Reading & English
The Reading and English Language Arts curricula and courses align with the district’s vision, mission, and core values, as well as the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks. We work to teach students to use their developing knowledge of the written, viewed, and spoken word to improve as critical thinkers and communicators. They gain proficiency in identifying and analyzing the textual decisions authors of all genres make that influence voice, tone, and meaning in literary works. They apply these lessons to their own writing and communication as they move through each course. Ultimately, the work fosters an appreciation for literature and exemplary skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Grade 6 Reading
The essential question that guides our work is: How does reading, in all the genres, help us learn and empower us to make a difference?
In sixth grade reading, various strategies, including reading workshop, PBL, Book Clubs, and direct instruction allow students to engage in meaningful experiences as they learn how to reason and use language to comprehend, make connections, and communicate ideas about text. Students are explicitly taught to use active and close reading strategies before, during, and after reading to deepen their understanding of the text. Vocabulary instruction is embedded in each genre study. Students begin the year with a study of nonfiction, including biography, textbooks, reference books, and media. Later in the year other genres are studied, including historical fiction and mystery. Reading for pleasure both in class and at home allows students practice with both required and self-selected texts. Throughout the year, students display that they are critical readers and thinkers.
Program/Text:
Keys to Literacy The Key Comprehension Routine - Joan Sedita
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, Level A
The Boy who Harnessed the Wind
Self-selected biographies and mysteries
Genre-specific trade books, selected so that all our students see themselves in the curricula
Teacher-designed materials
CommonLit and Newsela as selections fit into our units of study, and to progress monitor reading comprehension skills and growth
Topics of Study:
Understanding central idea/detail
Summarizing
Text Structures
Text Features
Annotating the text
Note taking/graphic organizers
Vocabulary: dictionary skills, word analysis, context clues
Fact/Opinion
Point of view/Author’s purpose
Inference
Genre studies, including information, argument, literary text
English Language Arts
English 6
The essential question that guides our work is “What methods can I use to effectively communicate in oral and in written language?”
The sixth grade ELA curriculum builds on the work done at the elementary level around writing. Using the Massachusetts State Frameworks, students work on the writing process, the six traits of writing, including organization, ideas, word choice, voice, revising, and editing. We use text as models for the genre of writing we practice. Other strong foci of our work include consistent practice in speaking, listening, vocabulary development and critical thinking. Because writing is a very personal endeavor, the work is always very student-centered.
Program/Text:
Prentice Hall Literature (Copper edition)
Tuck Everlasting
Keys to Literacy The Key Comprehension Routine - Joan Sedita
Teacher-created Hotlist for research project
Various exemplars, e.g. short stories, poems, informational articles, and more
CommonLit and Newsela as selections fit into our units of study, and to progress monitor reading comprehension skills and growth
Topics of Study:
Writing - Argument, Informative/Explanatory, Narrative
Poetry - Figurative Language and Types of Poetry
Grammar - Nouns, Verbs, Adjective, Adverbs, Pronouns, Articles, Conjunctions, Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Vocabulary building with Latin/Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes
Research and Technology - Mythology Research Project; Persuasive Argument
English 7
The essential questions that guide our work are: “How does literature inspire me and help me better understand the world and my place in it?” and “How can I become an effective communicator?”
The seventh grade ELA curriculum builds on the work done at the sixth grade and elementary levels, around all aspects of ELA: reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking. Seventh grade ELA teachers instruct, coach, support and guide students as they refine and build on their knowledge of literature and writing---in all the genres. In writing, students deepen their skills as they produce pieces ranging from multi-page essays to creative fiction and poetry. They also engage in academic writing as they are asked to analyze literature and compose text-based essay responses in class. To complement their understanding of literature and enhance and refine their communication skills, students also study supplementary vocabulary and review the essentials of grammar.
Program/Texts:
Prentice Hall Literature (Bronze Edition)
Seedfolks (A PBL unit involving improving the community)
The Cay
A Christmas Carol
Various poems, short stories and nonfiction selections
Keys to Literacy: The Key Comprehension Routine - Joan Sedita
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop
Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, First Course
Write Traits and Nancie Atwell materials
CommonLit and Newsela as selections fit into our units of study, and to progress monitor reading comprehension skills and growth
Topics of Study:
Writing - Argument, Informative/Explanatory, Narrative. Non-fiction writing (the essay and the memoir) and creative writing (the short story and poetry) using the five step process: pre-writing (brainstorming, notes, outlining, webbing); writing a rough draft; revising the rough draft by making changes in content, organization, and style; editing (proofreading) for errors in grammar, mechanics, and usage; finally, publishing (final copy).
Elements of fiction - plot, setting, character, theme, point of view, and conflict.
Nonfiction - essays, articles, speeches, and editorials, biographies, and memoirs. Analysis of voice, point of view, audience, and persuasive techniques.
Poetry - lyric and narrative poems; imagery, figures of speech, use of sound devices, form, and meaning.
Drama - stage directions, special effects, setting, mood, characterization, and effective dramatic reading.
Parts of speech, parts of the sentence, types of sentences, prepositional phrases, pronoun case
English 8
The essential questions that guide our work are “Who am I? How do I fit in? How do I make a difference in the world?”
The eighth grade ELA curriculum is standards-based and builds on the work done at the sixth and seventh grade level and in the elementary grades, around all aspects of ELA: reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking. Students continue to develop their skills as they refine and build on their knowledge of literature and writing---in all the genres. In writing, students deepen their skills as they produce pieces ranging from multi-page essays to creative fiction and poetry. They also engage in academic writing as they are asked to analyze literature and compose text-based essay responses in class. To complement their understanding of literature and enhance and refine their communication skills, students also study supplementary vocabulary and review the essentials of grammar. Over the year, students practice close reading of short stories, novels, drama, nonfiction, and poetry. Students activate prior knowledge to ask questions, to take notes, to interpret the text, and reach deeper levels of understanding. They are challenged to make connections between texts, between the text and themselves, and between the texts and their world. As they progress through different genres, students continue to practice and refine their writing, building on what they learned in previous grades.
**Placement for Freshman English Honors will be based on the following:
Average of A- or higher,
Demonstrated writing and reading skills,
Consistency and quality of homework, and
Enthusiasm for the subject.
Program/Texts:
Prentice Hall Literature (Silver Edition)
Novels/Trade Books: The Outsiders, The Call of the Wild, Revenge of the Whale/In the Heart of the Sea
Book Club unit comprised of diverse trade book selections
Drama: Elements of Drama and Literary Elements; The Diary of Anne Frank,12 Angry Men
Various short stories, including “The Necklace,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Most Dangerous Game,” “Birthday Party,” “Little things are Big,” “Raymond’s Run,” and “The Tell Tale Heart”; various poetry and non-fiction selections
Argument/Persuasion Unit - Reviewing and using rhetorical appeals, using mentor texts by change agents in American history
Keys to Literacy: The Key Comprehension Routine, The Vocabulary Routine, The ANSWER Key Routine - Joan Sedita
CommonLit and Newsela as selections fit into our units of study, and to progress monitor reading comprehension skills and growth
Topics of Study:
Writing - Argument, Informative/Explanatory, Narrative; Text-based Essay Writing, using the “Answer-Key Routine”; Poetry; Informational Writing based on research; Technical Writing; Effective Writing for Communication
Grammar - Review of Parts of Speech, Indicative, Imperative and Subjunctive Mood, Dependent and Independent Clauses, Adverbial Phrases, Latin and Greek Roots, and more
Review Elements of fiction - plot, setting, character, theme, point of view, and conflict.
Close Reading to analyze central idea, key details, author’s purpose, mood, tone, and theme
Reading Nonfiction - essays, articles, speeches, editorials, biographies, and memoirs. Analysis of voice, point of view, audience, and rhetorical devices
Poetry - all types
Drama - stage directions, author’s purpose, setting, characterization, and effective dramatic reading
Library Media Research
The Library Media Research Skills course introduces students to tools and concepts related to research and digital literacy that will support them in all areas of their academics.
Topics of Study
Library Catalog
How to do a Keyword, Title, Author, Subject or Series search, Understanding Call Numbers (what they tell you about the book and its location), Dewey ranges
Understanding and processing informational texts
Note Taking (2 column notes), Skimming/Scanning (Efficiently gleaning information from a text), Highlighting effectively (Not too much, just enough), Nonfiction Text Features
Database Usage
How to access databases, Strategies to find relevant information, How to narrow the search for the best results
Website Evaluation
Criteria for recognizing good quality web sites, Practice assessing websites for accuracy, ease of use and useful content
Citation
Understanding when to cite your sources, Using an online citation tool
Plagiarism
What it is, Strategies to avoid doing it
Work in this class will align with and support research skills needs that may arise during the year in other classes.