6th Grade ELA Mr. Allen
Welcome to the 6th Grade ELA!
I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be joining the 6th graders as we both make the move from 5th grade to the middle school, and I am happy to say that we have had a great first couple weeks of school. We are currently launching into our readers and writers workshops as we focus on learning routines, developing clear community expectations and creating goals for ourselves to ensure that we are setting ourselves up for success.
On a personal note, my family consists of my wife Sam, my sons Jalen (12) and Jordan (3), and our daughter Joss (1). This past summer was spent playing/watching sports, countless hours of Bubble Guppies/Peppa Pig, and teaching my children the beauty of 90 and early 2000's hip-hop. :) In general, family is very important to me and it actually inspires me to be a stronger and more invested teacher.
With that said, an important thing for all families to understand is that as a father myself, I find it to be valuable to have a strong connection between school and home. Therefore, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or just to check in.
To help keep the connection between school and home strong, I will be hosting weekly virtual office hours on Fridays from 10:30-11:00 a.m.
I thank you for taking the time to check out the page and please continue to visit the site for updates. Also, please join us for the Middle School Preview Night on September 23rd (see below). Thank you!
PLEASE SEE THE MOST RECENT ELA NEWS BELOW:
What happening...(Updated 5/6)
As we head towards the finish line and the end of the school year, we are excited to be jumping back into our book clubs! The unit we are starting, Social Issues Book Clubs, tackles relevant social and relationship issues while pushing students to dive into appropriately leveled text and work with one another to track their thinking as they each prepare for book club conversations.
Most recently, students recorded a book club meeting which will allow them the opportunity to view, assess, and grow the levels of the book club conversations. My hope is to eventually share some video highlights of the groups doing this amazing work, but in the meantime, please enjoy some photos of the students in action at the top of the site!
Please feel free to ask your child about what he/she is reading and just how his/her club is rocking! Please remember that students should be reading nightly at home and completing a book approximately every 2-3 weeks. PLEASE SEE THE SECTION BELOW ON HELPFUL TIPS FOR READING AT HOME!
Please remember to reach out if I can help support in any way. I hold my office hours online every Friday from 10:30 to 11:00 (SEE LINK BELOW), and I am also happy to set up an in person meeting if necessary. Thanks for all you do!
6th Grade Units of Study: Reading
Intro to Readers Workshop
Deep Study of Character
Gift of Reading/Writing (Poetry)
Social Issues Book Clubs
Historical Fiction
6th Grade Units of Study: Writing
Intro to Writers Workshop
Literary Essay
Gift of Writing
Research Based Informational Writing
Art of Argument
Personal Narrative
Helpful Tips for Growing Readers at Home
Encourage Daily Reading
Research shows that reading every day helps children build reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. Consider these suggestions for supporting your child with daily reading:
Establish a Routine
Designate a specific time for your child to read a book at his or her level for at least 20 minutes every night. For example, set aside time for reading after dinner or before bedtime.
Create a Comfortable Reading Environment
Use pillows, lamps, and comfortable furniture to set up a cozy reading area in your home. Read your own books there to model good reading habits.
Incorporate Fast and Fun Reads
Use magazines, newspapers, recipes, TV schedules, and road signs as reading opportunities. Incorporate quick reading whenever and wherever you and your child happen to be.
Share Workplace Reading
Bring home materials and documents from your job so your child sees the relevance of reading in the workplace and the long-term importance of becoming a successful reader.
Read and Ride
Listen to audio books while traveling by car so your child hears modeled fluent reading. Bring a CD or mp3 player with headphones for your child to listen to audio books while on a train or plane.
Read and Chat
Discuss the books that your child is reading. Ask questions such as: What was your favorite part? Who were your favorite and least favorite characters? Can you think of another ending?