Grades 6, 7 & 8 ELA

ELA for Grades 6. 7, & 8 

January - February 2025

English Language Arts      Grade 8

Reading: Chapter Book

Chapter Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Materials: Chapter Book - To Kill a Mockingbird; Scholastic Magazine - SCOPE;

                                            Articles on current events, Videos

Skills: 

Students will read and comprehend materials as well as vocabulary words at their grade level.

They will make inferences as they read.

Identify evidence that supports their responses.

They will identify the main idea or central idea.

Write the theme(s) for a selection. 

Analyze figurative language in literature as they read.

Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech. Evaluate Dr. King’s speech; select one of his favorite
quotes and explain its significance during this era as well as during the time it was given.  Evaluate
the speech and write your own future dream for self, family, community, the nation or the world.

Research ONE Black Inventor using more than one source for the research.

Compare and contrast the information from the text to the movie.

Research: Black History (One of their favorite Black people in;1965-2001; someone who did something first and important). 

Assessment: Tests, Quizzes, Exit Tickets, Write the best 5, Discussion, On going questioning and research.

Research ONE Black  Inventor using more than one source.(1965-2002)

Writing:  Materials: Videos

Text:  Writing Process 

          Samples of Writing pieces. 

          Write short responses with supporting evidence

          Argumentative Writing, Journal Writing, Letter Writing, Write a well organized paper to present the research.

          Informative or explanatory Writing: Write your own dream speech for the future.

 

Grade 7

Materials: Other Literature works as well as Videos

Chapter Book - 1. The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank), 

2. Scholastic Magazine - “SCOPE”, 
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Skills: 

Students will make inferences about the selection they read. 

Write the theme and support with evidence from the text.

Analyze the figurative language used in the text. 

Identify the main idea or central idea of a page or page from what they are reading.

Analyze claims with evidence from the text. 

Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Speech. They will identify new vocabulary words from text using context clues

Research: Black History 

Research a Black person who did something first in (Literature/Poet/Author, Mathematician, Scientist, Historian)

Write about the person selected using a guide and a rubric.

Assessment: Tests, Quizzes, Exit Tickets, Write the most important 5, Discussion, On going questioning.

 

Grade 6 Text :  Chapter Book : 1. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper                          2. Scope - Scholastic Magazine                          3. Hatchet by Gary Paulson Materials: Videos, Movie, IXL (Practice Skills), ReadWorks Skills: They will learn the meaning of new vocabulary words by using context clues. Analyze a chapter or a few pages of the text read. Identify figurative language and explain in your own words its meaning. Write a theme for a short story or a chunk of a text. Identify the main idea or central idea of a passage from the text. Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Speech.  Select one of his quotes and explain in your own words based on students background information as well as what they read about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Research: Black History ( One of their favorite Black people in sports ;1975-2001; someone who did something first in sports) Analyze claims and support with evidence from text. Assessment: Tests, Quizzes, Exit Tickets, Write first , Discussion, On going questioning and research.   Writing: Materials: Writing Process, Samples of Writing pieces.  Write short responses with supporting evidence Argumentative Writing, Journal Writing, Letter Writing Informative/Explanatory essay: Write a well-organized paper for your research.

You may reach the Parent Portal here https://parentportal.eschooldata.com/buffalodiocese

Mrs. Marie McCoy   mmccoy@cawb.org 

***********************************************************************************************************************************

6th, 7th and 8th Grade Language Arts

Welcome to 7th & 8th grade English Language Arts! This year will be an exciting year for both of us and I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you. I am very understanding, but I will challenge you every single day, so come prepared to learn and work hard. 7th & 8th grade are a big years with a lot of challenges, but I am here to assure you that you’ll do great as long as you put your mind to it.

I am sure that you will have a ton of questions every single day that we spend together. Please know that I am always willing to answer your questions if you ask them with patience, an open mind, and a respect for those around you. Always know that there are no stupid questions; but please know that one of my biggest pet peeves is when a question is asked when someone else is speaking. Respect and manners are always necessary.

There is going to be a lot that I expect from you because I already expect greatness from each one of you. You will work hard for your grade, but more importantly you will work hard to earn the grade you deserve based on the amount of effort you put into your learning. I am a very firm believer that it takes dedication to succeed anywhere that you go. I am dedicated to your learning and helping you in every way, so push yourself to learn and grow. Do not make excuses for yourself because it will not get you anywhere. In the end, it is your responsibility to prove to me that you’re ready for high school one day.

Always know that if you do not understand something, never hesitate to ask me. It is my goal to teach you language arts and it’s a chance for me to show you my passion for reading, writing, and teaching the English language. In the end, I can only hope that you, too, discover that same passion; but if you are not learning or are very confused, we are both doing something wrong. I am here for you and your learning. If you are failing, then I am failing; and the one thing to know about me is that I hate failing and I don’t accept it EVER!

I wish you nothing but the best this year and the rest of your duration at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo. Remember, “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney. Show me your courage to learn this year -