Homeschool English/Language Arts for 6/7th Grade, Fall Semester

Welcome to Semester 1 of Sixth or Seventh Grade English/Language Arts!

This course is designed with homeschool families in mind and covers grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary, speaking, and listening.

WHAT LEVEL CLASS IS BEST FOR MY CHILD? HOW CAN A CLASS BE BOTH SIXTH and SEVENTH GRADE?
This class is designed to work well for both 6th and 7th graders. I teach at a high 6th grade to early 7th grade level. More advanced 7th graders will be guided on how to stretch themselves with challenges in the form of modified assignments (rather than extra work). If your child is a strong 7th grader, you might also consider my 7th/8th grade class. At the same time, students who need more support will receive modifications and extra help when needed. If you have a lower 6th grader, you might also consider my 5th/6th grade ELA class.

Think of it this way: all students in the class will write an essay. A 6th grader may write a shorter, more supported version. A 7th grader might write a longer, more detailed essay. An advanced 7th grader may be asked to add outside research. The structure and goals are the same, but the expectations are flexible—so every student can grow from where they are.

WHAT TO EXPECT EACH WEEK
Each lesson starts with a quick icebreaker, so learners can get to know each other a little and feel more comfortable speaking up during academic discussions. 

First Meeting of the Week (Monday or Tuesday):
These sessions focus on reading. In the first week, we’ll get to know each other, discuss procedures, and dive into our first book. From Week 2 onward, we’ll explore story elements (plot, characters, setting), reading comprehension, and vocabulary through meaningful discussions. To get the most out of class, learners should complete the assigned reading before each session.

Second Meeting (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday):
These sessions focus on grammar and writing. Lessons will include direct instruction, guided practice, and lively discussions. Homework will be assigned to give learners a chance to practice and apply their new skills.

REQUIRED BOOKS
1. By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman
Get ready for adventure in this story of a 12-year old boy named Jack who sets off to discover gold during the California Gold Rush to save Jack's family fortune. The book is full of humor, adventure, and wit.

2. Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Twelve year old Lucy has genius math abilities after having been struck by lightning. She has been homeschooled since the event but is now entering public middle school where she must navigate the challenge of fitting in with her peers, making true friends, and trying to rescue a very special dog.

Books can be borrowed from the library, purchased, or accessed via eBook or audiobook. If your learner uses audiobooks (which is perfectly fine!), they will improve their reading skills more rapidly if they also follow along in a print copy. Annotation is an important part of the course, so sticky notes or flags can be helpful if writing in books isn’t an option. We will often do “scavenger hunts” in the book, so having a print or electronic book handy during class is extremely helpful as well.

We’ll wrap up each book with a fun Kahoot game!

HOMEWORK
Homework will be posted in the Assignments tab and should be submitted as a Google Doc, PDF, JPEG, or Word document. For handwritten assignments, a photo or scanned copy is perfectly fine! If your learner uses Google Docs, please ensure sharing is set to “Anyone with the link.”

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY
This class does not require research or references to sources aside from the assigned novels. Please do not use AI or outside sources on any homework assignment unless specifically instructed to do so (such as if I provide a source).

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
This class is designed for 6th and 7th graders, and I’ll adapt lessons to fit the needs of each learner. Differentiation might include extra challenges, modified assignments, or adjustments to the class pace. My goal is to provide just the right level of challenge for everyone. If your learner needs additional support or enrichment, let me know—I’m here to help!

Any class slides will be made available after the class when they are shared. These slides and the notes on them will help your learner remember what to do on the upcoming homework assignment. In addition to defining key terms, I will often include an example of what I’m looking for on these slides. If you have any questions about an assignment after viewing the slides, please do not hesitate to ask.

I may also occasionally provide optional extra resources for your convenience. This will include links to additional free resources (such as websites and educational videos) to help your child master the content of the course.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP 
-Please make sure your learner is keeping up with the assigned homework. If they are struggling, please communicate that to me, so I can offer suggestions or alternatives. I am more than happy to modify assignments, cut back on assignments, or add enrichment, depending on your child's needs.
-Please help your learner join class on time if possible.  We only have 25 minutes per class meeting, so I want to take advantage of every second of our time together.
-Please communicate with me any problems, questions, concerns that you have. I am here to help.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This course focuses heavily on grammar at the start of the semester and transitions to more writing as we progress. If your learner needs extra support, I’m happy to recommend additional resources, classes, or activities, such as journal writing or paragraph writing.

Spelling is not covered in this class, but I’m happy to recommend age-appropriate spelling resources if needed. 

Please see Syllabus for an agenda of weekly topics.

You can follow up with my Complete Homeschool English/Language Arts Curriculum, 6ht/7th Grade, Semester 2 class (coming soon).