6:1 – Thursday – Middle School Writing

Description

Instructor: Mary Anne Cheraz (Lessons By Design)

Semester Pricing: $280 per semester (Private Pay discount available, All Charters Accepted)

Thursdays 10:30-11:45

Literature-Based Approach to Writing for Grades 6th-8th, Heroes! Newbery Award Collection

Students will analyze literature through discussion and writing. Writing will incorporate some IEW techniques along with Thinking Maps and other graphic organizers. Weekly grammar component to be incorporated, as well as Writer’s Workshop student teacher conferencing. A variety of writing genre to be covered with an emphasis on how to think about, organize, and plan writing. Writing genre to include informative, narrative (story writing), argumentative, and poetry. One oral presentation per semester. Texts for the class will include an Easy Grammar workbook, along with the following award-winning novels. Readings are meant to stimulate class discussion and writing. Three literature books per semester will be read depending upon class pacing. Text or audio versions acceptable. Books subject to change.

* Some class time will be devoted to test prep. Then there will be some separate optional ‘clinic’ opportunities outside of class to prepare for state-administered SBAC/CAASP Language Arts Performances Tasks. The clinics will be presented for an additional cost at various points throughout the year.

Materials Required:

Easy Grammar Plus Student Workbook (Red Cover)

978-0-936981-14-7

Easy Grammar Plus Teacher Edition

978-0-936981-13-0

Literature books can be purchased or checked out from the library.

1. Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

ISBN 978-0-7636-8764-9

2. Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin

ISBN 978-0-14-036335-7

3. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

ISBN 978-0-547-53426-8

4. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

ISBN 978-0-547-57709-8

5. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

ISBN 978-0-547-55029-9

6. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

ISBN 978-0-547-61432-8