How Can I Become a "Reader"?

I will share a new strategy on the board every so often as we read our free reading books. These strategies are intended to help students improve their stamina and the depth of their thought while reading.

What is a "Stretch Write"?

You will select your best annotation that you’ve recently made- best meaning you have more to say about the details you read, the observation you made or the inference you settled on. Stick the sticky note onto a loose leaf piece on paper. Use the sentence stems to deepen and stretch your thinking about the annotation you chose. 

For more information about why we are doing this assignment and how it will be graded, please click this link to view an introduction to annotations and long writes.

What is a TP-Castt?: 

TP-CASTT is a specific way to tackle poetry analysis that takes the mystery out of the genre. Poetry is often seen as an amorphous form of art that can only be accessed by the most literate of people. This couldn't be farther from the truth! TP-CASTT poetry analysis gives students an "in" to one of the most intimidating forms of literature.

RACE: How to respond to prompts with evidence

This PowerPoint walks the viewer through the R.A.C.E. method of written response. This method will not only help students write open response questions during standardized testing, but motivate students to prove their answers with evidence. 

This I Believe Essays

These essays are inspired by journalistic radio programs where people, both famous and everyday, are invited to write short essays about their personal motivation in life. These essays are then read on the radio so the world can learn from the beliefs of others. Our sixth grade class has added to the tradition. The link to the This I believe website can be found here. The link to our podcast can be found here and under the ELA tab of this website.

Basic Parts of Speech

This slideshow details helpful images and charts to help students identify the basic parts of speech.

Sentence Structure and Type

This slideshow details different ways to classify sentence structure and types. With these charts, students can identify narrative point of view, sentence fragments, and other qualities that make sentences varied. 

Figurative Language and Sound Devices

This is a slide show created by our 6th grade community in 2018 illustrating different types of figurative language and sound devices. These visuals bring the layered meaning of figurative language to life.

Theme

Theme is often over simplified or over complicated. The author of Little Red Riding Hood didn't stop and say "Hey, little kid, I hope you're learning that danger can come in all forms, even the familiar ones." It's up to us to stop and ask ourselves "what's happening in this book and WHY does it matter? What's the author showing us here?"

Narrative Point of View

Narrative point of view can be tricky, especially if the author switches from one character's point of view to another. Understanding grammatical "person" and narrative insight helps reader's pick up on the significance of narrative point of view.

Counting By 7s audiobook

This is a link to the audiobook version of Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Make sure that you are listening and reading along.

A Wrinkle in Time audiobook

This is a link to the audiobook version of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Make sure that you are listening and reading along.

Because of Mr Terupt audiobook

This is a link to the audiobook version of Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. Make sure that you are listening and reading along.

This I Believe

Please read the following quotation from thisibelieve.org to help understand the This I Believe assignment and the essays detailed on this website: 

"Teachers around the country—and around the world—have embraced This I Believe as a powerful educational tool. They have downloaded our educational curricula, posters, and brochures for using This I Believe in middle and high school classrooms and in college courses. These curricula help teachers guide students through exploring their beliefs and then composing personal essays about them. The students learn about themselves and their peers, and experience the delight of realizing their views and voices have value. "