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KINDERGARTENStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

1.0 General Reading Process

A. PhonemicAwareness 2a

Repeat and produce rhymingwords.

The rhymes in Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book offer opportunitiesfor student participation and response.

A. PhonemicAwareness 2b

Identify and repeat sentencesthat use alliteration.

The lively and engaging rhymes for each letter in Merriam-Webster’sAlphabet Book have abundant examples of alliteration.

B. Phonics 1a Identify in isolation all upperand lower case letters of thealphabet.

Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book introduces each letter of thealphabet in a large, colorful illustration showing the letter in isolationin its upper case and lower case forms.

B. Phonics 1b Identify letters matched tosounds.

The entertaining alphabet poems and vivid illustrations in Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book describe and demonstrate the sounds ofeach letter.

D. Vocabulary1a

Acquire new vocabularythrough listening to andreading a variety of textson a daily basis.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary, designed for students ingrades K–2, offers lively word explanations and examples, short wordhistories, stories, riddles, poems, jokes and word trivia that will enrichstudents’ vocabulary.

D. Vocabulary1b

Discuss words and wordmeanings daily as they areencountered in texts,instruction, and conversation.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary, with its entries filled withinformation about words, offers opportunity for instruction anddiscussion about the meanings and uses of words.

D. Vocabulary2b

Name pictures of commonconcepts, such as sleeping,running, walking.

The many detailed illustrations in Merriam-Webster’s PrimaryDictionary help students with concepts (for example, an illustrationof a bird flying away from a cage accompanies the entry for the wordescape).

D. Vocabulary3c

Use word structure todetermine meaning ofwords.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary introduces students to commonprefixes and suffixes and how they change word meanings, such asusing un- to create the opposite of happy and -y to create a descriptiveword from glitter.

D. Vocabulary3d

Use resources to determinemeaning of unknown words.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary is especially written tointroduce students to the dictionary, with entries for nearly 1,000words and definitions in the form of simple explanations that are easyfor young students to understand. Detailed illustrations help withmeanings of words and concepts.

E. GeneralReadingComprehension1i

Recognize that lettersbuild words and wordsbuild sentences.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary helps students with letter,word, and sentence recognition: the starting letter of the words ineach alphabet section is highlighted in yellow at the top of each page,entry words in each alphabet section are shown in red, and shortsentences built around those words are in blue.

continued �



KINDERGARTEN, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text

A. Comprehensionof InformationalText 2a

Identify print features. Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary uses boldface and italicprint, different colors and different sizes of print, and other printfeatures to aid students.

A. Comprehensionof InformationalText 2b

Identify graphic aids. Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary uses illustrations, icons,shading, and other graphic features to help students distinguishdifferent offerings. A “Here’s How To Use Your Dictionary” sectionexplains the features of the book.

3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

A. Comprehensionof Literary Text 1b

Listen to and discuss a varietyof different types of fictionalliterary text, such as stories,poems, nursery rhymes.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary includes original and classicrhymes, poems, and short stories.

A. Comprehensionof Literary Text 4a

Identify rhyme, rhythm, andrepetition in poems read tostudents.

The engaging and lively rhyming verses in Merriam-Webster’sAlphabet Book invite enthusiastic student response.

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 4b Acquire and use newvocabulary.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary exposes students to nearly3,000 words with explanations and examples, rhymes, riddles, jokes,stories, and word histories that make acquiring new vocabulary fun.

A. Writing 5a Use descriptive words andother details to expand andimprove student’s ownwriting.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary encourages students to usedescriptive and specific words. Many entries offer colorful synonymsand other suggestions to improve word choice.

5.0 Controlling Language

D. Spelling 1d Use classroom resources tospell unknown words, such aslabeled objects, word walls,charts, pictionaries.

The many illustrations in Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary,along with several boldface featured words at every entry, helpstudents with spelling.



FIRST GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


A. PhonemicAwareness 2a

Produce sentences withrhyming and alliteration.

The alphabet verses in Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book are rich inalliteration and rhyme and invite student response.

A. PhonemicAwareness4c-d-e

Delete sounds, add sounds,[and] substitute sounds to formnew words.

For every letter, Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book introduces studentsto words that begin with the same letter and end differently, words thatbegin with a different letter and end the same, and other patterns ofword formation.

B. Phonics 2a Recognize and apply shortvowels, long vowels, and y as avowel.

The alphabet rhymes for the vowels in Merriam-Webster’s AlphabetBook and in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary demonstrate bothshort and long sounds, and the rhyme for demonstrates that letter asboth consonant and vowel.

B. Phonics 2b Decode words with lettercombinations, such asconsonant digraphs, blends,and special vowel patterns.

The alphabet rhymes in Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book andMerriam-Webster’ s Primary Dictionary use the featured letter inblends and digraphs where appropriate.

