Reading & Writing

The Montclair School District will continue to use Amplify CKLA, as the language arts program.

As we move through the units, an overview will be provided below.

Unit 2: Empires in the middle ages, Part 2

In the second part of this unit, students will continue to explore the Middle Ages in Europe and the Islamic medieval empires. 

What’s the story? 

Students will learn more about these two separate regions and their medieval history. They will also study how they are related by a common past—the decline of the Roman Empire—and what is their impact on the present. 

What will my student learn? 

Students will expand their knowledge about the Middle Ages in Europe and the Islamic empires to better understand the modern world. They will practice taking notes about the informational texts they read throughout the lessons. Students will also write an informative, an explanatory, and a persuasive paragraph. Finally, these lessons provide multiple opportunities for peer collaboration. 

Conversation starters 

Ask your student questions about the unit to promote discussion and continued learning: 

1. What is an empire? 

Follow up: What are some of the names for rulers of an empire? Why did some people believe that the Roman Empire would last forever? What other empires are you learning about? 

2. What was the Battle of Yarmouk? 

Follow up: What was the tradition for the first day of battle? Was the outcome of the battle surprising? Why? 

3. What are some of the elements of Islamic architecture that you studied? 

Follow up: What is the significance of a dome in the architecture? What is calligraphy and how was it used in the architecture? What is one of the architectural masterpieces that you read about? 

4. What events led to the First Crusade? 

Follow up: Why did it take the Muslims by surprise? What sparked the Second Crusade?

Unit 1: Personal Narratives

In this unit, students will spend some time examining the genre of personal narratives. 

What's the story? 

Students will read different personal narratives and will work to identify the elements of this particular genre. 

What will my student learn? 

Students will learn elements like vivid descriptive language, dialogue that shows character, defining traits, and figurative language. They will learn to make meaning from these texts by reading them critically and closely to improve their comprehension skills. 

Students will write every day in this unit. In examining the different elements found in personal narratives, they will build their knowledge of descriptive writing. They will also have opportunities to use these elements in their writing by creating their own personal narratives. 

Conversation starters 

Ask your student questions about the unit to promote discussion and continued learning: 

1. What is a personal narrative? Follow up: What are three things that make an essay a personal narrative? 

2. How would you define character traits? Follow up: What is your favorite book or movie? Who is your favorite character in it? Describe the traits of that character. What evidence from the book or story supports your thinking? What do you think people would say are your character traits? What evidence would they have to support their thinking? 

3. In this unit, you have been talking about sensory details. Look around us right now. Describe sensory details you are noticing in our home. Follow up: What do you see around you? What do you hear? Smell? Taste? Feel? 

4. What is dialogue? Follow up: What are some of the rules for punctuating dialogue? 

5. What is one of the memories you chose to write about in this unit? Follow up: Why did you choose this memory? Share with me what you wrote about and how you incorporated some of the elements of personal narratives into your writing.