6th Grade ELA
(14 Units, 119 Lessons)
Unit 5 - Independent Reading(20 Lessons)
Footprints in the Snow (or Marking Up a Text)6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Marking up a text, annotating, leaving footprints in the snow...show us your thinking, kids!
My Brain is a File Cabinet6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:When students are able to use background knowledge when they read, the ability to comprehend is drastically improved. And that's a good thing!
Of Course We Discourse!6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Getting kids comfortable talking to each other is a lot of work, but it will pay off in the end!
Avoiding the Librarian Stare Down (Expectations for Visiting the Library)6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:For our first library visit in Middle School, students get a mini-lesson in how to utilize resources, locate genres, and behave like scholars.
How Readers Choose Books6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Half the battle is getting students into a book to begin with!
Interacting with a Text6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:As a way of introducing nonfiction and informational texts, connecting to our Anchor Text is the easiest way to go!
Turn and Talk Fishbowl6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Having used the Turn and Talk strategy for years, deciding to take the discourse deeper challenges thinking.
A Community of Rocket Scientists6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Students become rocket scientists, as they collaboratively solve how to get from a moon mishap to their mothership.
Metacognitive Marvin, the Little Guy Inside My Head6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Inspired by a quote in Cris Tovani's book "So What Do They Really Know?" students identify the narrator in their head.
How to Buzz (or talk about what we read)6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:All of my favorite books have come as recommendations from friends. By "Buzzing" better than an Amazon.com review, students share their reading (and, shhhh, their thinking).
Independent Reading Check In6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:By our first midterm, I had a sneaking suspension that some students had lost some momentum toward their goal. Good thing I didn't!
Sketch to Stretch Your Thinking6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:I pull this lesson out on figurative rainy days--when my kids have been working really hard, when we're all a little burned out. I mean, who doesn't like a little doodling?
Intro to Independent Reading6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Students learn what reading looks like in our classroom and read an engaging article to help build our community.
Community Building6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Before our first peer review, I knew my kids needed some community-building before they would trust each other. So we built each other up!
Abandoning Books6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Language Arts teachers never tell kids that it's okay to give up on a book, but this lesson gives intentionality to this act.
The Workshop Wonderland6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:By establishing routines and rituals, students learn that there are community-based benefits of the workshop.
Writing a Good Recommendation6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:I really try to stay away from adding work to student choice reading, but a book recommendation seems like a nice compromise.
Background Knowledge and Independent Reading6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Sometimes we get so wrapped up in new concepts, we forget to give the kids an opportunity to practice reading on their own.
Reading Contract6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:As a way to chunk their goal, and to keep track of progress, we created a contract.
Using Images to Infer6th Grade ELA» Unit:Independent Reading
6th Grade ELA
» Unit:
Independent Reading
Big Idea:Using powerful images, students will make inferences.