D. Vocabulary1a

Acquire new vocabularythrough listening to andreading a variety of grade-appropriate text daily.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary, designed for students in gradesK–2, offers lively word explanations and examples, short word histories,stories, riddles, poems, jokes and word trivia that will enrich students’vocabulary.

D. Vocabulary1b


Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary, with its information-packedentries, offers opportunity for instruction and discussion about themeanings and uses of words.

D. Vocabulary2b

Identify antonyms andsynonyms.

Many entries in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary includeinformation about antonyms and synonyms.

D. Vocabulary3a

Determine meaning of wordsusing their context.

The definitions in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary are written inthe form of short sentences that explain the words’ meaning by placingthem in context.

D. Vocabulary3c

Use word structure todetermine meaning ofwords.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary introduces students to commonprefixes and suffixes and how they change word meanings, such asusing un- to create the opposite of happy and -y to create a descriptiveword from glitter.

D. Vocabulary3d


Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary is especially written tointroduce students to the dictionary, with entries for nearly 1,000words and definitions in the form of simple explanations that are easyfor young students to understand. Detailed illustrations help withmeanings of words and concepts.

continued �



FIRST GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


A. Comprehensionof InformationalText 2a-b

Use print features [and] graphicaids.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary uses boldface and italicprint, different colors, different sizes of print, and other printfeatures to aid students. Illustrations and other graphic featuresalso help students. A ”Here’s How To Use Your Dictionary” sectionshows students how to use the features of the book.



Listen to, read, and discuss avariety of different types offictional literary texts, such as…poems, stories.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary includes original and classicrhymes, poems, and short stories.


Identify rhyme, rhythm, andrepetition in poems read to[students].

The engaging and lively rhyming verses in Merriam-Webster’sAlphabet Book invite enthusiastic student response.

4.0 Writing


Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary exposes students tonearly 3,000 words with its explanations and examples, rhymes,riddles, jokes, stories, and word histories that make acquiring newvocabulary fun.

A. Writing 5a Use descriptive words andother details to expand andimprove student’s own writing.

Many entries in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary offercolorful synonyms and suggestions for descriptive words andphrases that can help with word choice.

A. Writing 6a Identify sources of informationon a topic, such as…classroomdictionaries.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary is especially written tointroduce students in grades K–2 to the dictionary.


A. Grammar 1a Use various parts of speech,such as nouns, pronouns,verbs.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary introduces students to theconcept of parts of speech. Entries are labeled as nouns, verbs, etc.,and many demonstrate the entry word as more than one part ofspeech (for example, whisper as a noun and a verb).

D. Spelling 1h Access resources to spellunknown words, such aslabeled objects, word walls,charts, pictionaries.

The many illustrations and boldfaced featured words in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary help students with spelling.



SECOND GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


B. Phonics 1a Identify digraphs, such as ch,ph, sh, th, and wh.

The alphabet rhymes in Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book andMerriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary use the featured letter inblends and diagraphs where appropriate.

B. Phonics 2b Break compound words,contractions, and inflectionalendings into known parts.

Many entries in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary incorporateinflected forms of entry words into the explanation of a word or intoexample sentences, and some have examples of compound wordsbuilt from entry words.

D. Vocabulary1a

Acquire new vocabularythrough listening to andindependently reading a varietyof literary and informationaltexts.

Merriam-Webster's Primary Dictionary, especially designed forstudents in grades K–2, offers opportunities for listening and reading avariety of literary and informational text, with simple explanations andexamples, short word histories, stories, riddles, poems, and word triviathat will enrich students’ vocabulary.

D. Vocabulary1b


Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary, with its abundant entries,offers opportunity for instruction and discussion about the meaningsand uses of words.

D. Vocabulary1e

Identify simple multiplemeaning words.

Explanations in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary introducestudents to the concept of multiple meanings and uses of words.

D. Vocabulary2b

Identify and explain commonantonyms, synonyms, andhomophones to increasevocabulary skills.

Many entries in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary includeinformation about antonyms and synonyms. The dictionary introduceshomophones through wordplay (“A pretty deer is dear to me, a harewith downy hair …”).

D. Vocabulary 3c Use word structure todetermine meanings ofwords.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary introduces students tocommon prefixes and suffixes and how they change word meanings,such as using un- to create the opposite of happy and -y to create anadjective from glitter.

D. Vocabulary3d


Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary is especially written tointroduce students to the dictionary, with entries for nearly 1,000words and definitions in the form of simple explanations that are easyfor young students to understand. Detailed illustrations help withmeanings of words and concepts. Students who use a more expandedvocabulary will want to refer to Merriam-Webster’s ElementaryDictionary, which has more than 36,000 entries.

continued �



SECOND GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


A. Comprehensionof InformationalText 2a-b

Use print features [and] graphicaids.

