Welcome

What we're working on this quarter in Language Arts:  

Now that we have a strong handle on students' reading abilities, we are moving to literature circles where students get to practice the skills we mastered during our whole class novel. All students are reading novels around the theme that there is marginalization in our world and we need to work to be more inclusive. The titles are differentiated by reading level. On Wednesdays, we come together to read nonfiction articles around our shared theme. Lists of novels and articles are below. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

In addition, students will be expected to read outside of school for at least 2 hours each week and fill out a short reading log which will be due before the beginning of class on Fridays. 

Novels

Esperanza Rising

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Freak the Mighty

Thin Wood Walls

Linked

Restart

One for the Murphys

Hitchhiker's  Guide to the Galaxy

Inside Out and Back Again

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere

Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

Melissa

The War that Saved My Life

Possible Nonfiction Articles (all linked) (We will not get to all of these)

"What is Marginalization?"

"How the Equal Opportunity Act Protects Us All"

"Discrimination Against Muslim Women"

"Can You Stop Online Racism?"

"How Racism in Colorado School Left One Student with PTSD"

What we're working on this quarter in Social Studies:  

Studying the 4 strands of the Colorado Academic Standards: History, Geography, Civics & Economics/PFL

Units of Study are by Region using our new Textbook!

• Introduction to Physical & Human Geography

• North America Geography & History, North America Today

  • Possible topics: 

3.3 - Mexico’s Mountains and Plateaus 

3.5 - Three Worlds Meet in the Americas 

3.11 - The Maya and Aztec

3.12 - The Conquistadors

3.13 - Mexico at War

3.14 - The Mexican Revolution

•  South America Geography & History, South America Today

  • Possible topics: 

     8.1 - Diverse People, Diverse Languages 

     8.2 - Daily Life

     8.3 - How Cultures Change 

     8.4 - Comparing Governments

• Central America & The Caribbean Geography & History, Central America & The Caribbean Today

  • Possible topics: 

6.1 - Caribbean Culture and the World 

6.2 - Tourists Fly in 

6.4 - Challenges in Costa Rica and Haiti 

6.5 - Global Issues: Feeding the World 

6.6 - Migration and Remittances 

6.7 - Conserving the Rainforest

• Personal Financial Literacy

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Resources:  The National Geographic Learning | Cengage middle school social studies program is built around an inquiry-based approach that encourages students to explore the world through geographic, cultural, historical, and civic lenses. Drawing on National Geographic's commitment to science and exploration, the resource promotes an explorer mindset by developing the attitudes, skills, and knowledge needed to investigate the world.  This is only one of the many resources students will encounter, additionally we'll use current events resources & DBQ primary sources.

**Families may request optional assignments if the planned curriculum offends their religious or person values.  Please inform me in writing if you prefer that your students read an alternative selection to a particular literary work, and please offer a reason for your preference.   Please see the district’s website for more information:  Parents' Rights

We will be following standards based grading in class so we can best assess how each student is progressing toward 6th grade mastery. Please let me know if you have any questions.