English Language Arts Curriculum
Northern Illinois District
Grade 6
I. Reading Skills
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read with understanding and fluency.
Learning Standard A: Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
Word analysis
Objective 1: Apply the study of root words, prefixes, and suffixes to understand vocabulary in text.
Objective 2: Apply etymology to understand word meaning in content areas.
Vocabulary
Objective 3: Use a variety of print and electronic resources to expand understanding of word meaning (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus).
Objective 4: Make inferences and deductions of word meaning (standard and/or non-standard) using clues provided in text.
Objective 5: Understand word relationships in analogies.
Learning Standard B: Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
Reading skills
Objective 1: Select reading material as appropriate for age and reading ability.
Objective 2: Use effective pre-reading strategies.
Objective 3: Identify text structure and utilize effective during-reading strategies.
Objective 4: Read with fluency and accuracy.
Text features
Objective 5: Identify text structure using graphic organizers (e.g., outlines, Venn diagrams, KWL, etc.) during reading.
Fluency
Objective 6: Use appropriate articulation, pronunciation, volume, and rate when reading orally.
Objective 7: Self-monitor accuracy and rate and adjust as needed.
Learning Standard C: Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
Comprehension strategies
Objective 1: Use text and prior knowledge to form, explain, and support questions and predictions.
Objective 2: Interpret and analyze entire narrative text using story elements, point of view, and theme.
Genre
Objective 3: Identify and apply independently appropriate strategies (i.e., compare and contrast, summarizing, evaluating, etc.) for before, during, and after reading for different genres.
II. Literature
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras, and ideas.
Learning Standard A: Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.
Literary elements
Objective 1: Compare different authors’ written interpretations on the same event, experience, or topic.
Objective 2: Compare and contrast common literary themes across various societies and eras.
Objective 3: Identify resolution/solution in written text.
Objective 4: Identify four main types of conflict and relate them to real-life situations.
Literary techniques
Objective 5: Identify and interpret figurative language and literary techniques.
Objective 6: Identify verbal irony - a contrast between what a speaker says and what he means.
Learning Standard B: Read and interpret a variety of literary works.
Objective 1: Identify characteristics and authors of various literary forms of fiction and non-fiction.
Objective 2: Identify and make connections from text to text, text to
self, and text to world.
III. Written Communication
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
Learning Standard A: Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure.
Grammar
Objective 1: Apply correct usage of punctuation and spelling to convey meaning.
Objective 2: Write compositions that incorporate complete sentences with subject/verb agreement, use of prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, possessive nouns, conjunctions, pronoun agreement, and interjections.
Spelling
Objective 3: Apply a variety of spelling strategies (e.g., visual memory, generalizations and rules, derivations, and knowledge of word parts).
Objective 4: Use resources such as dictionaries and spell-checkers.
Objective 5: Correct misspelled words when editing.
Sentence structure
Objective 6: Use correct and varied sentence structure.
Paragraph structure
Objective 7: Use transitions between paragraphs.
Learning Standard B: Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
Process writing
Objective 1: Revise drafts by adding, elaborating, deleting, combining, and rearranging text for coherence, progression, and logical support of ideas.
Objective 2: Utilize technology to support the writing process.
Objective 3: Apply suggestions learned during peer/teacher conferencing to written work.
Support and elaboration
Objective 4: Elaborate on details through examples, description, quotes, figurative language, facts, feelings, and reactions to enhance writing.
Objective 5: Provide support for all topic sentences.
Organization
Objective 6: Use varied internal and external transitions between ideas.
Editing/ evaluation
Objective 7: Reflect and develop goals for improvement in future writing using rubrics.
Objective 8: Self-critique written work.
Learning Standard C: Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
Modes of writing
Objective 1: Compose narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing.
Objective 2: Analyze and synthesize understanding of text in writing by making connections and identifying and/or defining implications and importance.
Visual presentation
Objective 3: Produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences using technology.
Audience/Purpose for writing
Objective 4: Produce writing for a specified audience and purpose.
IV. Oral Communication
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
Learning Standard A: Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
Objective 1: Restate and carry out a series of oral instructions.
Objective 2: Identify and manage barriers to listening.
Learning Standard B: Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
Objective 1: Deliver planned oral presentations using language and vocabulary appropriate to the purpose, message, and audience, providing details and supporting information that clarify main ideas, and using visual aids and contemporary technology as support.
Objective 2: Design and produce reports and multi-media compositions that represent group projects.
V. Application of the Language Arts
State Goal: As a result of their schooling, students will be able to use the language arts to acquire, assess, and communicate information.
Learning Standard A: Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems, and communicate ideas.
Objective 1: Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research.
Objective 2: Using multiple sources, design a project related to contemporary issues.
Learning Standard B: Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
Objective 1: Identify, evaluate, and cite primary sources without plagiarism.
Objective 2: Evaluate the reliability and appropriateness of print and electronic sources.
Learning Standard C: Apply acquired information, concepts, and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
Objective 1: Take notes, conduct interviews, and organize and report information in oral, visual, and electronic formats.
Objective 2: Present an oral and/or electronic report that is supported with evidence of research.