A “Here’s How to Use Your Dictionary” section in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary shows students how to use theprint and graphic features of the book, including boldface anditalic print, different colors and different sizes of print, andhundreds of illustrations.


Identify words and phraseswith a specific effect onmeaning (similes, metaphors).

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary introduces students tosimiles; for example, at the entry for quiet, it gives quiet as amouse, and at the entry for quick it gives quick as a wink.



Identify the structure, shape,and form of a variety of poetictexts, including their lines andstanzas.

Merriam-Webster’s Alphabet Book, with its engaging rhyming text,is perfect for poetry lessons.

4.0 Writing


Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary exposes students to nearly3,000 words in ways that make acquiring new vocabulary fun. Moreadvanced students may want to refer to Merriam-Webster’sElementary Dictionary, which has more than 36,000 entries.

A. Writing 5a Use sensory words and otherdetails to expand and improvestudent’s own writing.

Many entries in Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary offercolorful synonyms and suggestions for descriptive words andphrases.

A. Writing 6a Revise own text for wordchoice.

Students who turn to Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary orMerriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary to revise and edit willlearn valuable dictionary skills in the process.


A. Grammar 1a Identify and use variousparts of speech, such asnouns, pronouns, verbs,and adjectives.

Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary labels entry words with theirparts of speech, and provides examples of their use in simplesentences. A “Word Functions” section explains parts of speechfurther in grade-appropriate depth.

D. Spelling 1h Access resources to spellunknown words, such asword wall, content wordchart, dictionary, technology.

Students can turn to Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary orMerriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary to check their spelling.



THIRD GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 2b Identify and explain wordrelationships to determinethe meanings of words.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes 250word history paragraphs and additional word root paragraphsthat introduce Greek and Latin roots and show how Englishwords are formed. Word root cross-references throughout thedictionary lead students to the paragraphs.

D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure todetermine the meaning ofwords: Grade appropriateprefixes and suffixes.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary has entries forcommon prefixes and suffixes, as well as entries for wordsformed with them.

D. Vocabulary 3c Use resources to determine themeanings of words.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary is written especiallyfor students in grade 3–5. It contains more than 36,000 entrieswith part-of-speech labels, simple pronunciations, syllabication,multiple definitions, and synonym paragraphs, accompanied by900 full-color illustrations and diagrams.



Use print features such aslarge bold print, font size/type,italics.

Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary introduces a varietyof print features, including boldface entry words, italic part-of-speech labels, and cross-references in small capitals—featuresthat remain consistent throughout other Merriam-Websterdictionaries.

A. Comprehensionof Informational Text2c

Use informational aids such asintroductions and overviews,…pronunciation key, boxed text.

The front matter of Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionaryincludes a “Using Your Dictionary” section which shows studentshow to navigate a dictionary and explains the dictionary’sfeatures; a two-page color-coded “Key to Using Your Dictionary”;and a guide to pronunciation symbols. There is also apronunciation key on every two-page spread of the book.

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and poetry byusing sensory details and vividlanguage with active verbs andcolorful adjectives.

The synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’s ElementaryDictionary can help students choose more descriptive and vividwords and phrases. Students can also refer to Merriam-Webster’sPrimary Dictionary for its offerings of colorful synonyms anddescriptive words.


Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary has over 36,000entries to help students expand their vocabulary.


Students who turn to Merriam-Webster’s Primary Dictionary orMerriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary to revise and edit willlearn valuable dictionary skills in the process.


A. Grammar 2a Identify and use parts ofspeech such as nouns,pronouns, verbs, adverbs,adjectives (including articles).

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary provides part-of-speech labels at each entry word, as well as separate numberedentries for homographs, making it easier for students to look upand use parts of speech correctly. Thousands of verbal illustrationsprovide examples of words in context.

continued �



THIRD GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster OfferingA. Grammar2e

Identify and use verb tensessuch as present, past, andfuture.

Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary shows verb tenses for everyentered verb that does not require simply adding -s, -ed, or -ing to thebase form.

B. Usage 2c/d Recognize and correctcommon usage errors suchas homophones, contractions,and commonly confusedwords. Use available resourcesto correct or confirm editorialchoices.

Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary provides grade-level-appropriate definitions and examples of words in context to clarifystandard use of commonly confused words. “Headscratcher” sectionsteach facts about words, such as homographs and homophones, in ahumorous way. Usage notes and hints provide additional help.

C. Mechanics2f

Use capital letters to begin asentence and identify a propernoun.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes “A Guide for Writers”section that introduces and explains rules of capitalization.

D. Spelling2c

Modify spellings whenadding inflectional endingsand suffixes.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary shows all inflected forms thatare formed in any way other than by simply adding a suffix.

