Literary Reading
During the course of the year, we will strengthen our active reading strategies and literary analysis skills, studying a variety of literature, including novels, short stories and poems. Students will gain experience interpreting texts, making inferences and personal judgments. They will learn how to decipher meaning in a text and explore the way in which an author develops theme, setting, plot and employs figurative language in a literary work.
During the course of the year, we will strengthen our active reading strategies and literary analysis skills, studying a variety of literature, including novels, short stories and poems. Students will gain experience interpreting texts, making inferences and personal judgments. They will learn how to decipher meaning in a text and explore the way in which an author develops theme, setting, plot and employs figurative language in a literary work.
Nonfiction Reading
We will read informational texts determining main ideas, citing textual evidence, evaluating claims, as well as comparing and contrasting arguments. Focusing on multiple perspectives, students will learn valuable analysis skills.
We will read informational texts determining main ideas, citing textual evidence, evaluating claims, as well as comparing and contrasting arguments. Focusing on multiple perspectives, students will learn valuable analysis skills.
Writing
Students will write descriptive, expository and persuasive pieces, developing and structuring their ideas with clarity and incorporating relevant details to support their claims. By embarking on diverse writing tasks, they will learn the way in which purpose and audience shapes writing.
Students will also complete research projects, gathering evidence from several sources, and evaluating content for credibility. Through inquiry, critical thinking and reflection, they will learn to question, ponder, examine and evaluate content, ultimately reaching their own judgments and opinions.
Students will write descriptive, expository and persuasive pieces, developing and structuring their ideas with clarity and incorporating relevant details to support their claims. By embarking on diverse writing tasks, they will learn the way in which purpose and audience shapes writing.
Students will also complete research projects, gathering evidence from several sources, and evaluating content for credibility. Through inquiry, critical thinking and reflection, they will learn to question, ponder, examine and evaluate content, ultimately reaching their own judgments and opinions.
Speaking & Listening
Effective speaking and listening skills will be sharpened as students engage in a range of collaborative discussions in pairs, small groups and whole class. Through formal and informal discussions, students will learn how to build on others’ ideas and express their own with clarity and conviction. By posing and responding to questions, students will demonstrate their understanding and be exposed to diverse perspectives.
Effective speaking and listening skills will be sharpened as students engage in a range of collaborative discussions in pairs, small groups and whole class. Through formal and informal discussions, students will learn how to build on others’ ideas and express their own with clarity and conviction. By posing and responding to questions, students will demonstrate their understanding and be exposed to diverse perspectives.
Language Usage
Through our study of standard English grammar and usage in writing, reading and speaking, students will demonstrate a command of the conventions. Vocabulary acquisition will be a critical component as students acquire and accurately use words and phrases.
Through our study of standard English grammar and usage in writing, reading and speaking, students will demonstrate a command of the conventions. Vocabulary acquisition will be a critical component as students acquire and accurately use words and phrases.
Resources
Burke, Rebecca. Themes: An Introduction to Literature. Perfection Learning© Corporation. 2007.
Kemper, Dave, Sebranek, Patrick, and Meyer, Verne. Write Source. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 2012.
Rohde, Mike. The Sketchnote Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Visual Note Taking. [San Francisco, CA]: Peachpit, 2013.
Burke, Rebecca. Themes: An Introduction to Literature. Perfection Learning© Corporation. 2007.
Kemper, Dave, Sebranek, Patrick, and Meyer, Verne. Write Source. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 2012.
Rohde, Mike. The Sketchnote Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Visual Note Taking. [San Francisco, CA]: Peachpit, 2013.