Homeschool English/Language Arts for 5th/6th Grade, Fall Semester

This class will be offered in the fall. If you are looking for a January start class, please check out my Homeschool ELA spring semester class. I still have a few openings!

Welcome to Fifth or Sixth Grade English/Language Arts! This class covers grammar, writing, reading, and vocabulary, speaking, and listening. 

OVERVIEW OF TOPICS COVERED
Semester 1 covers grammar, sentence writing, and paragraph writing. It also includes reading comprehension, vocabulary, and story elements (plot, characters, setting). Reading will take place outside of class, and we will discuss the assigned chapters each week. 

BOOKS
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Roz, a robot who washes ashore on a remote island, learns to survive by adapting to the natural world. As she forms unlikely friendships with the island’s animals, Roz discovers what it means to be truly alive.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Ten-year old Melody has cerebral palsy. She finally gains the tools she needs to communicate, but can she fit in with her peers when she is sent to mainstream school? 

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.

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 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.

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
Use of AI is not permitted on writing assignments. If you need help, please ask. I am happy to provide additional clarification or to modify assignments to make them more accessible.

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
This class is designed for 5th and 6th  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!

When relevant to the homework assignment, 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. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you need additional resources, class recommendations, or curriculum options for grammar and spelling, I’m happy to recommend age-appropriate resources. 

Please see Syllabus for an agenda of weekly topics.

There will be a Kahoot game at the end of each book/unit.

You can follow up with my Complete Homeschool English/Language Arts Curriculum, 5th/6th Grade, Semester 2 class.