English Language Arts (ELA) encompasses expression through an understanding of and the influence upon the world by means of the spoken and written word. This year, we will strive to be good communicators: to give and receive information in a way that we all understand.

To facilitate our work toward this goal students will work in reader's and writer's notebooks. The school year is divided into 11 units of study that each focus on various skills  and strategies for reading and writing.

ELA Syllabus 2025-2026 

Rubrics for Assessment

Units of Study

Unit 1: Launching Workshop

What are we reading?

• • Student choice for Independent Reading

What are we writing?

• Developing our Writer’s Notebooks and Reader’s Notebooks

• Literary Response Questions (Book, Head, Heart)

Unit 2: My Life Story- Narrative Writing

What are we reading?

• Sampling personal narratives

• Reader's Notebook entries/ response to text

• Student choice for Independent reading

What are we writing?

• Writing samples/ notebook entries

• Personal Narrative

Unit 3: A Deep Study of Character

What are we reading?

• Short Stories thoughtfully chosen to illuminate and deepen the understanding of ways writers create interesting characters

• Student choice for independent reading

What are we writing?

• response to text

• Original short story on a topic of choice, featuring a well-developed main character

Unit 4: Tapping in to the Power of Non-fiction (Book Clubs)

What are we reading?

• Book Club #1 selection

• Informational texts in multiple formats thoughtfully chosen to illuminate and deepen the understanding of genre characteristics and craft

• Student choice for independent reading

What are we writing?

• Writer's Notebook entries

• Reader's Notebook entries/ response to text

• Prepare and give a TED Talk-style presentation on a research topic of choice

Unit 5: Research-Based Informational Writing

What are we reading?

• Focus on Informational texts and argumentative texts

• Student choice for Independent reading

What are we writing?

• Writing Reader's Notebook entries/ response to text

• Informational text on research topic of choice

Unit 6: Be The Change - Reading for Empathy and Advocacy

What are we reading?

• Social Issues Book Clubs

• Student choice for Independent Reading

What are we writing?

• Response to texts

• Readers/Writers Notebook entries

Unit 7: The Power to Be Thoughtful - The Literary Essay

What are we reading?

• Short literary texts

• Optional whole-class novel

• Student choice for Independent Reading

What are we writing?

• Literary Essay

• Response to texts

• Readers/Writers Notebook entries

Unit 8: Finding Your Voice: Poetry and Drama

What are we reading?

• Poetry

• Drama

• Student choice for Independent Reading

What are we writing?

• A poetry collection

• Plays

• Response to texts

• Readers/Writers Notebook entries

Unit 9: Testing as a Genre

What are we reading?

• Short texts in multiple genres

• Student choice for Independent Reading

What are we writing?

• Response to texts

• Readers/Writers Notebook entries

Unit 10: Launching Summer Reading for All

What are we reading?

• Short texts in multiple genres

• Students select and begin reading their - Summer Reading for All book

What are we writing?

• Response to texts

• Readers/Writers Notebook entries