply <i><span style='font-style:italic'>only</span></i>
to one’s ability to read aloud with appropriate timing and inflection,
but may include an oral assessment component. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Nonfiction Expertise within
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Jan Kristo, Professor of Literacy at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Maine</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>,
has done extensive research on nonfiction. <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Nonfiction
in Focus: A Comprehensive Framework for Helping Students Become Independent
Readers and Writers of Nonfiction, K-6</span></i> (Scholastic) is one of the
resources where you can find the fruits of Jan’s research. Jan wrote this
book with her colleague, Rosemary A. Bamford. In the introduction to the book,
Jan and Rosemary raise the following questions: Although your students may like
nonfiction, how much do they understand how it works? Do they know about different
types of nonfiction and the kinds of information to expect from each one? Do
they know how to navigate complex pages that blend visual information and
textual information? Do they know how to use access features such as maps, time
lines, glossaries, and sidebars? Are they good at generating their own
informative, engaging nonfiction writing for inquiry projects or content are
reports, or is their writing dull and uninspiring? Jan and Rosemary then go on
to state that the major goal of their book is to show the reader how to: model,
explain, and demonstrate strategies for reading and writing nonfiction within a
comprehensive literacy framework for grades K thorough 6. Whether you are just
beginning to use informational texts in your classroom instruction or have been
using informational texts for awhile, I encourage you to spend some time with
this book. It is written in a teacher-friendly format and would make an
excellent resource to read and discuss with a group of colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Mark Your Calendars for
Saturday, September 27, 2008 (9-3:30 p.m.) for the 2<sup>ND</sup> Annual
Nonfiction Institute at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Maine</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Question! Investigate! :<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'> Using Science Trade Books to
Support Inquiry in the Classroom<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This institute features science educator Dr. Susan Kirch and Orbis
Pictus Award-Winning nonfiction children's authors, Sy Montgomery and Nic
Bishop. Space is limited so register early. For more information follow the
link below to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Maine</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> website and
scroll down to the bottom of the web page and click on the <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Nonfiction Institute</span></i>
link to the PDF registration form: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://www.umaine.edu/edhd/happenings.htm">http://www.umaine.edu/edhd/happenings.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Great Summer <st1:place
w:st="on">Opportunity</st1:place>: <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Seamless Transitions:
Celebrating Literacy and the Arts for PreK-Grade12, August 5-6, 2008 at the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Maine</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The conference theme reflects the belief that literacy, in all forms,
is fundamental to successful living. We are offering concurrent sessions on a
variety of topics provided by leading practitioners and experts in literacy
education from across <st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State> and the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
For more information follow the link below to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Maine</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
website and scroll down to the last listing in the Summer 2008 category. Click
on the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Seamless Transition</span></i> link
to the PDF registration form. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://www.umaine.edu/edhd/happenings.htm">http://www.umaine.edu/edhd/happenings.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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