Full Curriculum ELA: Reading Writing, Vocab, Test Prep & Grammar (Grades 5-6)
In this course, students in grades 5-6 will work on advanced reading, analysis, vocabulary grammar, & writing skills appropriate for the middle grade levels. Pdfs of all materials are provided.
Vanessa Roach
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(361)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Students will have short optional writing assignments or quizzes posted to complete after class. If you would like them checked, please send them to me.Assessment
Quizzes and formative assessmentsClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 7
Intermediate Level
I appreciate your interest in my class! This class is suitable for students in grades 5-6 (or remedial students in grade 7) who wish to learn more advanced reading and writing strategies and techniques. I also accept students in younger grades that are advanced readers. Throughout this class, students will read a variety of pieces of literature, complete writing activities, study vocabulary and grammar, as well as engage in critical discussions. This class moves students past recall (who, what, when, where) and encourages students to analyze, think critically, and support ideas with evidence. For example, I might ask students to consider point of view, predict, infer, interpret, etc. Students will also analyze how these academic vocabulary words are used (helpful for test prep). Ultimately, students are asked to make connections through literature and their own lives. Through a critical study, students will explore how context and background information advance a story's plot, how characters change and mature, how authors structure writing for specific purposes, and how types of evidence are used to persuade readers. Students will also be provided with optional resources to practice. Each week will be a new text, so students can join and leave at any time. However, classes are organized by units for continuity. It is not required for students to attend all lessons from that unit to understand what is going on. IMPORTANT: many classes have short readings or writings assigned as homework. Please message me to ask for the readings. Average homework time per week is 30 minutes or less. My response time is within 24 hours. Types of writing: paragraph structure breakdown of writing components (hooks, introductions, thesis statements, etc) argumentative persuasive technical writing research narrative descriptive creative Skills taught: annotation/active reading strategies poetry analysis plot elements and structure irony figurative language vocabulary in context grammar theme and writing thematic statements comprehension and analysis writing effectively for a purpose "showing" instead of telling using textual evidence effectively citing evidence inference writing for different audiences inference/drawing conclusions test prep reading a variety of genres and formats analyzing data Class Structure: 1. Welcome 2. Test Prep Warmup 3. Weekly Vocab/Grammar Lesson (alternates) 4. Reading passage/skill 5. Writing prompt, skill, or analysis of writing 6. Closing JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025 Beginning week of Jan 16 Unit 1: Through Animals' Eyes Vocab Builder for Vocabulary Grammar: Types of Sentences/Subject and Predicate Lesson 1: Notice and Note Signposts in Fiction, vocab Lesson 2: Excerpt from "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker and evidence, grammar Lesson 3: "Zoo" by Edward Hoch and drawing conclusions, vocab Lesson 4: Informational Text "Animal Snoops: The World of Wildlife Spies" by Peter Christie, subheadings, informational components, grammar Lesson 5: Animal Poetry, vocab Lesson 6: Argumentative reading: Wild animals aren't pets, grammar Lesson 7: Debate writing part 1, vocab review Lesson 8: Debate writing part 2, grammar review Unit 2: What does it take to be a survivor? Vocab Builder for Vocabulary Grammar: Punctuation and Capitalization Lesson 1: A Long Walk to Water Excerpt, vocab, nonfiction narrative writing skills Lesson 2: Into the Lifeboat (memoir from a Titanic Survivor), grammar, nonfiction narrative writing skills Lesson 3: The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry, vocab, nonfiction narrative writing skills Lesson 4: The Day I Didn't Go to the Pool, grammar, nonfiction narrative writing skills Lesson 5: Preparing your pets for Emergencies Makes Sense, vocab Lesson 6: Radium Girls informational text, grammar Lesson 7: Writing a Public Service Announcement, vocab Lesson 8: Unit wrap up, review vocab and grammar
Learning Goals
Students will be able to:
1. Determine how writers alter meaning through literary devices
2. Recognize plot elements in short stories and analyze characters
3. Identify main ideas and specific details in an article
4. Determine the difference between theme and main ideas
5. Write effective paragraphs
6. Discuss cause and effect relationships in non-fiction texts
7. Gather information and provide textual evidence
8. Construct written responses that demonstrate grade-level skills of analysis
Other Details
Learning Needs
I have experience with learners with learning disabilities and neurodivergence. I do not "cold call" on students. Cameras must briefly be turned on for me to verify identity. Students may communicate via chat or by raising their hand.
Parental Guidance
All texts/content do not contain anything that would be inappropriate for students at this level. All texts are commonly used or taught at the middle level. Some texts may have a spooky theme or reference murder/death (no gory details described). No profanity, vulgarity, etc. will be in any texts that I use. All texts are posted prior to class and parents are welcome to read through them prior to class.
Pre-Requisites
Students should be reading at a minimum of an 5th grade reading level and be able to use Zoom functions (chat, mute/unmute)
Supply List
printouts, writing supplies, etc. Needed materials will be posted each week. It is helpful if learners have a printer, however, it is not required. Students can participate in all activities without a printer.
2 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
The teacher will provide reading sources. Each source will be available in PDF format for easy accessibility.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
361reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Indiana Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in English from University of Southern Indiana
In my classes (brick and mortar and Outschool), I work with all levels of students (IEP students, general education, and high-ability students). My goal as a teacher is to foster critical thinking and communication skills in order to help your child achieve their goals and become more proficient readers, writers, and critical thinkers. More than that, I encourage students to fall in love with learning.
Experience/Education:
-Brick and Mortar Teacher for 7 years (current)
-Outschool Teacher for 3 years (current)
-BS in Education (Reading/English 3-12, Gifted Education 3-12, Special Education 5-12)
-Masters of Arts In English Teaching
-Certification in High Ability/Gifted Learning Strategies
-Certification in Teaching Students with Learning Exceptionalities
-SAT/PSAT Testing Administrator (5 years)
-Harkness Socratic Seminar Trained (Summer of 2023)
-Indiana Writing Workshop Trained (Summer of 2023)
I am a secondary English teacher with certifications in gifted education and special education. I have been professionally teaching for 7 years and have a masters of arts in English education. I enjoy using socratic and discussion-based learning to help students think deeply about the texts that they read.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 113 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
4-7 learners per class
