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***The Middle School Language Arts Mini-Courses are designed around a theme and can be taken in any order. Each course contains informational readings and touches on national standards. To get a more rigorous and full semester long experience, please see my Middle School Language Arts Part 1 and Part 2 courses. The readings and topics are different in the full semester classes and cover more national standards.**

Course Description:
This self-paced and subscription Language Arts course does not have any live meetings. The course is aligned to the national standards of citing text evidence, main idea, summarizing, argument writing, and collaboration and discussion. 

This course is centered around the big question, "How do we decide what is true?". The informational readings and assignments during this course will be related to the course's big question as well as each reading's big question. The readings will be used to support the national standards. Feedback will be given on each assessment that is turned in.

ESL/ELL:
All readings have been translated into a number of languages using Google Translate. These are to help with comprehension if needed. Many of the readings build background knowledge prior to students independently. reading the text through the use of SDAIE strategies.

National Standards:
-RI.5.1, RI.6.1, RI.7.1, RI.8.1, RI.9.1 - Citing Text Evidence
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Main Idea
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Summarizing
-W.5.1, W.6.1, W.7.1, W.8.1, W.9.1 - Argument Writing
-SL.5.1, SL.6.1, SL.7.1, SL.8.1, SL.9.1 - Collaboration and Discussion

Course Format:
Learners will build background knowledge on some of the texts prior to reading. SDAIE (Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English) strategies are used to help build background knowledge. These strategies are specifically designed for ESL/ELL students, however, all students can benefit from these strategies. The documents will be checked via a lesson video. Students will then read texts and complete assessments over the standard of the week.

The teacher will be available throughout the week via Outschool to answer any questions and give feedback. 


Course Schedule (Subject to Change):
Unit 1
-Lesson: Citing Text Evidence
-Reading: “A Place Where Strays Can Stay”
	-Big Question: Are no-kill animal shelters really more humane than other animal shelters?
-Reading: “Having Friends, Making Choices”
	-Big Question: What is the best way to handle peer pressure?

Unit 2
-Lesson: Main Idea
-Reading: “Smart Money”
	-Big Question: Do allowances help kids learn the value of money?
-Reading: “Policing Changes”
	-Big Question: What is the true role of a police officer?
-Reading: “Celebrity Scoop”
	-Big Question: Do we have the right to know the truth about celebrities’ lives?

Unit 3
-Lesson: Summarizing
-Reading: “Fear in the Spotlight”
	-Big Question: Are people’s fears about public speaking grounded in truth?
-Reading: “Facebook or Face-to-Face?”
	-Big Question: How do we really know someone?
-Reading: “The Fear Factor”
	-Big Question: Are phobias real or all in the head?

Unit 4
-Argument Writing