Literature Circle NC Curriculum Alignment

Pioneers of the American West

Tracy Hutchens, Jennifer Lucas, Cammie Mitchell, and Emily Pratt

SOCIAL STUDIES COMPETENCIES

Competency Goal 1:The learner will analyze the characteristics of people of the Western Hemisphere.
1.1 Identify, locate, and describe major groups of people, past and present, in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
1.2 Assess the role and status of individuals and groups in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, past and present.

Competency Goal 5:The learner will evaluate ways the people of the Western Hemisphere use, modify and adapt to the physical environment.
5.1 Explain how people of the Western Hemisphere adapt and have adapted to the physical environment.
5.2 Describe how the people of the United States, Canada, and Latin America use and modify their physical environments.

Competency Goal 6:The learner will evaluate the significance of the movement of people, goods, and ideas from place to place.
6.1 Analyze the movement of people, goods, and ideas within and among the countries of the United States, Canada, and Latin America and between the Western Hemisphere and other places.
6.2 Compare ways in which people, goods, and ideas moved in the past in the United States, Canada, and Latin America with their movement today.
6.3 Judge how changes in the movement of people, goods, and ideas have affected ways of living in the Western Hemisphere.

Competency Goal 9:The learner will determine ways societies in the Western Hemisphere make decisions about the allocation and use of economic resources.
9.4 Describe the characteristics of economies in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and how they have changed over time.

Competency Goal 11:The learner will analyze changes in ways of living and investigate why and how these changes occurred.
11.1 Identify and describe changes which have occurred in ways of living in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
11.2 Identify examples of cultural transmission and interaction within and among the regions of the Western Hemisphere.
11.3 Evaluate the effects of change on the lives of the people of the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

Competency Goal 12:The learner will trace developments in the history of the United States, Canada, and Latin America and assess their impact on the lives of people today.
12.1 Identify people, symbols, and events associated with the heritage of the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
12.2 Associate an event or phenomenon in the history of the United States, Canada, and Latin America with a current situation or practice.

INFORMATION SKILLS COMPETENCIES

Competency Goal 1:The learner will EXPLORE sources and formats for reading, listening, and viewing purposes.
1.01 Participate in read-aloud, storytelling, booktalking, silent and voluntary reading experiences.
1.02 Demonstrate competence and self motivation as a reader.
1.03 Demonstrate appropriate care of resources.
1.04 Acknowledge ownership of ideas.
1.05 Identify elements of composition.
1.06 Identify characteristics of various genres.
1.07 Follow acceptable use policy (AUP/IUP) for electronic resources.
1.08 Select and use independently, both within and outside the school, a variety of resources (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).
1.09 Recognize that ideas are produced in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).
1.10 Identify characteristics and advantages of various media formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based) for a specific task.
1.11 Explore primary secondary sources.

Competency Goal 2:The learner will IDENTIFY and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate information and formats.
2.01 Identify published criteria of excellence for resources.
2.02 Apply identified criteria to select resources.
2.03 Recognize the diversity of ideas and thoughts by exploring a variety of resources (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).
2.04 Develop and express personal criteria for selecting resources for information needs and enjoyment.
2.05 Determine usefulness of information resources.
2.06 Recognize the power of media to influence.

Competency Goal 3:The learner will RELATE ideas and information to life experiences.
3.01 Describe personal cultural heritage and environment.
3.05 Describe how information and ideas are influenced by prior knowledge, personal experience, and social, cultural, political, economic and historical events.

Competency Goal 4:The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
4.01 Identify information needs and formulate questions about those needs.
4.02 Describe several research models.
4.03 Develop a search strategy which includes the continuous evaluation of the research process and the information gathered.
4.04 Follow acceptable use guidelines (AUP/IUP) in accessing information.
4.05 Gather information.
4.06 Comply with the Copyright Law (P. L. 94-553).
4.07 Organize and use information.
4.08 Credit sources of information.
4.09 Present information in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).
4.10 Evaluate the product.

Competency Goal 5: The learner will COMMUNICATE reading, listening, and viewing experiences.
5.01 Respond to reading, listening, viewing experiences orally, artistically, dramatically, through various formats (e.g., print, multimedia).
5.02 Produce media in various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia) appropriate to audience and purpose.
5.03 Collaborate with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems and to design, develop, and evaluate information products and solutions.
5.04 Credit sources in all print, non-print, and products.
5.05 Apply fair use copyright guidelines (Copyright Law, P. L. 94-553) in all projects.

COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY SKILLS COMPETENCIES

Competency Goal 3:The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
3.3 Select search strategies to obtain information. (DB)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS COMPETENCIES

Competency Goal 1:The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
1.01 Expand and refine vocabulary through knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, roots, derivatives, and etymologies (word origins) to assist comprehension.
1.02 Select key vocabulary critical to the text and apply appropriate meanings as necessary for comprehension.
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.
1.04 Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, on-line reference tools) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
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.

Competency Goal 2:The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
2.01 Use metacognitive strategies independently and flexibly to monitor comprehension and extend vocabulary (e.g., skim, scan, reread the text, consult other sources, ask for help, summarize, paraphrase, question).
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.
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).
2.04 Identify elements of fiction and nonfiction and support by referencing the text to determine the:
· plot development.
· author’s choice of words.
· effectiveness of figurative language (e.g., personification, flashback).
2.05 Evaluate inferences, conclusions, and generalizations and provide evidence by referencing the text(s).
2.06 Analyze choice of reading materials congruent with purposes (e.g., reading for information, reading to extend content area learning, reading for pleasure, entertainment).
2.07 Evaluate the usefulness and quality of information and ideas based on purpose, experiences, text(s), and graphics.
2.08 Explain and evaluate relationships that are:
· causal.
· hierarchical.
· temporal.
· problem-solution.
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.
2.10 Identify strategies used by a speaker or writer to inform, entertain, or influence an audience.

Competency Goal 3:The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
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.
3.02 Make connections between texts by recognizing similarities and differences based on a common lesson, theme, or message.
3.03 Justify evaluation of characters and events from different selections by citing supporting evidence in the text(s).
3.04 Make informed judgments about television, radio, video/film productions, and other electronic mediums and/or formats.
3.05 Integrate main idea and supporting details from multiple sources to expand understanding of texts.
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).
3.07 Make informed judgments about:
· bias.
· propaganda.
· stereotyping
media techniques.