BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Language Arts in 6th Grade

Welcome to Room 418 – Mrs. O’Hare

Check out our “Where I’m From” poems, written by students as we explore how our life experiences

affects how we interpret text.1/3 period – Back Wall

Period 4/7 - in hallway across from roomPeriod 5 – On cabinets

Back Again – Scholastic Book ClubsA great way to fill your child’s library with classic and new

children’s literature. A great way to fill our classroom library also!

Realtime – All grades available weekly on Realtime

New this year…

Trip to McCarter Theater to see “A Christmas Carol”

No Spring field trip planned as of yet, looking for Science and Social Studies trip.

New units of study reflecting Common Core Curriculum Standards (national)

Teacher Web Page – Check mine out!

The Workshop Format…

Allows students to choose – what they read and what they write

Provides direct instruction modeled by the teacher

Gives students extended time to practice the taught strategies

Allows teachers to conference one on one or in small groups with students

Assesses formatively, allowing teachers to plan instruction based on the student’s needs

Fosters independence and confidence in readers and writers

Writing Workshop

Students write every day in the classroomStudents follow the steps of the writing process to

produce a number of finished pieces throughout the year

Students explore different genres of writingWriting instruction encourages students to study

mentor texts, often texts shared in Reader’s WorkshopSpelling, grammar and mechanics are taught within the

workshopThroughout middle school, writers will add to their

“Writer’s Toolbox” to produce increasingly more complex and mature pieces of writing in a variety of genres

Assessment in Writer’s Workshop

Assessment will be ongoing and formativeCompletion and quality of Writers Notebook“Writing as a Process” gradesGraded final product Graded Word Work assignments (Spelling,

usage, vocabulary)

Overview of this Year in 6th Grade Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop UnitsLaunching Writers Workshop – Personal NarrativeRealistic Fiction – Big Dreams, Tall AmbitionsInformational Writing/Research – Real Life

Mysteries Personal/Persuasive EssayBiographical SketchLiterary EssayTest PrepIndependent Project – Writing about History

Before Reading Workshop…

Teachers chose ”good books” that all students would read, regardless of ability or interest

Books were taught specifically, not generallyStudents demonstrated their comprehension by

answering questions in study packets and defining vocabulary words

Students read round robin, at differing fluency levelsStudents were tested on the material they had

“learned” with “right” answers.Yes, that was the way we learned but… did we enjoy

it?

Reader’s Workshop

Allows students to choose books at their level and interest, to read independently

Teaches reading strategies directly by modeling on a shared text, then sending students off to practice in their own reading

Gives students extended time to read independentlyAllows teachers to conference with individual or small groups

of studentsAllows students to interact with text to create their own

meaningBuilds a community of readers who share, think about,

recommend and respect booksEncourages students to think “big” when reading.Fosters an excitement and love for reading

Every day in Reader’s Workshop

Read AloudMini – Lesson: short, strategic and focusedIndependent reading time – in a perfect

world, 25 minutesTeacher confers with individual or small

groups during independent readingShare – students come together to celebrate

reading successHomework – Independent reading and

responding at home

Assessment in Reader’s Workshop

Assessment will be ongoing and formativeCompletion and quality of Reader’s Response

JournalAssessments reflecting the use of taught

strategiesGraded Word Work

Overview of this Year in 6th Grade Reading Workshop

Reading Workshop UnitsLaunching Readers WorkshopCharacters and Other Story ElementsMystery Book ClubsExpository Non-Fiction – Navigation and Perseverance Narrative Non-Fiction: Life StoriesInterpretation – Developing Analytical Reading

PracticesTest Prep/NJ ASKHistorical Fiction Book Clubs

3 Things You Should Know About Me

I love kids

I understand that all kids are unique

I am a team player

Thanks for Coming!

Any questions?