D. Spelling2f

Access resources as a spellingaid (word wall, dictionary,technology).

Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary includes the spellingsstudents need, including variant spellings. WordCentral.com is afree student Web site with a dictionary.



FOURTH GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 2b Identify and explain wordrelationships to determinethe meanings of words.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes 250word history paragraphs and additional word rootparagraphs that introduce Greek and Latin roots andshow how English words are formed from them. Word rootcross-references throughout the dictionary lead students tothe paragraphs.

D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure to determinethe meaning of words: Grade-appropriate prefixes and suffixes.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary has word rootparagraphs that introduce Greek and Latin roots and showhow English words are formed from them. Word rootcross-references throughout the dictionary lead students tothe paragraphs.

Use word structure to determinethe meaning of words: Grade-appropriate root words.

D. Vocabulary 3c Use resources to determine themeanings of words.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary is writtenespecially for students in grade 3–5. It contains more than36,000 entries that include part-of-speech labels, simplepronunciations, syllabication, multiple definitions for words,and synonym paragraphs, accompanied by 900 full-colorillustrations and diagrams.



Read, use, and identify thecharacteristics of functionaldocuments such as …instructional manuals.

A “Using Your Dictionary” section in Merriam-Webster’sElementary Dictionary shows students how to use thefeatures of the book. There is also a color-coded “Key toUsing Your Dictionary.” Merriam-Webster’s How to Use YourDictionary gives grade-level-appropriate instruction to helpstudents get the most out of a dictionary.


Use print features such as largebold print, font size/type,italics…and other print featuresencountered in informational texts.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary introduces avariety of print features, including boldface entry words,italic part-of-speech labels, and cross-references in smallcapitals—features that remain consistent throughout otherMerriam-Webster dictionaries.

A. Comprehensionof InformationalText 2c

Use informational aids such asintroductions and overviews,…pronunciation key, boxed text.

The front matter of Merriam-Webster's ElementaryDictionary includes a “Using Your Dictionary” section whichshows students how to navigate a dictionary and explains thedictionary’s features; a two-page color-coded “Key to UsingYour Dictionary”; and a guide to pronunciation symbols. Thereis also a pronunciation key on every two-page spread of thebook.


Identify and explain specific wordsor phrases that contribute to themeaning of a text: Connotations ofgrade-appropriate words incontext.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary features nearly1,300 quotations from children’s literature, placed at entriesthroughout the book to illustrate how the entry word is usedin context. Over 120 synonym paragraphs illuminate slightdifferences in connotation among similar words.

continued �



FOURTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and poetry byusing purposeful imagery andsensory details with activeverbs and colorful adjectives.

The synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’s ElementaryDictionary can help students choose the right word.


Students who turn to Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionaryto revise and edit will hone valuable dictionary skills in theprocess.

A. Writing 7b Use various informationretrieval sources (traditionaland/or electronic) to obtaininformation on a topic.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes specialsections on signs and symbols and geographical names; maps ofthe United States and the world; and “A Guide for Writers.” Thefree Web site, WordCentral.com, offers an online studentdictionary and thesaurus.


A. Grammar 2a Identify and use parts ofspeech such as prepositions,conjunctions, and interjections.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary provides part-ofspeech labels at each entry word, as well as separatenumbered entries for homographs to help students look up anduse parts of speech correctly. Thousands of verbal illustrationsprovide examples of words in context.

A. Grammar 2e Identify and use verb tensessuch as present, past, andfuture.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary shows verb tenses forevery entered verb that does not require simply adding -s, -ed, or-ing to the base form.

B. Usage 2c/d Recognize and correct commonusage errors such ashomophones, contractions,and commonly confusedwords. Use available resourcesto correct or confirm editorialchoices.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary provides grade-level-appropriate definitions along with usage examples to clarifystandard use of commonly confused words. Humorous head-scratcher sections teach facts about words, such as homographsand homophones. Usage notes and hints provide additional help.Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus contains a list ofoften-confused words and the information needed to use themcorrectly.

C. Mechanics 2f Use capital letters correctly intitles.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes “A Guidefor Writers” section that introduces and explains the rules ofcapitalization.

D. Spelling 2b Modify spellings whenadding inflectional endingsand suffixes.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary shows all inflectedforms that are formed in any way other than by simply adding asuffix.

D. Spelling 2d Access resources as a spellingaid (word wall, dictionary,technology).

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes the spellingsstudents need, including variant spellings. WordCentral.com is afree student Web site with a dictionary.



FIFTH GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure todetermine the meaning ofwords: Grade appropriateprefixes and suffixes.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary has entries forcommon prefixes and suffixes, as well as entries for wordsformed from them. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurusoffers a list of common prefixes and suffixes with their meaningsand examples of words that contain them.

