ARM 10.53.421. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND LITERACY STANDARDS FOR SIXTH GRADE

(1) Foundational reading standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) decode multisyllabic words accurately using combined knowledge of letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morpheme structures. (2) Vocabulary standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) infer the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in fiction and nonfiction texts, including words and phrases with cultural significance to Montana Indigenous Peoples. (3) Fluency standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) read grade-appropriate texts with sufficient accuracy, rate, and prosody to support comprehension. (4) Reading comprehension standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) cite textual evidence that supports analysis of what a text explicitly states, as well as inferences drawn from the text, including those by and about Montana Indigenous Peoples; (b) provide an objective summary of the text; (c) determine a theme or central idea of a text and explain how it is conveyed through particular details, including those by and about Montana Indigenous Peoples; (d) determine how elements of a text are developed and build toward a conclusion; (e) analyze the impact of specific word choice on meaning and tone, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; (f) analyze how a sentence, section, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure or theme of a text; (g) describe how an author's background and lived experiences affect the points of view in texts, including culturally diverse texts and those that represent the perspectives of Montana Indigenous Peoples; and (h) compare and contrast texts in different genres in terms of their approaches to similar topics, including culturally diverse texts and those by and about Montana Indigenous Peoples. (5) Writing standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) write arguments using claims supported with clear reasons and relevant evidence; (b) write informative texts on a topic that convey ideas through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content; (c) write narratives about real or imagined events, using narrative techniques to engage the reader; (d) develop and strengthen the writing process by planning, revising, editing, implementing feedback, or trying a new approach; (e) write a cohesive, multi-paragraph text using a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences; and (f) demonstrate grade-level appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. (6) Research and inquiry standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) conduct research projects that answer a question, drawing on several reliable sources; (b) gather and determine the credibility of multiple sources and quote or summarize the information and provide a list of sources; and (c) analyze the relationship between primary and secondary sources by conducting short research projects using sources from diverse cultural perspectives, including those written by and about Montana Indigenous Peoples. (7) Speaking and listening standards for sixth grade are that each student will be able to: (a) engage in a range of collaborative discussions with a variety of partners on topics, texts, and issues; (b) summarize and explain information presented in diverse media formats and how the format contributes to a topic, text, or issue; (c) describe a speaker's argument and specific claims, considering the speaker's perspective; and (d) present information using reasons and evidence appropriate for the context, sequencing ideas logically.