1. 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. 

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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 :