M/J Language Arts 1 – Grade 6
Credits: 1
Estimated Completion Time: 2 segments/32-36 weeks
Earliest Start Date: November 2018
Pre-Requisites:
Recommended for 6th grade
Description
Using a motif of Heroes, Helpers, and Hope, students in the MJ Language Arts 1 course will acquire the reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and beyond. Students will become critical readers and thinkers as they delve into fiction and informational texts within the course. They will also learn to effectively write narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces and present their ideas clearly and cohesively.
Access the site link below to view the course description from the Florida Course Code directory.
Regular course description: http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewCourse/Preview/13162
Advanced course description: http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewCourse/Preview/13163
Major Topics and Concepts
Segment 1
Reading Comprehension/Informational & Expository Writing/Narrative Writing
Developing an idea
Identifying theme
Plot pattern
Comparing and contrasting mediums
Using context clues
Thesaurus and dictionary skills
Implicit and explicit meaning
Finding the main idea
Writing an effective summary
Assess internet sources
Why writers choose words
Reading informational texts
Researching and organizing information
Avoiding plagiarism/citing sources
Writing an introduction
Connecting and supporting ideas
Writing a conclusion
Revising writing
Using formal language in writing
Recognizing point of view
Identifying the narrator
Planning narrative writing
Beginning a narrative
Writing dialogue
Writing the body of a narrative
Using commas
Writing effective transitions
Segment 1 Advanced
Novel Study
- Changes in language
- Analyzing major characters
- Mood and point of view
Segment 2
Reading Comprehension/Argumentative Writing
Determining the central/main idea
Paraphrasing a text
Writing a summary
How authors express ideas differently
How word choice affects meaning and tone
Using spelling rules
Using diverse media formats
Determining relevant information
Interpreting figures of speech
Literal and figurative meaning
Comparing/contrasting texts
Using context clues
Ancient foundations of democracy
Interpreting implicit and explicit meaning
Identifying poetic devices
Looking for connotative meanings
Analyzing plot pattern
Protagonist and antagonist
Determining point of view
Finding and interpreting symbols
Determining theme in a text
Using pronouns correctly
Pronoun/antecedent agreement
Creating a commercial
Elements of an effective claim
Effectively supporting a claim
Identifying reliable sources
Organizing an argument
Writing a strong introduction
Correcting run-ons and fragments
Using transitions and signal phrases
Maintaining formal style
Writing a solid conclusion
Revising and reflecting
Proofreading and editing
Segment 2 Advanced
Elements of drama
History of drama
Language patterns in historical texts
Soliloquy and monologue
Mood in drama
Required Materials
All students select ONE novel below:
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Schooled by Gordon Korman
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engel
Storm Runners (book 1) by Roland Smith
Advanced students select ONE additional novel below:
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Knots On My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli
OR, choice of an autobiography or biography of a person born after 1850
Course Grading
Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***
***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When taking the exam to assess a student’s integrity, the exam must be passed with at least a 59.5% in order to earn credit for the course.
Communication Policy
To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful
English
Geri Gates, Jacob Denbrook, Randell Embertson