Communication Arts


Communication Arts 6

The primary focus of 6th grade communication arts is to become a better reader, writer, speaker and listener. These lessons will be supported through the use of Core Ready materials. Students can expect to read and analyze a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts including novels, short stories, poetry, memoirs, speeches, etc. 

Writing assignments will include summaries, research techniques, argumentative structure, an informative essay, fictional writing, and written analysis of many different genres. Because we are a community of learners, students can expect to work periodically in cooperative learning situations and to present information to their peers in collaborative teams as well as individually. Throughout the duration of the school year, students will read and respond to a wide variety of genres to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience. They will use a variety of thinking strategies to understand, analyze, and create text for personal enrichment, problem-solving and an appreciation for texts of all kinds as a way to learn more about the world around them. Students will learn to collect, analyze, and cite specific evidence to formulate questions, construct arguments, make decisions, and support their thinking.

Communication Arts 7

This class consists of reading, writing, speaking, and listening with a focus on reading and writing informational texts. Some major units of study in Communication Arts include poetry, argumentative essays, and historical fiction.

Communication Arts 8

In 8th grade communication arts, the focus is to become high school ready in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We use the Core Ready series to guide students through the process. Our four main units center around The Shape of a Story (fantasy reading and writing), The Road to Knowledge (research paper), The Power to Persuade (persuasive speech) and The Journey to Meaning (dystopian reading and writing). We integrate grammar into the curriculum to help students become high school ready writers.

In addition, this course is a combination of finding textual evidence, individualized reading programs/goals, and literature circles. There is also consistent instruction to enhance reading comprehension, inferencing, making reasonable predictions, and with a goal to foster an overall love of literature.