Welcome Grade 6: Language Arts Reading and Writing Mrs. Thompson Please write your student’s name and address on an envelope. I will use this to send a positive note home at some point during the year. 

As a grade level… Students spend equal time with all 3 teachers. Please be sure to communicate with all 3 of us when necessary. Growth Mindset and the Power of Yet Encourage students to problem solve and “embrace the struggle” We work together and frequently communicate about the needs of our students

Reading Both literature and informational text Key Ideas and Details Cite text evidence Draw inferences from text Determine theme or central idea Summarize text Describe how plot unfolds and how characters change as the story moves towards a resolution Craft and Structure Analyze word choice, meaning, and tone Determine figurative and connotative word meanings Analyze how a portion of the text fits into the whole and how it impacts theme, setting, or mood Explain how author develops point of view

Reading Close reading (underline, highlight, annotate in the margins) Analyze texts with similar themes to compare and contrast Compare and contrast reading a text to listening or watching a video Written response to text (RACE) Novel work allows students to apply these skills with a text that we are reading as a class

Writer’s Workshop 3 Main Units Personal Narrative Literary Essay (argument) Research-Based Informational Writing (teen activism)

Writer’s Workshop Each session includes: Mini-lesson with teaching point and active engagement Individual conferencing and/or small group work A mid-workshop teaching point, and A share activity to close the session Encourages students to: Work to their potential Continually evaluate their own writing using a checklist and/or rubric Frequently set goals

Vocabulary Focus on Greek and Latin Roots New roots are introduced on Mondays (10 words each week) We brainstorm, discuss, sort, and review in class Homework is meant to aid students in developing good study habits Choose an activity from the list Due on Wednesday Quizzes on Fridays Review test after every 2 roots

Homework Reading: 20 minutes of nightly reading work (reading and/or responses) Writing: Continue working in writer’s notebook on specific assignments or finish final copies. Vocabulary: Complete a brief assignment each week. Study words for weekly quizzes or review tests given on Fridays.

My website Nightly homework Vocabulary words and homework choices Dates of upcoming events, tests, & quizzes Book order information and link Link to Google Classroom and BrainPop for students Pictures of class activities updated throughout the year Link : http://thompsonlis.weebly.com/