5th and 6th Grade Homeschool ELA: Reading & Writing for Spring Semester

Welcome to Semester 2 of 5th/6th Grade English/Language Arts! This course is designed with homeschool families in mind and covers writing, reading, vocabulary, speaking, and listening.

WHAT MAKES THIS CLASS UNIQUE
* 25-minute lessons to help keep learners focused and wanting more!
* Differentiated instruction to address the unique needs of each learner!
* Engaging book choices that get the attention of even reluctant readers!


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.

REQUIRED BOOKS
1. Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (weeks 1-4)
Twelve year old Matt is left alone in the Maine wilderness in the 1700s while his father goes to fetch the rest of the family and bring them to their newly built cabin. How will Matt survive when he is injured and his father is delayed?

2. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Christopher Grabenstein (weeks 5-9)
A group of kids are taking on the ultimate escape room challenge, using clues, books, and games to compete and cooperate to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's ostentatious new library.

3. Front Desk by Kelly Yang (weeks 10-14)
Fifth grader Mia Tang and her parents live in and manage a motel. Mia faces discrimination based on her race and socio-economic status, but she perseveres--and makes some good friends in the process.

Books can be borrowed from the library, purchased, or accessed via eBook or audiobook. If your learner uses audiobooks (which is perfectly fine!), I recommend also following 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 during class time, so having a print or electronic book handy during class is extremely helpful as well.

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 your learner needs 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 assignments 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 session 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.

NOTE REGARDING HOLIDAYS
This class will be off for spring break the week of April 14-20. All other lessons will take place as scheduled including on any holidays. If you choose not to attend class because of a holiday, personal vacation day, or any other reason, I will make the class recording available to you to watch at your convenience.