READING
• Use engaging, complex texts to:
       •Develop critical-thinking skills
       •Expose students to high-quality model texts
       •Inspire students to view reading as an enjoyable and worthwhile activity
       • Read a variety of genres on a regular basis, including: Literary nonfiction, Informational text, Dramas, Essays, Short fiction, 
                Debates, Poems, Fables, Folktales, Myths, Videos and other Primary documents including multimedia “texts” letters and 
                speeches
       • Synthesize information from two or more texts.
       • Use text evidence to support claims and inferences.
       • Discuss text-based questions.
       • Develop important reading skills, such as:
       •Close reading •Author’s craft
       •Synthesizing •Summarizing
       •Text marking •Text evidence
       •Context clues •Inference
       •Character •Central ideas and details
       •Text structures •Text features
       •Theme •Analyzing arguments
       •Figurative language and •Tone/mood and literary devices much more!
       • Understand and evaluate visual texts, including infographics, maps, and more.
       • Build knowledge in:
              •Science •Social studies•History •Current events

 WRITING
•Central claim/thesis statement
•Organization and structure
•Choosing relevant details to support claims
•Editing and revising
•Word choice
•Transition words, phrases, and sentences
•Quoting and paraphrasing
•Grammar
• Write for different purposes and audiences, as well as in a variety of genres, including: Argument essays, Narratives, Poems, Speeches, Explanatory, Videos, Informative essays
• Use guided writing activities to write well-structured essays.
• Experience writing as a rewarding and useful activity.
• Build writing stamina.

ASSESSMENTS
• Build test-taking stamina and confidence with quizzes featuring multiple choice and constructed-response questions.
• Read, Think, Explain, our popular nonfiction reading activity, reinforces essential nonfiction reading skills all year long.
•Core Skills Workout for reinforcement, review, and extra practice with:
       •Inference
       •Mood and tone
       •Text evidence
       •Central idea and supporting details
       •Summarizing
       • Handy handouts demystify challenging ELA jargon.
 
LANGUAGE
• Practice important grammar skills, such as:
       •Pronouns
       •Punctuation
       •Subject-verb agreement
       •Modifiers
       •Sentence variations
       •Clauses
• Acquire a range of academic and domain-specific vocabulary words through reading, speaking, and listening.
• Use new vocabulary in writing about and discussing Scope texts.
• Use context clues to learn new words, as well as explore shades of meaning between similar words, connotations, and words with 
       multiple meanings.
• Explore connotations of words.
• Reference materials for students to explore new words in groups or independently.
• Review new vocabulary through activities and quizzes.
 
SPEAKING AND LISTENING
• Use close-reading and critical-thinking questions for class discussion.
• Communicate clearly and articulately about texts, and respond critically and respectfully to the ideas of others.
• Create presentations and projects, both independently and in groups.
•Class debates that emphasize logical thinking and supporting ideas with evidence.
 
TECHNOLOGY
• Information quests guide students through the research process, emphasizing how to find relevant
details and identify reliable sources.
• Use digital tools to create multimedia projects.
• Develop technology literacy critical to academic and career success.

Scope supports the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts. The authentic texts and specially-designed lesson
plans and activities in this language-arts magazine support anchor standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language.

Please copy and paste the link below to see a detailed description of how this content meets Common Core Standards.
https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/magazines/standards/ccss/605-WB_CCSS_SC.pdf

Each week, students will be assigned reading and interaction with the reading in the form of "activities" as homework in order to prepare for the next class.  

Informal assessment/observation available upon request.  

1 hour per week in class, and an estimated 0 - 1 hours per week outside of class.

Included with this class is a 12 month digital subscription to Scholastic Junior which gives students access to the current year's content as well as last year's archived content.