Students will be expected to finish books approx. every 2-3 weeks. While they will be given class time to read, most students will likely have nightly reading homework in order to meet their goals. Students will have IXL assignments when necessary to review grammar and reinforce other skills we're working on in class. Students will also have homework when they are unable to complete their unit of study work (reading or writing) in class. A class planner should be used to record homework from each class throughout the day. 

Students will be starting the year with independent reading workshop. They will be introduced to a variety of genres, selecting books they are interested in, and learning how to take notes, interact with their novels, and discuss various aspects of literature.  In addition to independent reading, students will have the opportunity to read in partnerships and book clubs during the following units of study:

• Critical Literacy Unit of Study: Critically Analyzing Contemporary Literature

• Historical Fiction Unit of Study: Analyzing How Setting Impacts Plot and Characters

• Dystopian Unit of Study: Analyzing How Science Fiction Mirrors Real Life

We will also read two whole class novels: The Giver by Lois Lowry and Night by Elie Wiesel. 

Students will complete three main writing units: 

• The Literary Essay Unit of Study: Analyzing Craft and Theme 

• Argument Unit of Study: Analyzing The Art of Argument 

• Investigative Journalism Unit of Study: Informative Writing 

They will also participate in a mini-unit in the first two week of school to restart their writing lives. In addition to completing major writing projects in their units of study, students will also write about their reading in their notebooks and do free-write pieces throughout the year. To develop a better understanding of the English language, we will use Patterns of Power to study and review grammar, utilizing IXL for extra practice.