Grade 5 & 6 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Semester 2 of 3

This 12-week course will cover part two of 5th and 6th grade English Languages Arts Common Core Standards in a multi-age setting. 

Homeschooled students can benefit from a full and complete curriculum whereas students who are already ELA at school can enroll for additional support, practice, or enrichment. 

Literacy development is a lifelong journey that is composed of many complex concepts and understandings that are not limited to the written Western page. In 2021, reading and writing has taken on new lengths. Importantly, we are now exposed to a much wider variety of literature in the form of film, documentary, theatre, podcast, blogs, songs, webpages, magazine articles, and so much more. Literacy includes the capacity to learn to communicate, read, write, think, explore, and solve problems. Literacy skills are used in paper, digital, and live interactions where people: 

    * analyze critically and solve problems 

    * understand and communicate meaning 

    * create a variety of creative and analytic content

    * read, view, and listen for fun

    * make connections both personally and intertextually 
    * engage in personal summaries and analyses

    * and more!
   
With examples, support, and practice, students will have the opportunity to deepen their critical skills as they work with fun, poignant, age-appropriate, and engaging content… all the while participating in focused conversations and completing core standards.


January 8/9: Introductions & Icebreakers
January 11/12: Developing Your True Writer's Voice
January 16/17: Amulet: The Stonkeeper Part 1
January 18/19: Identity & Writing: Part 1
January 23/24: Amulet: The Stonekeeper Part 2
January 25/26: Identity & Writing: Part 2
January 30/31: Amulet: The Stonekeeper Part 3

February 1/2: Identity & Writing: Part 3
February 6/7: Stories Podcast
February 8/9: An Essential Writer's Toolbox
February 13/14: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Documentary
February 15/16: Avoiding Plagiarism & Unique Writing

February 20/21: NO CLASS or assignment, Midterm Break
February 22/23: NO CLASS or assignment, Midterm Break

February 27/28: Songs: Yesterday- The Beatles, Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple, What They'll Say About us - FINNEAS

March 1/2: Writing Dialogue
March 6/7: Poetry: Tattoo - Ted Kooser & The Laughing Heart - Charles Bukowski
March 8/9: Write Your Own Essay: Part 1
March 13/14: Refugee: Part 1
March 15/16: Write Your Own Essay: Part 2
March 20/21: Refugee: Part 2
March 22/23: Write Your Own Essay: Part 3
March 27/28: Refugee: Part 3
March 29/30: Final Essay (Writer's Portfolio)

April 3/4: Class Party!
April 5/6: *makeup class, if needed!

Weekly schedule:

Mondays/Tuesdays: Live lesson with exposure and instruction of the assigned literature. Students are asked to come to class up-to-date with the assigned reading, listening, or viewing material and come ready to engage in critical thinking and discussion with their peers. They will leave with a literary assignment (written, video, audio, or graphic) at the end of each lesson to be handed in each Thursday, by 7pm ET, if they would like feedback on them.

Wednesdays/Tuesdays: Live lesson where students will complete in-class grammar and writing assignments that will fine-tune their writing skills. Making grammatical mistakes when we speak or write is a natural part of language learning. As we seek to communicate effectively and tighten our production skills, good grammar is an essential toolbox to allow us to communicate more effectively.

I provide written feedback on all submitted assignments and can grade assignments upon request.

Students should be prepared to engage with the material and their fellow peers at Grade level. However, due to the interruption of learning this past year, I will make sure that all students feel safe and welcome in my class and leave with a positive view of literacy!

Please note that upon registration for this class, you agree that I do not share recordings of group classes for the privacy and safety of all learners.