ELA Class

Reading

In 6th grade, we use the HMH Into Lit Reading Curriculum. HMH Into Lit is "a new collection of culturally relevant young adult short stories written exclusively for HMH text. These engaging stories, focused on topics young readers care about, are available in English and Spanish." 

Students have access to a text in class and an online electronic version. They can access the online text through their "Clever" account.

We also read three grade-level novels as a class and/or in small groups or literature circles. 

Trimester 1: Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Trimester 2: The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

Trimester 3: The Giver by Lois Lowry

A large focus of the 6th grade ELA curriculum is mastery of the open-ended R.A.C.E. paragraph response. Students are familiar with the R.A.C.E. response when answering open-ended questions, and in 6th grade, we teach them to focus on constructing thorough and thoughtful responses, and really learning to explain the reasoning behind their thoughts. (Improving on the elaboration and explanations of text evidence!)

English

What will be covered in writing this year?

• The 5-paragraph Informational Essay

• Argumentative Essay

• Personal Narratives

• Comparison of texts

• Fiction/Fantasy

• Poetry

**Most of these writing pieces will be guided, with a final grade on the finished product for organization, content, and mechanics of writing. 

Grammar will be taught within reading and writing lessons, with a major emphasis on punctuation, capitalization, and using antecedents correctly in responses. 

NoRedInk is an online resource we will be utilizing often in order to practice our grammar skills and keep them fresh in our minds. This will all lead to becoming a better writer!