D. Vocabulary 3c Use resources to confirmdefinitions and gather furtherinformation about words.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary, written especially forstudents in grade 3–5, has 36,000 entries and includes usageexamples, word history and word root information, synonymparagraphs, pronunciations, and more. More advanced studentsmay want to use Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary,which has nearly 70,000 entries.



Read, use, and identify thecharacteristics of functionaldocuments such as…atlases.

Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Atlas and Merriam-Webster’sStudent Atlas are colorful, engaging world atlases especiallydesigned for students in grades 5 and up, with full-color maps,charts, and graphs, and other geographical and politicalinformation.

Read, use, and identifythe characteristics offunctional documentssuch as …instructionalmanuals.

A “Using Your Dictionary” section in Merriam-Webster'sElementary Dictionary shows students how to use thefeatures of the book. There is also a color-coded “Key toUsing Your Dictionary.” Merriam-Webster’s How to Use YourDictionary gives grade-level-appropriate instruction to helpstudents get the most out of a dictionary.


Use informational aids such asintroductions and overviews,…pronunciation key, otherinformational aids encounteredin informational texts.


A. Comprehensionof Informational Text5a

Identify and explain specificwords or phrases thatcontribute to the meaning ofa text: Denotations of above-grade-level words in context.

Students can find the meanings of unfamiliar grade-level wordsthey encounter in Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary,which has over 36,000 entries. For above-grade-level words,Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000entries, is written for grades 6–8.



Identify and explain specificwords and phrases thatcontribute to meaning:Connotations of grade-appropriate words andphrases in context.

Students can find the meanings of unfamiliar grade-level wordsthey encounter in Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary,which has over 36,000 entries. The dictionary also features over120 synonym paragraphs that explain slight differences inconnotation among closely-related words.

continued �



FIFTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and/or poeticforms to clarify, extend, orelaborate on ideas by using vividlanguage such as imagery andfigurative language.

The synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’s ElementaryDictionary can help students choose more descriptive wordsand phrases. The dictionary features nearly 1,300 quotationsfrom classic and contemporary works of children’s literature toshow how words are used and to provide creative inspiration.Students who want to write rhyming poetry will enjoy usingMerriam-Webster’s Rhyming Dictionary or Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Rhyming Dictionary, which havealphabetical listings of rhyming sounds.

A. Writing 7b Use various informationretrieval sources (traditionaland/or electronic) to obtaininformation on a self-selectedand/or given topic.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes specialsections on signs and symbols and geographical names, mapsof the United States and the world; and “A Guide for Writers.”The free student Web site, WordCentral.com, offers an onlinestudent dictionary and thesaurus.

A. Writing 7e Credit sources whenparaphrasing, summarizing,and quoting to avoidplagiarism.

Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide to Punctuation andMerriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation each have chaptersproviding guidance on creating notes and bibliographies.


B. Usage 2b Apply consistent and appropriateuse of the principal parts ofregular and irregular verbs;person, number, and case ofpronouns; pronoun/ antecedentagreement; and degrees ofcomparison of modifiers.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary shows irregularverb tenses and gives irregular comparative and superlativeforms of adverbs and adjectives. Merriam-Webster’s PocketGuide to English Usage has brief, helpful discussions ofcorrect pronoun use and other sticky grammar and usageissues (a grammar glossary helps students find the articles theyneed).

B. Usage 2c Recognize and correct commonusage errors such as misplacedmodifiers and incorrect use ofverbs such as lie-lay, rise-raise,sit-set.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage includescoverage of troublesome word groups and the correct usesof the words, such as sit-set and lie-lay. Merriam-Webster’sConcise Dictionary of English Usage has brief discussions onmany troublesome words and other common usage errors.

C. Mechanics 2a-e Apply standard Englishpunctuation and capitalizationin written language.

Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary includes “A Guideto Writers” section that describes the use of punctuationmarks, capitalization, and italics. In addition, Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide to Punctuation and Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation have chapters on therules of capitalization and punctuation.

D. Spelling 2c Use suitable traditional andelectronic resources as a spellingaid.

Students can turn to Merriam-Webster's ElementaryDictionary to check their spelling. WordCentral.com,a free student Web site, offers a student dictionary andgrade-level-appropriate games that help with spelling skills.



SIXTH GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure todetermine the meaning ofwords.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes nearly3,000 etymologies that give the origins and meaning of a word’scomponents. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus featureslists of prefixes and suffixes and their meanings and Greek andLatin roots and their meanings. Merriam-Webster’s VocabularyBuilder is organized by Latin and Greek roots for effective studyand includes quizzes for added review and reinforcement.


Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000entries, contains the words students in grades 6–8 need to know.It also includes word history and synonym paragraphs andthousands of example sentences. Students can also consultMerriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus; Merriam-Webster’sDictionary and Thesaurus, which combines dictionary andthesaurus entries; and The Merriam-Webster and GarfieldDictionary, a perfectly serious dictionary that makes looking upwords ridiculously fun. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Dictionaryand Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus fit in a student’sbinder.



