📚 Unit 1: Literacy Essentials

What we’re learning:
In this unit, students will learn the basics of good reading and writing habits. They’ll choose their own books, connect personally to what they read, and talk and write about it.

Why it matters:
This unit builds a strong foundation for the rest of the year. It helps students learn how to understand what they read, express their ideas clearly, and work with others through discussion and collaboration.

Focus skills: Reading, writing, vocabulary, and talking about books—not focused on any specific type of story.

📖 Unit 2A: Literary Analysis and Composition of Fiction and Literary/Narrative Nonfiction (continues in the 2nd 6 Weeks)

What we’re learning:
Students will read and write stories—both made-up (fiction) and real-life personal experiences (narrative nonfiction).

Why it matters:
Stories help us understand people, places, and events. Students will explore characters, settings, and plots and use those elements in their own writing.

Focus skills: Understanding story elements and writing creative or personal stories.

📖 Unit 2A: Literary Analysis and Composition of Fiction and Literary/Narrative Nonfiction (continued from the 1st 6 Weeks)

What we’re learning:
Students will read and write stories—both made-up (fiction) and real-life personal experiences (narrative nonfiction).

Why it matters:
Stories help us understand people, places, and events. Students will explore characters, settings, and plots and use those elements in their own writing.

Focus skills: Understanding story elements and writing creative or personal stories.

🎭 Unit 2B: Reading and Writing Poetry & Drama

What we’re learning:
This unit continues our study of storytelling, but now students will explore poems and plays.

Why it matters:
Poetry and drama use special techniques—like rhythm, dialogue, and stage directions—to create meaning and emotion. Students will also improve their vocabulary and writing by analyzing and creating these types of texts.

Focus skills: Reading poems and plays, discussing their meaning, and writing creatively.

📰 Unit 3: Analysis and Composition of Informational Texts

What we’re learning:
Students will read nonfiction texts—like articles or essays—that give information about real-world topics. Then, they’ll write their own essays that explain ideas clearly.

Why it matters:
Informational reading and writing is something we use every day. This unit helps students understand nonfiction texts and communicate facts and ideas in an organized way.

Focus skills: Summarizing, explaining, and writing multi-paragraph informational essays.

🗣️ Unit 4: Rhetorical Analysis and Composition of Argumentative Text

What we’re learning:
Students will read persuasive texts and learn how to write their own arguments to convince an audience using evidence.

Why it matters:
Being able to express an opinion and back it up with facts is a key life skill. Students learn to respectfully persuade others in writing.

Focus skills: Analyzing arguments, using evidence, and writing persuasive essays.

🔄 Unit 5: Making Connections Across Genres

What we’re learning:
Students will compare and connect different types of texts—like articles, stories, and poems—that deal with the same topic. They’ll also write in a variety of formats.

Why it matters:
In the real world, we get information from many sources. This unit helps students put it all together, find patterns, and better understand how different types of writing work.

Focus skills: Comparing texts, analyzing author's craft, and writing across genres.

🔍 Unit 6: Synthesis, Creation, and Innovation

What we’re learning:
Students will research a topic they care about and write an argumentative research essay. They’ll also create a visual presentation using multimedia elements like images, graphics, or video.

Why it matters:
This unit helps students learn how to find reliable information, think critically, and present ideas in both written and visual forms—important skills for high school and beyond.

Focus skills: Research, argumentative writing, and creating multimedia presentations.