Description
This course lays the groundwork for effective communication and critical thinking skills, essential for future leaders. Through a combination of literature, writing, and oral communication activities, students develop a strong foundation in language arts, the bedrock of all other content area studies.
Students learn reading, writing, speech, research, and technology skills through explicit, direct instruction, and then they apply their knowledge while creating projects and presenting them to the class. This class is different in that we focus on real-world application of ELA skills and content. We talk about how to give presentations, how to make a good impression while pitching a proposal, and students learn to use 21st century literacy skills to deliver quality work.
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Students will:
–present 5 major class presentations
–read 5 novels and multiple short stories and discuss them in class
–complete grammar and sentence writing exercises each day
–create an educational cartoon
–create an eBook of poetry, including their original work
–participate in a Poetry Slam
–plan, edit, and produce a video version of a short story
–create a time capsule of the year of their birth
–write informational pieces
–create a digital infographic
–create a podcast
? SNAPSHOT OF OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES:
-To create and maintain a friendly environment, we start class by briefly getting to know each other or catching up with life.
-Students practice a short and sweet grammar/writing mini-lesson
-The instructor explicitly teaches the day’s concept or skill, which includes modeling. We often have workshop time where students can get things done and ask questions.
-Students complete their projects in class and for homework.
-Some days include student presentations.
-Some days include student presentations
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All students receive specific feedback on their work. We are intentional about putting a little pressure on them and teaching them how to handle that pressure. They will rise to the occasion with mental toughness and confidence because they will know what to do, how to do it, and are absolutely capable of pulling it off. We are building leaders who will take on the world as high achievers.
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Students can expect to have about 2-3 hours of homework per week. In addition, they read our class novels.
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Class Podcast: “Kids on the Case” by the website ???? ?? ????????.
Students learn journalistic language arts, investigate crime stories, and practice voice recording and editing. The final project entails creating a podcast episode featuring an investigative story.
⦿ research & reading for information
⦿ writing the podcast
⦿ recording and presenting the podcast
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Learners study figurative language and poetic devices, then practice identifying their use in a classic, epic poem. Then, they imitate the style and structure of the poem to write their own, publishing it in a music video.
????? ℙ???: “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
⦿ Poetic Devices
⦿ Poetry Writing
⦿ Video editing and poetry presentation
⦿ Matching a music style with lyrics
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In a research project, students explore the literature, music, art, and historical events of their birth year and place, creating a time capsule representing this time.
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⦿ research & reading for information
⦿ curating items for the time capsule
⦿ Writing a “thing explainer” for the time capsule
⦿ Class presentation and game to guess your “thing”
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Students explore the art of modern oral storytelling in the form of reels, bringing narratives from comic strips alive in our fake Instagram/TikTok.
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⦿ video recording & adapting a comic to a series of reels
⦿ Student project & class presentation
PRE-REQUISITES:
Students should know how to use Google products and be able to tackle extensive technology tools with perseverance as they learn new tools. If students need to develop a foundation of technology tools, they should take this class first: SmartStart ELA: Tech Powered Learners Ready for Middle School
The other semesters of the Middle School Language Arts series of classes are not prerequisites, and these middle school semesters can be taken “out of order.” Still, students should have a solid foundation in reading and writing before taking this class. They should be able to sustain longer periods of independent reading, not losing comprehension of an seventh-grade text. If students still need the learn the essentials of essay writing, you can take one of the following:
Foundations of Essay Writing a five-week class
or the Self-paced (no live meetings) class called Essay Essentials
Get to know Mrs. Lemons and the Lemons-Aid Team a little more.
