Students will:
-read closely for deep comprehension and appreciation of literary elements and author's craft
-learn, review, and discuss elements of story, such as: rising action, climax, falling action, etc.
-observe and discuss character development and practice character analysis and description
-practice both paraphrasing and direct quotation
-observe and discuss literary devices like simile, metaphor, and alliteration
-think about and discuss motifs in the story and how these may provide clues to the theme 
-work on understanding vocabulary through context clues, and practice using new words through speaking, writing, and (if time) a game.
-answer comprehension questions with complete sentences while and cite evidence from the text to support their answers.
Effectively engage in a discussion with peers
Follow class norms when participating in discussion
Summarize a literary or informational text
Use a variety of strategies to determine the meaning of grade-appropriate words and phrases 
Use context clues to help me determine the meaning of words
Use common Greek and Latin affixes (prefixes) and roots as clues to help me know what a word means.
Determine the main idea(s) of informational or literary text based on key details and close reading practices
Use quotes to support inferences in literary text
Use quotes to explain the meaning of informational and literary texts
Make inferences using quotes from the text
Compare and contrast literary elements using details from the text 
Discuss answers to questions with peers, providing evidence to explain my ideas
Answer questions about the setting of a novel based on evidence from the text.
Answer questions about a main character based on evidence from the text.
Answer comprehension questions based on text that I have read independently
Write informative/explanatory texts
Describe how characters' or a narrator's point(s) of view influence the description of events in literary text
Determine a theme based on details in the text
Use context clues to help me determine why the author chose specific words in a literary text
Explain how a character responds to challenges 
Analyze how a character responds to a key event and what this shows about his/her nature
Create a visual image of the setting of a literary work
Compare and contrast two main characters in a literary text
Contrast how two characters respond to challenges
Use the writing process to produce clear and coherent writing that is appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
Give specific, kind feedback that will help other students make their writing better.
Use feedback that I receive from others and self-reflection to improve my writing.
Answer comprehension questions in complete sentences providing explanation and evidence from the text
Explain themes in a literary text
Write an informative/explanatory five paragraph essay in which each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, a body, and a conclusion
Justify my reasons for selecting specific passages from a text
Ask questions so I’m clear about what is being discussed
Explain what I understand about the topic being discussed