English Language Arts

Class overview

6th grade English Language Arts will ask students to dig deep as readers and writers to learn and explore new content. Our curriculum incorporates numerous fiction and nonfiction literary excerpts that connect to one essential question per unit. Before and after reading the text, students will be able to learn vocabulary terms, work with reading strategies, and make connections to their everyday lives. Students will have independent, small group and whole group learning opportunities. We will have class discussions, debates, and some group projects. Students will be reading a few novels this year as well. The writing process, listening and speaking skills, and presentations will be incorporated as well in class.

What to expect

There are a wide range of broad concepts and themes that students are expected to learn in middle school language arts and English class. One of the best ways to meet middle school language arts and communication academic goals and standards is through authentic experiences. The 6th grade language arts course is designed to provide students with opportunities to select their own reading material, while applying reading and writing skills to authentic and real world experiences.

Project Based Learning

Students will dive into exciting project-based learning experiences that connect directly to our curriculum. Through hands-on projects, students will develop critical reading, writing, and communication skills while applying the Mustang Competencies to build creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities. Project-based learning in the ELA classroom is a great way to empower and mold students into confident, thoughtful learners!

Lexia

Students will be utilizing Lexia in ELA to further develop their reading and language skills. Students will be required to complete 20 units/60 minutes of Lexia per week. Lexia units will be checked and recorded every Monday.

Grammar and Writing Practice

No Red Ink is a wonderful. yet challenging site that will work through the development of Grammar and writing. This is differentiated and will work at the pace deemed necessary for each individual child's skill level. Once a concept is mastered, no need to continue. The writing is scaffolded and allows for great feedback and useful tutorials to master what a good writer needs.

Independent Reading

Students are encouraged to read on their own and should always have a book for pleasure. At times, these books will be shared with others by doing a choice activity such as a Flipgrid or a book project.

Classroom Content

Quarter 1

During the first quarter, we will focus on Literary Elements while reading both Fiction and Non-Fiction materials. We have a series called HMH that we will use. They have a book that is consumable and can be written in. The book is available online through PowerSchool as well.

We will read the novel Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pies and practice the literary elements throughoutthe novel .

-setting, character types and characterization, plot diagram, types of conflict, story devices, point of view, theme, reading complex text

We will also work on basic writing skills and fiction and non-fiction narrative essays.

Quarters 2-3

During the second and third quarters, we will focus on Informational text while reading mostly non-fiction pieces.

Independent novel reading will be encouraged and expected.

-main idea and details, citing textual evidence, summarizing, using text features, text structures (compare/contrast, problem/solution, sequence, etc.)

We will also work on our writing skills focusing on expository, informative, and persuasive pieces. We will use the RACES method to cite evidence in our work.

Quarter 4

We will put all of what we learned together and work to solidify the standards. This will be more of a project based quarter with choice and voice in what we learn. Students will read the novel Holes.

Classroom Websites

CommonLit is a free digital library of leveled texts: news articles, poems, short stories, and historical documents. You can filter collections by grade level, Lexile level, theme, genre, literary device, even Common Core State Standards. ... Texts have a variety of accessibility and learning tools.

Click Here to login with Google

Lexia is a site that works at your own pace to develop skills essential to success in both literacy and content-area learning.

Click Here to login using your student ID

Actively Learn is a reading website that has students applying knowledge, analyzing the text, and applying meaning using high interest articles and literature. Annotating and explaining your answers are expected.

Click Here to login with Google

Classroom Materials

What do I need for this class?

Folder (Green)
3 Subject Spiral (Green)
Highlighters (Yellow, Orange, Green)
3 x 5 Index Cards
Composition Notebook (journal)
HMH textbook
Independent reading book (for pleasure)
Chromebook

Classroom Library

Students will have access to my classroom library. A student may choose to borrow a book from my classroom library for enjoyment or to increase their literacy skills. There are a wide range of titles in my classroom library from various genres that reflect the different interests and reading levels of my students. My goal is to encourage everyone to engage in the joy of reading with both assigned classroom texts and books that are self-selected.

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