For this first quarter, we will be busy mastering literary analysis! Students will spend the first three weeks learning how to learn—including annotating texts, writing constructed responses, and building the skills and habits they need to become independent, successful students. In our second three weeks, we will analyse characters, identify conflict, recognize plot patterns, use context clues, and write narratives. In our third three weeks, we will explore themes and central ideas, examine narrator perspectives, dive into the power of figurative language, and strengthen their paragraph skills. 

Throughout these nine weeks, we will also explore the art of studying—how our brains learn, remember, and retrieve information. Students will practice strategies that help them move information from short-term memory into long-term memory. Students are encouraged to spend time engaging in retrieval practice at home in the evenings. Retrieval practice means actively trying to remember something you have learned rather than simply rereading or looking over notes. Retrieval practice is critical for knowledge retention! The goal isn't simply to learn something for a test—the goal is to learn it, remember it, and be able to use it later.

Our literature this quarter will include:

• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

• An excerpt from Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers

• I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid by Alma Luz Villanueva

• The Tale of the Hummingbird by Pura Belpré

• Feather Friend by Arthur C. Clarke

• Black Cowboy, Wild Horses by Julius Lester

• Additional articles and stories from CommonLit.org

These texts will give students opportunities to explore a variety of characters, cultures, genres, perspectives, conflicts, and themes while strengthening their reading and writing skills.

I am excited about everything we will learn together this quarter. Thank you for partnering with me as we help your child become a stronger reader, writer, thinker, and learner!

Let’s make Quarter 1 a great one!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Jarrell