6th Grade Language Arts

Teacher: Ms. Mary Ellen Harmeyer, mharmeyer@stclarepdx.org

Daily Oral Language/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Writing/Literature 
Language arts is a comprehensive and integrated subject. We cover grammar, punctuation, writing, vocabulary development, and literature analysis. We complete a daily practice of grammar and punctuation exercises on the Smartboard and everyone gets a chance to correct on the Smartboard. We currently are utilizing the Literature: Reading with Purpose series from Glencoe for the basis of our literature reading and analysis. We will study literary elements and traits. In addition to the anthology, we also read several novels a year.

Every month we will complete a “Quick Write,” a creative writing exercise. We will use these pieces to practice our 6+1 Writing traits, peer proofreading, editing, and rubric scoring skills. We will take the monthly writing piece to a final writing piece.

We also memorize and recite three poems for presentation in class.

6th Grade Syllabus

1st Trimester

Sept. 6 – Dec. 2

 

DIBELS testing #1

DAZE comprehension

testing #1

 

Literature Novel:

My Side of the Mountain

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

Literature Anthology:

Unit 7: What Can We Learn From Our Mistakes?

 

Literary Elements: plot, characterization, conflict

 

Vocabulary

units 1 – 6

 

Grammar: sentence type review; subjects, phrases, clauses

 

Writing Traits: organization, revision, main idea, topic sentence, supporting sentences

 

Writing Assessment #1

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Time
 

2nd Trimester

Dec. 5 – March 9

 

DIBELS testing #2

DAZE comprehension

testing #2

 

Literature Novel:

Bridge to Terabithia

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

Literature Anthology:

 Unit 5: How Should We Deal With Bullies?

 

 Literary Elements: symbol, sequence

 

 Vocabulary

Units 7 - 12

 

Grammar: verbs, subject/verb agreement

 

Writing Traits: voice, dialogue

 

 

Writing Assessment #2

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Time

3rd Trimester

March 12 – June 8

 

DIBELS testing #3

DAZE comprehension testing #3

 

Literature Novel:

The Cay

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

 

Literature Anthology:

Unit 2: What Brings Out the Best In You?

 

Literary Elements: tone, theme

 

Vocabulary

Units 13 - 15

 

Grammar: pronouns, antecedents

 

Writing Traits: conventions

 

 

Writing Assessment #3

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library/Computer Time