English Language Arts

Language Arts 6,7,8 Common Core Curriculum

• Vocabulary: Academic and contextual vocabulary; Greek and Latin root words.
• Grammar: Punctuation; phrases; sentence structure (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex)
• Writing: Informal, formal and on-demand writing pieces: constructed responses and essays (narrative, explanatory, and argumentative)
• Literature: Short stories, plays, informational texts, novels, and poetry.
• Reading Focus: Central idea/theme, story elements, text structure, literary elements
• Speaking/Listening:  cooperative work, informal presentations

 6th grade Core Literature:

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
• Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
• Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman

7th grade Core Literature:

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton  
• The Giver by Lois Lowery
• The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (This compilation of stories will be used at various times throughout the year)

8th grade Core Literature:

• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare