6th (& 5th) Grade English Language Arts Fall Semester

The material for this course is based on accepted sixth grade level language arts standards, with enough scaffolding and flexibility for motivated 5th grade learners, or even older students who need some review or catch-up.  I'm always willing to consider other ages and grade levels on a case-by-case basis and am happy to communicate with parents regarding any learner's placement.

The 2024 Fall classes will meet twice/week for 12 weeks (24 classes) 

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TEACHER REFUND POLICY: Many families prefer to book far enough in advance to guarantee a spot in the class as they prepare for the coming academic year. I also realize that plans can shift and change. 
In order to reasonably help families who like to plan ahead, but also allow me the time to fill a space left empty after an unenrollment, please note that if you need to withdraw your learner for any reason up to FIVE WEEKS before the start date of this class, you can contact me with the details and I will be happy to issue a full refund. 

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This twelve-week unit is one independent part of a sixth-grade language arts course.  The two-semester course is designed to help learners review and reinforce the language arts foundations of the elementary years and move into the more in-depth critical thinking of middle-school.  During the middle-school years, students gain greater critical-thinking skills and are able to interact with literature and language in deeper ways. Their writing reflects their developing opinions and worldview as they grow in their ability to communicate clearly.

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WHAT WILL WE STUDY?

LITERATURE
√   "Framed" by James Ponti  (mystery) 
√   "The Silver Chair" by CS Lewis (fantasy/adventure) 
√   "Rescue" by Jennifer Nielsen (historical fiction)  
√    Short Story unit

WHAT WILL WE READ?

1. "Framed" by James Ponti is an exciting mystery novel that follows the adventures of twelve-year-old Florian Bates, an expert in observation and deduction. Florian, and his friend Margaret, use the TOAST method (Theory Of All Small Things) to unravel the puzzle behind a stolen painting and a missing person. "Framed" is a fast-paced and suspenseful story that combines elements of detective work, friendship, and adventure, inviting the reader to solve the case right along with them.
  
2. "The Silver Chair"  is one of the great classic fantasy adventures from The Chronicles of Narnia.  We'll follow Eustace and Jill on their quest as they race to find the missing Prince Rilian in time to see the Narnian throne passed on to this rightful heir, meeting giants, owls, and a gloomy marshwiggle along the way. 
 
3. "Rescue" by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a thrilling World War II story of espionage and intrigue. It depicts the journey of a 12-year-old girl named Meg Kenyon through Nazi-occupied France during World War II. When she learns that her father, who works as a British spy for the resistance, has been captured by the Germans, she embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue him alongside other fugitives. Throughout the story, Meg finds clues about her father’s whereabouts in his coded letter and uses her knowledge of spying techniques to overcome the challenges she encounters on the way. 


4. Finally, we'll turn our attention to the short story genre with a study of two classic short stories. We will compare and contrast lightly abridged versions of "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and  "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. Each of these stories will give students a good opportunity to examine the unique challenges and advantages of short story reading and writing. [Reading material for this section will be provided by the teacher.]
 
GRAMMAR
The grammar study for this fall/winter semester will focus on identifying parts of speech and their functions in a sentence.  We'll learn some very basic sentence diagramming along the way and will use what we learn about parts of speech to create spectacular, descriptive sentences.

WORD STUDIES
Through the ever-popular "Word of the Week" challenge, students will learn a cool, new word each week and be challenged to find ways to use these words in their daily conversation. Our book studies will also provide a wealth of new vocabulary as we discover the incredible variety and beauty of language.

WRITING
There will be optional writing projects for this unit. While there won't be any direct writing instruction, students will be given worksheets and tips to help them in the process. All submitted writing will receive detailed feedback and suggestions for improvement. Students will have the option to write a Narrative Essay, complete with strong descriptive language and proper use of dialogue, and/or a Persuasive Essay or Opinion Paper.

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The two semesters in the course are fully self-contained and able to stand alone. They can be completed in any order. Each semester includes literature study (reading 2-4 books, poetry, or informational text),  a specific grammar focus, and optional writing projects. 


FULL TWO-SEMESTER COURSE OVERVIEW (FOR REFERENCE)

SEMESTER 1  [THIS UNIT]
LITERATURE: 
     "The Silver Chair" by CS Lewis 
     "Framed" by James Ponti 
     "Rescue" by Jennifer Nielsen
      Short Story Unit (reading materials provided by teacher)
GRAMMAR: 
     Foundational Parts of Speech / Usage/Basic Diagramming 
     (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs)
     Parts of Speech: Modifiers / Usage
     (Modifiers: Adj, Adv, Prepositions)
WRITING PROJECT: 
      Personal Narrative/Description 
      Opinion Essay


SEMESTER 2
LITERATURE: 
     "The Hobbit" by JRR Tolkien 
     "Breaking Stalin's Nose" by Eugene Yelchin
     "A Murder for Her Majesty" by Beth Hilgartner
      Short Story Unit (reading materials provided by teacher)
      Reading Informational Texts
GRAMMAR: 
     Vocabulary Skills and Figurative Language
     (Greek/Latin Roots, Context Clues, Connotations, Analogies, Figurative Language)
     Sentence Structures
     (Sub/Pred, Simple/Compound/Complex, Conjunctions, Punctuation)
WRITING PROJECT: 
     Response to Literature