A Year of 6th Grade Language Arts: Semester 1

This is a semester of language arts curriculum geared towards the 6th or 7th grade student. This course will focus on essay writing with a close focus on the pre-writing skills of research, outlining, note taking, and organization. We will take each step of the writing process slowly and carefully, breaking down the process into clear and manageable steps that will give learners the skills needed to grow into excellent independent writers. 

Essays included in this semester include:
Research report based on a country
Book Report based on Me & Marvin Gardens
Figurative language study and creative writing block

In addition, learners will create a Google Slides presentation based on their Country Study Research Report and present it to the class.

During this semester, we will also focus on literature. We will read two wonderful books; Me & Marvin Gardens and Song For A Whale. Each student will be supplied with a Google Docs Literature Study Packet that they will make a copy of and share with me so I can track their progress. This packet will also assist students in the weekly discussions. Our weekly discussions will focus on comprehension, themes, character analysis, and life lessons. Learners will get to create a project based on the books and share their projects with the class.

*IMPORTANT: The literature study days are based on class discussions. Therefore, I do require a minimum of 8-10 students. It has been my experience that each class is a combination of students who like to communicate through the chat box (but are verbally more quiet) and others who love to discuss as a class. Therefore, in order to have a lively discussion, I have raised the minimum requirement of students. This allows quieter students time to get comfortable while still experiencing an engaging class. 


* Note 1: This course is geared towards the 6th & 7th grade learner. However, 8th graders that need extra writing instruction are welcome.
* Note 2: ALL learners are welcome in my courses and this includes neurodiverse learners and visual learners. I always use slides and visuals when explaining the structures of essays and when lecturing. The only times I don't use visual slides is during book discussions as I find it nice for learners to be able to see each other while we engage in discussion.

Unit 1: Weeks 1-5
During this unit, learners will write a research paper on a country of choice. We will pay close attention to the pre-writing process of researching, creating an outline, and note taking. In addition, we will focus on the essential elements of each paragraph and how to write a strong introduction and conclusion. Learners will also create a presentation on their country study and adapt the information from their essays to their slide presentation. They will present these to their classmates.
For our literature study, we will read the wonderful book Me & Marvin Gardens. We will spend one class per week discussing the novel, focusing on comprehension, story, themes, and life lessons.

Week 1
Day 1:
Introduction to a Research Report
Selecting our Subjects (Each learner selects a country)
An overview of the format of a Five Paragraph Research Report
Discussion about selecting appropriate resources for research
Day 2:
Introduction to Me & Marvin Gardens
Pre-Reading Activity

Week 2
Day 1:
Creating our outlines
Learning how to take effective notes & why we don't take notes in complete sentences
Beginning our research 
Looking at the structure of a topic paragraph 
Creating topic sentences
Begin note taking on the three topic paragraphs
Day 2:
Discussion on Me & Marvin Gardens
Reading Response Writing

Week 3
Day 1:
Continue note taking for topics
Understanding the essential elements of an introduction
Outlining our Introductions
Day 2:
Discussion: Me & Marvin Gardens
Reading Response Writing

Week 4
Day 1:
Understanding the essential elements of a conclusion
Outlining the conclusion
Assigning Presentations on the researched Country
Day 2:
Discussion: Me & Marvin Gardens
Reading Response Writing

Week 5:
Day 1:
Discussion about varying sentence structure
Taking a look at common essay errors
Editing Workshop
Day 2:
Discussion of Me & Marvin Gardens 
Reading Response Writing

Week 6:
Day 1: 
Country Study Presentations 
Day 2:
Discussion of Me & Marvin Gardens as a whole and book project presentations
Reading Response Writing

(Begin Book Report)

Week 7
Day 1:
Overview of a book report
Discussing the three topics (Plot, Character, Theme)
Day 2:
Creating our outline 
Outlining the introduction

Week 8:
Day 1:
Outlining the first topic paragraph
Creating a topic sentence
Learning to cite evidence from the book
Day 2:
Outlining the second topic paragraph
Creating a topic sentence
Learning to cite evidence from the book

Week 9:
Day 1:
Outlining the second topic paragraph
Creating a topic sentence
Learning to cite evidence from the book
Day 2:
Outlining the conclusion
Making sure everyone understands all they need to in order to begin writing

(New Novel Study)

Week 10:
Day 1:
Discussion about varying sentence structure
Taking note of common essay errors
Editing Workshop
Day 2:
Introduction to Me & Marvin Gardens
Pre-Reading Activity

Week 11
Day 1:
Figurative Language Study (Simile)
Creative Writing with Figurative Language
Day 2:
Discussion: Song For A Whale
Reading Response Writing

Week 12
Day 1:
Figurative Language Study (Metaphor)
Creative Writing with Figurative Language
Day 2:
Discussion: Song For A Whale
Reading Response Writing

Week 13
Day 1:
Figurative Language Study (Personification)
Creative Writing with Figurative Language
Day 2:
Discussion: Song For A Whale
Reading Response Writing


Week 14
Day 1:
Figurative Language Study (Alliteration)
Creative Writing with Figurative Language
Day 2:
Discussion: Song For A Whale
Reading Response Writing


Week 15
Day 1:
Figurative Language Study (All that we have learned)
Creative Writing with Figurative Language
Day 2:
End of Book Discussion 
Book Project Presentations