1. Sixth Grade Language Arts
Mrs. Debbie Miller

2. Sixth Grade
This is when students make the shift from learning to read, to reading to learn.
Students need to be encouraged to grow as a reader, but also be careful not to read books that are too difficult.
Middle school books may tackle difficult topics such as war, death, relationships, and good vs. evil.

3. I love to read!
I realize that some of my students do not love reading as much as I do!
It is my job to help to connect kids with books that relate to their interests.
Students are required to read a minimum of thirty books for the school year.
Books will be selected by the students but they are required to read from all of the genres.
A portion of each class will be devoted to students reading their books.

4. What is a balanced literacy program?
Reading Workshop: Where students pick individual novels (based on guidelines given by the teacher) and then read their book during class time. Students are expected to react to what they are reading through discussion with classmates, journals, projects and one on one conferences with Mrs. Miller.
Mini lessons: Lessons that focus on a particular skill that will help students become more capable readers and writers. Mini lessons are usually taught to the entire class or to smaller groups based on student needs.

5. Students will read a variety of literary genres
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Fantasy
Mystery
Informational
Biography, autobiography, memoir
Poetry
Standardized Tests

6. SCOPE Magazine Provides high quality, high interest reading material
Will make otherwise challenging text accessible to all students through videos, levelled articles, multiple readings, individual and group activities.
SCOPE magazine has fiction and non-fiction articles with high interest writing activities.
SCOPE articles deal with current events and social issues that matter to teens.
SCOPE articles provide the background knowledge for reading historical fiction.

7. Writing Students will write for a variety of purposes
Students will understand why they need to become capable writers
Students will learn to write for different audiences
Students will learn to self edit their writing
Students will learn to peer edit writing
Students will use technology to research and type a piece of writing.

8. Conditions for learning (based on the work of research of Brian Cambourne)
Immersion-students are surrounded by a variety of books
Demonstrations-daily lessons
Expectations-set by the teacher
Responsibility-students help set their learning goals
Employment –practice
Response-students receive non-threatening, immediate feedback from the teacher.
Engagement-classroom activities must have personal value to students.

9. QUESTIONS????

10. Book Talk Example
BOOK TALK EXAMPLE