Middle School (5-8) » ELA

ELA

Middle School ELA

5th Grade

Green Woods 5th grade literacy program uses American Reading Company (ARC) Core as our ELA curriculum resource, along with the Collins Writing Program. ARC Core is a framework that provides teachers with a structure to promote inquiry through apprenticeship. The resource provides a scope and sequence aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), high interest text for teacher modeling, and varying levels of text for student independent work. Along with the framework, ARC provides an Independent Reading Level Assessment that guides teachers through setting individual reading goals for students.
The ARC resources support students as developing readers by providing them with strategies they need to be able to read complex text on their own. Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Language skills are embedded throughout each unit as students study themes connected to Science, Social Studies, and Literature. There are 4 units of study throughout the school year.  In 5th grade these units consist of Literacy Lab, Ecosystems, Adventure and Survival, and Space.

 

The Collins Writing program is a 5 step approach to writing. Students will focus on different skills through each stage of writing, from your typical “rough draft” (Stage 1) all the way through editing and publishing (Stage 5). The framework used in Collins Writing gives clear expectations for students throughout the entire writing process. It incorporates specific focus areas that are mastered before moving forward. Since the method is used in all grades at GWCS, it allows for common language and skills to be developed from kindergarten through eighth grade.

6th Grade

Green Woods 6th grade literacy program focuses on novels as anchor texts to challenge students and serve as a foundation for an investigation into theme, genre, and related essential questions. Novel studies are supported with the Collins Writing Program, and serve as the base and supplemental complex texts support and complement the students’ reading journey. The 6th grade reading program also uses Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections which is a comprehensive middle school literacy program that provides students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The Collections program uses topically linked complex texts to drive instruction in close reading, drawing inferences and conclusions, citing specific textual evidence, and developing argument. Students read and respond to works of literature and informational texts with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence. Within the Collections program students practice the skills of communication in speaking, listening, and writing with interactive lessons that provide models and feedback.  Students demonstrate careful analysis, well defended claims, and synthesis of ideas.

 

The Collins Writing program is a 5 step approach to writing. Students will focus on different skills through each stage of writing, from your typical “rough draft” (Stage 1) all the way through editing and publishing (Stage 5). The framework used in Collins Writing gives clear expectations for students throughout the entire writing process. It incorporates specific focus areas that are mastered before moving forward. Since the method is used in all grades at GWCS, it allows for common language and skills to be developed from kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

Theme

Novel

Animal Intelligence- Pax is able to develop a special connection with Peter. As a fox, Pax displays human characteristics such as friendship, loyalty, love and determination.


Pax by Pennypacker

Facing Fear- “Nothing to fear, but fear itself!”

Literature Circles:

  • Tight; Torrey Maldonado
  • The Only Road; Alexandra Diaz
  • Freak the Mighty; Rodman Philbrick
  • Under a Painted Sky; Stacey Lee
  • A Good Kind of Trouble; Lisa Moore Ramee
  • Maybe He Just Likes You; Barbara Dee
  • Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter To The World; Ashley Herring Blake

Dealing With Disaster - “Through every kind of disaster and setback and catastrophe. We are survivors.” —Robert Fulghum 

Alone; by Megan E. Freeman
96 Miles by J.L. Esplin
 

7th Grade

Green Woods 7th grade literacy program focuses on novels as anchor texts to challenge students and serve as a foundation for an investigation into theme, genre, and related essential questions. The novels serve as the base and supplemental complex texts support and complement the students’ reading journey. The 7th grade reading program also uses the Collins Writing Program and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections, which is a comprehensive middle school literacy program that provides students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The Collections program uses topically linked complex texts to drive instruction in close reading, drawing inferences and conclusions, citing specific textual evidence, and developing argument. Students read and respond to works of literature and informational texts with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence. Within the Collections program students practice the skills of communication in speaking, listening, and writing with interactive lessons that provide models and feedback.  Students demonstrate careful analysis, well defended claims, and synthesis of ideas.

 

The Collins Writing program is a 5 step approach to writing. Students will focus on different skills through each stage of writing, from your typical “rough draft” (Stage 1) all the way through editing and publishing (Stage 5). The framework used in Collins Writing gives clear expectations for students throughout the entire writing process. It incorporates specific focus areas that are mastered before moving forward. Since the method is used in all grades at GWCS, it allows for common language and skills to be developed from kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

Theme

Novel

Facing Adversity- Cole had to take bold actions internally and externally to overcome adversity.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson

Perception and Reality- Jonas is living in a community perceived to be perfect. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Disaster & Human Nature (Nature at work)- Conflict either with nature, self, or with man impact human behavior 

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

8th Grade

Green Woods 8th grade literacy program primarily focuses on novels as anchor texts to challenge students and serve as a foundation for an investigation into theme, genre, and related essential questions. The novels serve as the base and supplemental complex texts support and complement the students’ reading journey. The 8th grade reading program also uses Collins Writing Program and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Collections which is a comprehensive middle school literacy program that provides students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The Collections program uses topically linked complex texts to drive instruction in close reading, drawing inferences and conclusions, citing specific textual evidence, and developing argument. Students read and respond to works of literature and informational texts with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence. Within the Collections program students practice the skills of communication in speaking, listening, and writing with interactive lessons that provide models and feedback.  Students demonstrate careful analysis, well defended claims, and synthesis of ideas.

 

The Collins Writing program is a 5 step approach to writing. Students will focus on different skills through each stage of writing, from your typical “rough draft” (Stage 1) all the way through editing and publishing (Stage 5). The framework used in Collins Writing gives clear expectations for students throughout the entire writing process. It incorporates specific focus areas that are mastered before moving forward. Since the method is used in all grades at GWCS, it allows for common language and skills to be developed from kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

Theme

Novel

Culture and Belonging- examining values and beliefs and how they shape us.


Refugee by Alan Gratz

Social Inequality - The historical move towards freedom through the eyes of powerful characters and historical figures

The Unsung Hero of Birdsong by Brenda Woods

Approaching Adulthood: Developing into an adult requires life skills such as self reliance, innovation, and the will to survive in dire situations.  

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman