ELA

We are now using the CKLA reading curriculum. This program includes all of our reading, writing, and grammar standards. The texts will also build student's understanding of science and social studies concepts. Students will read rich texts like Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dreams" and Cervantes' "Don Quixote." 

The program has built in "pause days" to catch up or extend student learning. There are also built in days for beginning, middle, and end of year assessments. 

Along with our reading curriculum, students are expected to read 800 pages per trimester. For most kids, this is about 10 minutes of reading per day. Students have reading logs and book reports to complete as they read. 

Unit 1 - Personal Narratives (19 days)

Students will read multiple personal narratives, including stories from Rosa Parks and astronaut Michael Massimino. They will also write multiple personal narratives. 

Unit 2 - Early American Civilizations (19 days)

Students will learn about the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. They will practice writing paragraphs with information from the texts. 

Unit 3 - Poetry (15 days)

Students will read and write multiple forms of poetry. As they do this, they will also learn about tone and figurative language.

Unit 4 - Adventures of Don Quixote (21 days)

As students read this text, they will trace how the characters and plot change. They will also write an opinion essay about the text. 

Unit 5 - The Renaissance (21 days)

Students will learn about how growing wealth and societal changes during the Renaissance impacted art in that era. They will learn about pieces from Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, and many more. They will write informational paragraphs based on what they read.

Unit 6 - The Reformation (14 days)

Students will learn about the "religious and political upheaval" that happened in this period. They will read historical fiction as well as nonfiction texts. They will write a letter from a scientist's point of view. 

Unit 7 - A Midsummer Night's Dream (15 days)

Students will learn about Shakespeare and read his play. At the end, they will practice and perform speeches independently or scenes in small groups. 

Unit 8 - Native Americans (19 days)

Students will read myths and stories from Native American cultures. They will also read documents that show the impact of European settlers on their land and cultures. Students will write a persuasive essay about what they read. 

Unit 9 - Chemical Matter (19 days)

The main text for this unit is a fictional story integrated with science facts and a mystery. As students read, they will review skills from earlier units and write informational paragraphs.

As it is our first year with this program, our goal is to teach everything with fidelity. If you are concerned about any of the information we will be covering, feel free to reach out to Mr. Zawacki or other administration.