English Language Arts

Reading

• Practice choosing “just right” independent books (with library orientation)
• Set reading goals
• Understand how and why to set a purpose for reading
• Develop strategies for text annotation (e.g. Notice and Note)

• Revisit and extend on critical literacy framework
• Take iReady fall Diagnostic assessment

Writing

• Set up reading response journals
• Compose student letters of introduction to teachers
• Compose response to summer reading
• Complete Common Writing Assessment
• Vocabulary: Practice process for vocabulary self-selection
• Grammar: Identify parts of speech

Speaking & Listening

• Establish roles and responsibilities for whole group discussions

Examples of Texts

• Independent reading books from library

Reading

• Find and paraphrase the main idea
• Gather and cite textual evidence to support interpretation of a text
• Determine conflict and resolution
• Sequence a narrative plot (e.g. plot maps)
• Identify setting
• Analyze how characters change over the course of a story

Writing

• Create a scene or dialogue for a scene, add an ending to a story
• Vocabulary: Use context clues to find word meaning
• Grammar: Identify parts of a sentence

Speaking & Listening

• Identify qualities of effective discussion questions

Examples of Texts

• “Identity Theft” by Gary Soto
• “Flying Lessons” by Soman Chainani
• “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury
• “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros

Reading

• Look for repetitions and patterns
• Gather and cite textual evidence to support interpretation of a text
• Identify character types and character development/change over time
• Identify the theme of a longer text

Writing

• Develop an effective claim/thesis statement
• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• Compose analytical paragraph on characterization
• Vocabulary: Identify figurative language
• Grammar: Identify sentence fragments

Speaking & Listening

• Create focus questions about literary elements (e.g. plot, characterization, setting)
• Elaborate and reflect on the comments and ideas of others

Examples of Texts

• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
• I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
• Related nonfiction (short print and digital texts)

Reading

• Identify audience and purpose
• Look for repetitions and patterns
• Gather and cite textual evidence to support interpretation of a text
• Determine theme by analyzing conflict and resolution
• Complete iReady winter Diagnostic assessment

Writing

• Develop an effective claim/thesis statement
• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• Compose analytical paragraph on theme

• Complete One-Pager project for selected text

• Vocabulary: Identify academic power verbs
• Grammar: Practice pronoun usage (subjective, objective, possessive/number and person, antecedent agreement and clarity)

Speaking & Listening

• Understand roles and responsibilities for book club groups and practice with these roles

Examples of Texts

• Refugee by Alan Gratz
• Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• Related fiction and nonfiction (short print and digital texts)

Reading

• Evaluate author’s craft and language choices in an oral tradition
• Look for repetitions and patterns (motif and symbolism)
• Gather and cite textual evidence to support interpretation of a text
• Determine theme by analyzing conflict and resolution

Writing

• Develop an effective claim/thesis statement focusing on elements of theme and/or characterization
• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant textual evidence
• Compose analytical essay on the hero’s journey
• Vocabulary: Identify prefixes/suffixes, Greek and Latin roots
• Grammar: Practice capitalization and punctuation (non-restrictive elements, parenthetical expressions, commas, dashes)

Speaking & Listening

• Create and respond to focus questions about literary elements (e.g. plot, characterization, setting)
• Elaborate on ideas in discussion using textual evidence

Examples of Texts

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
• Excerpts from Beowulf
• Excerpts from Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Reading

• Determine an author’s point of view on a topic and explain how it is conveyed
• Find and integrate information presented in different media formats
• Identify and classify nonfiction text structure
• Find and paraphrase the main idea

Writing

• Engage in research to answer a question, drawing on multiple sources
• Examine a topic of interest and convey information through selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
• Record and share podcast about a topic of interest
• Vocabulary: Identify prefixes/suffixes, Greek and Latin roots
• Grammar: Practice capitalization and punctuation (non-restrictive elements, parenthetical expressions, commas, dashes)

Speaking & Listening

• Present an oral argument incorporating evidence and/or information
• Engage in academic conversations with a peer around a topic of interest

Examples of Texts

• Smash Boom Best podcast
• But Why podcast
• This Week in History podcast
• Brains On podcast

Reading

• Evaluate progress towards reading goals and identify strengths/future areas for growth
• Gather and cite textual evidence to support interpretation of a text
• Apply Notice and Note strategies for text annotation
• Complete iReady spring Diagnostic assessment

Writing

• Evaluate progress towards writing goals and identify strengths/future areas for growth
• Compose 6th grade literacy autobiography
• Vocabulary: Review vocabulary strategies
• Grammar: Practice sentence fluency (style and tone)

Speaking & Listening

• Summarize key ideas by paraphrasing them
• Acknowledge and respond to multiple perspectives

Examples of Texts

• Independent reading books from library
• Related fiction and nonfiction (short print and digital texts)