The Maine Learning Results K-12 English language arts (ELA) and literacy standards and appendices are presented in various groupings to help you study and use all of the documents. The Maine Department of Education ELA team suggests that you look at each of the four primary documents (Standards and Appendices A, B and C) in their entirety first, then consider which method of chunking or grouping of the documents best helps you with your implementation tasks at the local level.
Getting Started Guide
Before you even look at the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy (CCSS for ELA/Literacy), you should study the information presented in Appendix A. This is critical information for interpreting and implementing the standards. Each of the guided study exercises includes two components. You will have pre-reading directions with a suggestion for text annotation and directions for an activity to help you process and document your learning.
The guided study exercises are designed to be fairly brief, each taking 20 to 30 minutes to complete. They will also provide you materials for a portfolio if you would like to start a CCSS implementation collection at the local level.
Information and professional development activities provided throughout the CCSS modules for professional development all assume that you are familiar with the information in Appendix A. The professional development modules are grouped by “getting familiar,” “shifts and alignment” and “implementation.” These modules provide a roadmap for professional learning that you can do independently, as part of a team or in larger groups.
Once you complete your study of Appendix A, we suggest you begin your unpacking and alignment with reading, standard 10. This one must be implemented correctly, as it so profoundly affects the rest. Reading standards one through nine should be considered with the six standards in the language strand, as these are intended to be paired with or embedded in the instruction of each of the other strands. You should also get familiar with Appendix B and the Student Performance Tasks found there.
Moving to the writing strand, we suggest also beginning with standard 10. As you unpack standards one through nine, look again to the language strand to embed instruction and inform rubric development. Use Appendix C as a guide to consider student examples of the writing standards in action.
Speaking and Listening has only six standards, three for each area. These should also be considered with the language standards. Check our website frequently, as we add new information and tools often.
The Complete ELA/Literacy Standards.
Be sure to read the introduction, which includes information about the organization and use of the standards. This link, provided by the National Governors’ Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, includes accessible versions of the documents.
- ELA/Literacy Standards and Resources. Access the standards and appendices in disagregated sections for easier study and use.
- Interactive Standards Progression. Search this site from North Carolina to read the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts in a K-12 progression, by a single grade or by any range of grades. Select "highlight changes at each grade level" to see the change in each standard from the previous grade.
- Introduction to the ELA/Literacy Standards
- Key Design Consideration. Information about the intention of the standards and what is not included in the document.
- Students Who are College and Career Ready in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening & Language. This document provides clarification about college readiness.
- How to Read the Standards
- Appendix A (PDF). Includes clarifying information, a bibliography and a glossary.
- Appendix A Supplemental Information: New Research on Text Complexity. Released in August 2012, this document provides further details about defining text complexity.
- Appendix B (PDF). Lists text exemplars for reading and sample student performance tasks aligned to grade-level reading standards.
- Appendix C (PDF). Provides examples of authentic student writing.
Professional Development and Support. The Maine DOE has developed resources for impelementing Main'e learning standards and collected worthy resources from other agencies and entities.