Language+Arts

= Common Core Standard Strands =

(See: http://www.scoe.net/castandards/agenda/2010/ela_ccs_recommendations.pdf) Also see themes in International Baccalaureate: [|Areas of Interaction]

Reading Literature Reading Informational Text Writing Speaking and Listening Language

= Language Arts Year Overview =
 * =**Trimester 1**= || =**Trimester 2**= || =**Trimester 3**= ||
 * == Unit 1: Time to Grow Up! (6 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
What distinguishes childhood from adulthood? (How do we decide who we are and who we want to be?)

Ideas:
Bridge the gap from elementary school to middle school by:
 * having students reflect on their lives/learning so far
 * being clear and explicit about new expectations: What is middle school for? (What is the purpose of school?) What kind of student do I want to be? What kind of person do I want to be and how can school help me with that? What is Yale University and why should I know about it?

Literature:
 * Setting up Reader's Workshop
 * Being a Kid/Growing Up: Calvin & Hobbs, //The Cat in the Hat or Oh, The Places We Will Go!//
 * // Local News // (especially ones that relate to growing up, taking on new responsibilities)
 * // Esperanza Rising // ([|Hispanic American Heritage Month])
 * // Peter Pan? //
 * // Pinocchio // (self-control)

Nonfiction:
 * development of the brain
 * Erikson's stages of development
 * Cesar Chavez, [|Chicano Movement]

Writing:
 * Setting up Writing Workshop
 * Personal Narrative/Memoir ([|StoryCorps] and [|Youth Radio] as examples) (//Write Like This//: Ch. 2 Express and Reflect)

Language:
 * Setting up Language Lab

Character Strength:
Self-Control: puppy-training our bulldogs, personal responsibility || == Unit 3: Embracing Heritage (8 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
How does heritage define us individually and as a nation? (How much do our communities shape us? Is conflict always bad?)

Developing tolerance and respect for differences, interest and curiosity about people of different backgrounds as well as your own).

Dec. Human Rights Month Peace Studies / Conflict Resolution: Understand the other side's feelings, intentions/goals/wants/desires, motivations (part 1)

Ideas:
Nonfiction:
 * Geography, world and current events

Writing:
 * "Where I'm From" poem

Literature:
 * Dr. Seuss - The //Sneetches//
 * Civil Rights Movement/MLK Speeches (Jan.)
 * // The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 //

Writing:
 * Research Report ( // Write Like This // : Ch. 3 Inform and Explain)

Character Strength:
Social Intelligence || == Unit 4: Folklore: A Blast From the Past (6 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
How is folklore simultaneously revealing and limiting? (How do we decide what is true? Fiction and nonfiction) Do we understand nature better now than we did in the past? Are we closer to it because of our newfound knowledge, or more distant from it? Do we take care of it as well as now as in the past? (Plant the seeds of ideas we will return to in the final unit.)

Ideas:

 * Links to history (oral history came before there was writing, stories were passed down by mouth)
 * Storytelling

Literature:
 * Forms of Fiction
 * Continue //Watsons// (Feb. [|Black History Month])
 * //Women's stories//
 * //[|Irish Tales]//

Nonfiction:
 * Feb. [|American Heart Month] (goes with courage, Valentine's Day, and heath!)
 * Mar. [|Women's History Month]
 * Mar. [|Irish-American Heritage Month]

Writing:
 * Response to Literature (//Write Like This//: Ch. 6 Analyze and Interpret)

Character Strength:
Grit/Optimism (Women and the [|Irish], also [|Cesar Chavez (revisited) day] ) ||
 * == Unit 2: Courageous Characters (6 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
How are acts of courage revealed in writing? (Is conflict always bad?)

Ideas:
Literature:
 * //Tale of Despereaux?//
 * Oct. [|National Book Month]
 * //The Phantom Tollbooth//
 * Nov. [|Native American Studies]

Writing:
 * Fictional Narrative (Nov. [|NaNoWriMo]) ( // Write Like This // : Ch. 5 Inquire and Explore)

Character Strength:
Zest/Curiosity: Motivation comes from being interested, taking an interest in things. What are you curious about? How can you wake/fire up your zest for learning?

Gratitude: Thanksgiving, Native American Studies || == Unit 5: Figure it Out (4 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
How do strategies for solving math problems compare with strategies for solving mysteries? (How do we communicate our thinking and experiences? Is conflict always bad?)

Conflict Resolution: Identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, negotiate/compromise to reach an agreement (part 2)

Ideas:
Literature:
 * Dr. Seuss - //The Butter Battle Book//
 * Mystery
 * Can we also do poetry, puzzles, riddles?

Nonfiction:
 * Math-related reading, logic, deduction
 * Apr. [|Mathematics Awareness Month] and [|Financial Literacy Month]
 * Consumer Awareness: //Get Real//

Writing:


 * [|Poetry]
 * Problem-Solution/Persuasive (//Write Like This//: Ch. 4 Evaluate and Judge)

Character Strength:
Grit & Curiosity

|| == Unit 6: We, the Keepers of Our Earth (6 weeks) ==

Essential Question:
How can we take better care of ourselves and the Earth?

Ideas:
Literature:
 * Dr. Seuss - //The Lorax//
 * Life // As We Knew It //
 * // So Far From the Bamboo Grove //

Nonfiction:


 * Science-related: Apr. 22 - Earth Day
 * Apr. [|Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month]
 * Environmental Stewardship
 * May Health topics: [|Children's Mental Health Awareness Month], [|National Bike Month], [|Asthma Awareness Month], [|National Physical Fitness and Sports Month]
 * May [|Asian Pacific American Heritage Month]
 * May [|Jewish American Heritage Month]
 * Jun. [|Great Outdoors Month]
 * Jun. [|National Oceans Month]

Writing:
 * Problem-Solution/Persuasive ( // Write Like This // : Ch. 7 Take a Stand/Propose a Solution)

Character Strength:
Gratitude ||