Read, use, and identify thecharacteristics of functionaldocuments such as…atlases.

Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Atlas and Merriam-Webster’sStudent Atlas are colorful, engaging world atlases especiallydesigned for students in grades 5 and up, with full-color maps,charts, and graphs, and other geographical and politicalinformation.

Read, use, and identifythe characteristics offunctional documentssuch as …instructionalmanuals.

Merriam-Webster’s How to Use Your Dictionary includesexercises and activities to help students understand how to usea dictionary and thesaurus.


Use informational aids such asintroductions and overviews,…pronunciation key, otherinformational aids encounteredin informational texts.



Identify and explain specificwords or phrases thatcontribute to the meaning ofa text: Denotations of above-grade-level words in context.

Students can find the meanings of unfamiliar grade-level wordsthey encounter in Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary,which has nearly 70,000 entries. For more advanced texts, theymay want to use Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary, whichhas over 100,000 definitions.

continued �



SIXTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering



Identify and explain specificwords and phrases that contributeto meaning: Significant words andphrases (e.g., idioms, colloquialisms,etc.) with a specific effect onmeaning.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includesentries with meanings for hundreds of idioms andexpressions.

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and/or poeticforms to clarify, extend, or elaborateon ideas by using vivid languagesuch as imagery, figurativelanguage, and sound elements.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus includesexample sentences for every synonym to helps studentsmake effective word choices. Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary includes nearly 200 synonymparagraphs to help students distinguish slight differencesbetween similar words. Students who want to incorporaterhyme in their writing will enjoy using Merriam-Webster’sRhyming Dictionary or Merriam-Webster’s Pocket RhymingDictionary, which have alphabetical listings of rhymingsounds.

A. Writing 4b Consider the connotative and/ordenotative meanings of wordswhen selecting vocabulary.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes nearly200 synonym paragraphs that discuss connotative anddenotative differences among synonyms. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms andMerriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Synonyms are devotedto brief explanations that help students distinguish slightdifferences among synonyms, with usage examples toillustrate those differences.

A. Writing 7e Use a recognized format tocredit sources when paraphrasing,summarizing, and quoting to avoidplagiarism.

The Merriam-Webster Guide to Punctuation and Style,Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide to Punctuation, andMerriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation givestudents the basics for citing sources according to the rulesof standard style manuals.


A. Grammar 2a-d Recognize, recall, and use grammarconcepts and skills to strengthencontrol of oral and writtenlanguage.

Students can make sure they understand grammar termswith Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation andMerriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation and Style, whichinclude a grammar glossary with definitions and helpfuldiscussions. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide toPunctuation has a list of 10 common grammar andpunctuation errors and a brief grammar glossary withexamples.

B. Usage 2a Apply appropriate subject/verbagreement such as with collectivenouns, indefinite pronouns, andinverted word order.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage featuresarticles that discuss sticky grammar issues such as subject-verb agreement. (A grammar glossary helps students find thearticles they need.)

continued �



SIXTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster OfferingB. Usage 2b Apply consistent and appropriate

use of the principal parts ofregular and irregular verbs;person, number, and case ofpronouns; pronoun/antecedentagreement; and degrees ofcomparison of modifiers.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary shows irregular verbtenses and gives irregular comparative and superlative forms ofadverbs and adjectives. Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to EnglishUsage has brief discussions of correct pronoun use.

B. Usage 2c Recognize and correct commonusage errors such as misplacedmodifiers, incorrect use of verbs,double negatives; and commonlyconfused words such as accept-except.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage has briefdiscussions on many commonly confused words as well as articleson common usage problems. Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide toPunctuation also has a list of frequently confused words plus briefentries for other common problem words.

C. Mechanics2a-d

Apply standard Englishpunctuation and capitalizationin written language.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes “A Handbookof Style” section that explains the use of punctuation marks andcapitalization. Merriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation and Style,Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide to Punctuation, and Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation also provide guidance to theconventions of punctuation and capitalization.

D. Spelling 2c Use suitable traditional andelectronic resources as a spellingaid.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000entries, is a student’s resource for spelling help. It includes variantspellings and the spellings of all irregular inflected forms.WordCentral.com is a free student Web site that includes a dictionary.



SEVENTH GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure todetermine the meaningof words.

Merriam-Webster’s Vocabulary Builder gives students tools todecipher unfamiliar words derived from 250 Greek and Latinroots. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus features lists ofprefixes, suffixes and Greek and Latin roots with their meanings.Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary exposes students tonearly 3,000 etymologies that give the origins and meaning of aword’s components.


Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly70,000 entries, contains the words students in grades 6–8 needto know. It also includes word history and synonym paragraphsand thousands of example sentences. Students can also consultMerriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus; Merriam-Webster’sDictionary and Thesaurus, which combines dictionary andthesaurus entries; and The Merriam-Webster and GarfieldDictionary, a perfectly serious dictionary that makes looking upwords fun. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Dictionary and Mer-riam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus fit in a student’s binder.



Read, use, and identify thecharacteristics of workplaceand other real-worlddocuments such as…atlases.

Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Atlas and Merriam-Webster’sStudent Atlas are especially designed for students, with full-color maps, charts, and graphs, and other geographical andpolitical information.


Analyze informational aids thatcontribute to meaning.

A “Using Your Dictionary” section in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary helps students get the most out of theirdictionary by explaining the dictionary’s features. There is also aguide to pronunciation symbols.


Analyze specific word choicethat contributes to themeaning and/or creates style:Denotations of above-grade-level words in context.

Nearly 200 synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary explain slight differences amongclosely-related words. For more advanced texts, students maywant to consult Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary, which iswritten for grades 9–11 and has over 85,000 entries.



Analyze how specific languagechoices contribute to meaning:Significant words (e.g., idioms,colloquialisms, etc.) with aspecific effect on meaning.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes entries forhundreds of idioms and expressions that students encounter. Inaddition, Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus offerssynonyms for many phrases and expressions.

continued �



SEVENTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and/or poeticforms to clarify, extend, or elaborateon ideas by using evocativelanguage and appropriateorganizational structure to createa dominant impression.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus, used inconjunction with Merriam-Webster’s IntermediateDictionary, can help students find the words they need.Students who want to write in rhyme can get help fromMerriam-Webster’s Rhyming Dictionary or Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Rhyming Dictionary, which featurealphabetical listings of rhyming sounds.

A. Writing 4b Make effective decisions regardingword choice according toconnotative and denotativemeanings.

Nearly 200 synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary discuss connotative and denotativedifferences among synonyms to help students with wordchoice. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms andAntonyms and Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide toSynonyms are devoted to brief explanations that helpstudents distinguish slight differences among synonyms,with usage examples to illustrate those differences.

A. Writing 7e Use a recognized format to creditsources when paraphrasing,summarizing, and quoting to avoidplagiarism.

Merriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation and Style,Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Guide to Punctuation,and Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation givestudents the basics for citing sources according to the rulesof standard style manuals.


A. Grammar 2a-d Apply knowledge of grammarconcepts and skills to controloral and written language.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation andMerriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation and Style includea grammar glossary with definitions, helpful discussions,and examples of grammatical terms. Merriam-Webster’sNotebook Guide to Punctuation includes a list of 10common grammar and punctuation errors and a briefgrammar glossary with examples to help students withsome basic grammar concepts.

B. Usage 2a Apply appropriate subject/verbagreement such as agreementinvolving words of amount, time,and money.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usagegives concise answers to many usage problems, includingagreement.

B. Usage 2b Apply consistent and appropriateuse of the person, number, andcase of pronouns; pronoun/antecedent agreement; specialpronoun problems such as who-whom…; active and passive voice,and verbal phrases.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage hasbrief, helpful discussions of correct pronoun use, includinguse of who and whom. A grammar glossary in the back helpsstudents find the articles they need.

continued �



SEVENTH GRADE,continued

Standard Description Merriam-Webster OfferingB. Usage 2c Recognize and correct common

usage errors such as misplacedand dangling modifiers;incorrect use of verbs; doublenegatives; and commonlyconfused words such asaccept-except.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage has brief discussionson common usage errors and commonly confused words. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus has a list of 75 troublesome wordgroups, such as accept-except, along with correct use of each word.Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation has a longer list offrequently confused words plus brief entries for other common problemwords.

C. Mechanics2a-d


Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes “A Handbookof Style” section that explains the use of punctuation marks andcapitalization. Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style,Merriam-Webster's Notebook Guide to Punctuation, and Merriam-Webster's Pocket Guide to Punctuation provide comprehensiveguidance to the conventions of punctuation and capitalization.

D. Spelling 2c Use suitable traditional andelectronic resources as aspelling aid.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000 entries,is a student’s resource for spelling help. It includes variant spellings andthe spellings of all irregular inflected forms. WordCentral.com is a freestudent Web site that includes a dictionary.



EIGHTH GRADEStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering


D. Vocabulary 3b Use word structure todetermine the meaning ofwords.

Merriam-Webster’s Vocabulary Builder gives students tools todecipher unfamiliar words derived from 250 Greek and Latinroots. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus features handylists of prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots with theirmeanings. Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary exposesstudents to nearly 3,000 etymologies that give the origins andmeaning of a word’s components.


Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000entries, contains the words students in grades 6–8 needto know. It also includes word history and synonym paragraphsand thousands of example sentences. Students can also consultMerriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus; Merriam-Webster’sDictionary and Thesaurus, which combines dictionary andthesaurus entries; and The Merriam-Webster and GarfieldDictionary, a perfectly serious dictionary that makes looking upwords fun. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Dictionary andMerriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus fit in a student’s binder.


A. Comprehensionof Informational Text1b

Read, use, and identify thecharacteristics of workplaceand other real-worlddocuments such as…atlases.

Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Atlas and Merriam-Webster’sStudent Atlas are especially designed for students, with full-color maps, charts, and graphs, and other geographical andpolitical information.


Analyze informational aids thatcontribute to meaning.

A “Using Your Dictionary” section in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary helps students get the most outof their dictionary by explaining the dictionary’s features.There is also a guide to pronunciation symbols.

A. Comprehensionof Informational Text5a

Analyze specific word choicethat contributes to themeaning and/or creates style:Denotations of above-grade-level words in context.

Nearly 200 synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary explain slight differences amongclosely-related words. For more advanced texts, students maywant to consult Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary, which iswritten for grades 9–11 and has over 85,000 entries.



Analyze and evaluate howspecific language choicescontribute to meaning:Significant words (e.g., idioms,colloquialisms, etc.) with aspecific effect on meaning.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes entries forhundreds of idioms and expressions that students encounter. Inaddition, Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus offerssynonyms for many phrases and expressions.

continued �



EIGHTH GRADE, continuedStandard Description Merriam-Webster Offering

4.0 Writing

A. Writing 2b Describe in prose and/or poeticforms to clarify, extend, or elaborateon ideas by using evocativelanguage and appropriateorganizational structure to createa dominant impression.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Thesaurus, used inconjunction with Merriam-Webster’s IntermediateDictionary, can help students find the words they need.Students who want to write in rhyme can get help fromMerriam-Webster’s Rhyming Dictionary or Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Rhyming Dictionary, which featurealphabetical listings of rhyming sounds.

A. Writing 4b Differentiate connotative fromdenotative meanings of words tomake precise word choices.

Nearly 200 synonym paragraphs in Merriam-Webster’sIntermediate Dictionary discuss connotative and denotativedifferences among synonyms to help students with wordchoice. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms andAntonyms and Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide toSynonyms are devoted to brief explanations that helpstudents distinguish slight differences among synonyms,with usage examples to illustrate those differences.

A. Writing 7e Use a recognized format to creditsources when paraphrasing,summarizing, and quoting to avoidplagiarism.

Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style, andMerriam-Webster's Pocket Guide to Punctuation givestudents the basics of citing sources according to the rules ofstandard style manuals.


A. Grammar 2a-d Apply knowledge of grammarconcepts and skills to control oraland written language.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation andMerriam-Webster’s Guide to Punctuation and Style includea grammar glossary with definitions, helpful discussions,and examples of grammatical terms. Merriam-Webster’sNotebook Guide to Punctuation includes a list of 10common grammar and punctuation errors and a briefgrammar glossary with examples, to help students withsome basic grammar concepts.

B. Usage 2a Apply appropriate English usageinvolving subject/verb agreement.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usagegives concise answers to many usage problems, includingagreement.

B. Usage 2b Apply consistent and appropriateuse of the person, number, andcase of pronouns; pronoun/antecedent agreement; specialpronoun problems such as who-whom…; active and passive voice,and verbal phrases.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage hasbrief, helpful discussions of correct pronoun use, includinguse of who and whom. A grammar glossary in the back helpsstudents find the articles they need.

continued �



EIGHTH GRADE,continued

Standard Description Merriam-Webster OfferingB. Usage 2c Recognize and correct common

usage errors such as misplacedand dangling modifiers;incorrect use of verbs; doublenegatives; and commonlyconfused words such asß.

Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to English Usage has brief discussionson common usage errors and commonly confused words. Merriam-Webster’s Notebook Thesaurus has a list of 75 troublesome wordgroups, such as accept-except, along with correct use of each word.Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Guide to Punctuation has a longer list offrequently confused words plus brief entries for other common problemwords.

C. Mechanics2a-d


Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary includes “A Handbookof Style” section that explains the use of punctuation marks andcapitalization. Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style,Merriam-Webster's Notebook Guide to Punctuation, and Merriam-Webster's Pocket Guide to Punctuation provide comprehensiveguidance to the conventions of punctuation and capitalization, withseparate sections for each component of punctuation and plentifulexamples.

D. Spelling 2c Use suitable traditional andelectronic resources as aspelling aid.

Merriam-Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary, with nearly 70,000 entries,is a student’s resource for spelling help. It includes variant spellings andthe spellings of all irregular inflected forms. WordCentral.com is a freestudent Web site that includes a dictionary.

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