Maine's Guiding Principles, explained for parents
Alongside the standards for each subject, the Maine Learning Results describe five Guiding Principles: the kind of learner and citizen Maine schools hope every student becomes. Teachers weave them into every subject, from a science investigation to a class discussion. They are not a separate subject and not usually graded on their own, though some schools report on work habits or skills like these.
Clear and Effective Communicator
Sharing ideas clearly in speaking, writing, pictures and numbers, and listening well.
- Speaking and writing. Explaining ideas so others can understand them.
- Many forms. Using words, drawings, charts, numbers and media to show thinking.
- Listening. Listening carefully and responding to what others say.
Ideas for home
- At dinner, ask your child to explain how they solved a problem today.
- Ask them to retell a story or a show in their own words, beginning, middle and end.
- Write notes, lists or cards together for real reasons.
Self-Directed and Lifelong Learner
Setting goals, sticking with hard things and staying curious.
- Goals. Making a plan, checking progress and adjusting.
- Persistence. Keeping going when something is tricky, and asking for help when needed.
- Curiosity. Asking questions and finding out more on their own.
Ideas for home
- Help your child set one small goal for the week and check in on it together.
- When they get stuck, ask “What could you try next?” before giving the answer.
- Follow a question they are curious about to the library or a trusted website.
Creative and Practical Problem Solver
Noticing problems, trying ideas and testing whether they work.
- Understanding the problem. Working out what the problem really is.
- Trying ideas. Thinking of more than one way and picking a good one to try.
- Checking. Testing the solution and improving it.
Ideas for home
- Build something together from recycling and improve it on a second try.
- Give real problems: how many pancakes for everyone, or the fastest route to a friend's house.
- Praise good attempts and smart changes, not only right answers.
Responsible and Involved Citizen
Taking part in the community, respecting others and caring for the world around them.
- Community. Helping out in the class, school and town.
- Respect. Treating people with different backgrounds and views fairly.
- Stewardship. Caring for the environment and shared places.
Ideas for home
- Take part in a town event, a beach or park cleanup, or a food drive together.
- Talk about a town meeting, a local election or a news story and how it affects your community.
- Give your child a real job at home and thank them for doing it.
Integrative and Informed Thinker
Connecting ideas across subjects and using facts to make sense of the world.
- Connections. Linking what they learn in one subject to another and to real life.
- Evidence. Looking for facts and checking sources before deciding.
- Big picture. Seeing how people, places and ideas fit together.
Ideas for home
- Point out math in cooking, science in the weather and history in your town's old buildings.
- Ask “How do you know?” and “Where did that information come from?”
- Visit a museum, a working harbor, a farm or a historical society and talk about what you saw.
Common questions
Not usually on their own. They run through every subject in the Maine Learning Results. Some schools report on work habits or similar skills on the report card, but how they do it is up to the school or district.
Each student should be a clear and effective communicator, a self-directed and lifelong learner, a creative and practical problem solver, a responsible and involved citizen, and an integrative and informed thinker.
They are part of the Maine Learning Results, the standards the Maine Department of Education sets for every school in the state.
No. Gradelings practices subject skills in math, English language arts, science and social studies. Its kind hints, small goals and calm options can help children stick with hard things, but these habits grow through conversation, projects and teamwork, so we suggest home activities rather than scores.
Ask your child's teacher how the class builds these habits and what you can do at home. The Maine Department of Education's website has the full Maine Learning Results.
Next: understand the Maine report card levels or browse all Maine parent guides. Gradelings practices subject skills; these habits grow through conversation, projects and everyday responsibilities, not worksheets.
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