Writing Units of Study – Grade 6 – September to
June
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|
Month/Length of Study |
Units of
Study |
Genre,
Process or Craft |
Type of
Publication |
Number
of Publications |
Six
Trait Writing Focus |
Habits
of Mind & Key Ideas |
Resources |
|
September 3 days |
Quick Publish Assessment |
|
Personal Narrative |
One |
|
|
|
|
September 3 weeks |
Launching the Writing Workshop |
Process |
Varied – possible choices: Letters and Journal entries |
One |
Ideas
& Content Voice |
· Rereading writing for clarity and
conventions · Stamina |
Speaking
of Journals: Children’s Book Writers Talk about their Journals by Paula Graham Guiding
Readers and Writers (Grades
3-6) (Fountas and Pinnell) Nonfiction
Writing From the Inside Out (Robb) |
|
October 4 weeks |
Informational Essay |
Nonfiction Genre |
Report |
One |
Ideas
& Content Organization |
· Creating/putting together an informational report · proper use of works cited · evaluating sources · nonfiction organizational structures (Laura Robb) · “Taking the I out of essay” |
Nonfiction
Writing From the Inside Out by Laura Robb Mastering
the 5-Paragraph Essay by Susan Van Zile |
|
November 2 weeks |
Mechanics |
Conventions |
Varied Genre: Notebook Entries |
One or Two |
Conventions
Punctuation Capitalization Grammar Usage |
· Sentence
structures (applying more sophisticated mechanics) |
Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson Daily Language Workout by Great Source |
|
November 2 weeks |
Revision |
Craft |
Varied Genre: Notebook Entries |
Two |
Organization Sentence
Fluency Voice |
· Writing can and should be revisited
and re-envisioned |
10
Writing Lessons for the Overhead by Lola Schaefer Lessons
that Change Writers
by Nanci Artwell |
|
December/January 4 weeks |
ELA Testing Study |
Genre |
Short & Extended Responses |
Many |
Ideas
& Content Sentence
Fluency Organization Conventions Voice |
· Studying the format, content and
demands of the test · Writing Short & Extended
Responses based on guided reading and read-aloud materials |
Think
Along to Better Test Performance Steck-Vaughn Four
Square Better
Answers ( Steck-Vaughn Berrent |
|
January/February 4 weeks |
Voice |
Craft |
Varied Genres: Persuasive Essay, Play, Memoir, etc. |
One |
Voice Conventions Presentation Organization Word Choice |
· Proper
use of dialogue and quotes · Leads/Conclusions · Actively
engaging the reader |
4 Square Mastering the 5-Paragraph Essay by Susan Van Zile Time For Kids Kits Six Traits Kits |
|
February 1 week |
Revisiting the Writer’s Notebook |
Process |
Varied Genre: Notebook entries |
One or Two |
Ideas and
Content Sentence
Fluency Conventions |
·
Fluency ·
Creativity ·
Gathering more seeds ·
Writing can and should be revisited and re-envision |
Use formal/informal assessment (kid watching) to differentiate |
|
March 4 weeks |
Literary Essay |
Genre |
Literary Essay |
One |
Organization Ideas and
Content Conventions Voice Sentence
Fluency Presentation |
·
Proper use of quotes ·
Crafting and developing a clear thesis ·
Finding supporting evidence |
Writing
About |
|
April 3 weeks |
Poetry |
Genre |
Poetry Anthology |
Many |
Voice Conventions Organization Word
Choice |
·
Self expression ·
Matching form to expression/imagery ·
Using mentor poets ·
Symbolism ·
Using theme |
The No Nonsense Guide to Writing by Judy
Davis and Sharon Hill Awakening the Heart by A Writing Kind of Day by Ralph Fletcher A Variety of Anthologies by Naomi Shihab-Nye |
|
May 4 weeks |
Narrative |
Genre |
Narrative |
Two |
Ideas and
Content Voice Sentence
Fluency |
·
Changing point of view (first person to third person) ·
Imagery |
The Pain and the Great One by Judy
Blume |
|
June 3 days |
Reflection |
Process |
Varied: Narrative,
poem, letter |
One |
|
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