Reading and ELA overview:
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, listening.
The Essential question that guides our work is: How does reading across all of our subjects help us grow as learners and make a positive impact?
The 6th Grade Reading course is designed to support reading across all subject areas. Students will focus on developing strong reading comprehension strategies through the study of fiction, nonfiction, and informational texts. Emphasis is placed on close reading, identifying main ideas and themes, analyzing characters and text structure, and using evidence from the text to support understanding.
Students will develop academic vocabulary, reading fluency, and critical thinking skills through guided instruction, independent reading, and structured discussion. As a result, students will build the skills necessary for effective reading across content areas and continued academic success.
Course Resources
Chew on This
When Stars are Scattered
Short stories and math word problems
Self-selected biographies, mysteries, and fiction novels for independent reading
Teacher-designed materials
Topics of Study:
Understanding central idea/detail
Summarizing
Text Structures and Features
Annotating the text
Note taking/graphic organizers
Vocabulary
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 all aspects of literacy: reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking.Using the Massachusetts State Frameworks, students work on the writing process, the six traits of writing, close reading strategies, literary analysis, grammar, and vocabulary development. Texts are used as models for the genre of writing students practice. Other strong focuses include consistent practice in speaking, listening, vocabulary development, and critical thinking.
Online Diagnostic Resource: IXL
IXL is a personalized learning experience for all students. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each learner.
Course Resources
Tuck Everlasting
Keys to Literacy The Key Comprehension Routine - Joan Sedita
Various exemplars, e.g. short stories, poems, informational articles
CommonLit as selections fit into our units of study
Prentice Hall Literature (Copper edition and Penguin edition)
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
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 literacy: 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.
Online Diagnostic Resource: IXL
IXL is a personalized learning experience for all students. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each learner.
Course Resources
Seedfolks or Greek mythology (PBL units)
Drama: The Hitchhiker, A Christmas Carol, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Memoir Book Club unit
The Breadwinner
Various poems, short stories and nonfiction selections
Keys to Literacy: The Key Comprehension Routine - Joan Sedita
Vocabulary from Classical Roots 7
Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, First Course
CommonLit and Newsela as selections fit into our units of study
Prentice Hall Literature (Grade 7 Common Core Edition)
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
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 ELAliteracy: 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.
Online Diagnostic Resource: IXL
IXL is a personalized learning experience for all students. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each learner.
Course Resources
Novels/Trade Books: The Outsiders, Four Perfect Pebbles
Drama: Elements of Drama and Literary Elements;12 Angry Men
Various short stories, including “Click-Clack the Rattle Bag,”“Ruthless,” “The Wife’s Story,” and “The Tell Tale Heart”
Various poetry and non-fiction selections
CommonLit as selections fit into our units of study
Topics of Study:
Writing - Argument, Informative/Explanatory, Narrative; Text-based Essay Writing; Poetry; Informational Writing based on research; Technical Writing; Effective Writing for Communication
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
Argument/Persuasion Unit - Reviewing and using rhetorical appeals, using mentor texts
Poetry - all types
Drama - stage directions, author’s purpose, setting, characterization, and effective dramatic reading
Grammar - Review of Parts of Speech, Indicative, Imperative and Subjunctive Mood, Dependent and Independent Clauses, Adverbial Phrases, and more