Language Arts
In 6th grade, we explore and implement a variety of comprehensive reading and writing strategies.
Writing is woven throughout Language Arts and Social Studies. We focus on creative, narrative, persuasive and informational writing, literary devices and academic language, the writing process (pre-write, write, revise, edit, publish), grammar and vocabulary.
Literature units include:
Reader’s Workshop: choice of novels and non-fiction
Class Novels: Invisible Lines, the epic of Gilgamesh, the Ramayana, Walk Two Moons
Book Groups: "Breaking Boundaries" novels, Historical Fiction
Marin Theatre Company: Monologue writing and dramatizations of The Odyssey, sponsored by Kiddo!
Sample Reading Skills: a wide variety of reading strategies, literary elements and devices, character traits- theme - inference -symbolism, elements of story, research skills
Writing includes:
Narrative writing, Informational writing, Perfect Paragraphs and Persuasive Essays
Sample Units :
Creative Writing: Hominid Comics, Ice Age Incident, Spooky Stories, Egypt Historical Fiction
Persuasive Writing: Otzi the Iceman, River Valley Civilizations, Athens vs. Sparta, Social Media
Informational Writing: Learning/Life Challenges, Ancient Civilizations, Chinese Philosophies
2 weeks of Poetry, sponsored by Kiddo!
Sample Writing Skills: developing a thesis, outlining, using quotes as evidence, descriptive language, literary devices, transition words, sentence variety, various note taking strategies
Grammar & Conventions: capital letters, end punctuation, commas, subject/predicate, parts of speech, run-on sentences and fragments, pronouns, proper paragraphing, dialogue, apostrophes, verb tense
Assessments include:
Reader/Writer's Notebook, essays, tests, quizzes, final projects, student/teacher conferences, class preparedness, self reflection, and deliberate, prepared participation in academic conversation.