Working toward the goals of reading with comprehension, writing with skill, and communicating effectively and responsibly, each sixth grader will learn to:

Reading:

• Read to learn vs. learning to read as in previous grades.
• Build vocabulary through listening to a variety of readings.
• See reading as a source of information and pleasure
• Read and use non-fiction sources (encyclopedias, biographies, software, etc.).
• Identify and read different types of fiction (folk tales, poems).
• Read with fluency and expression which demonstrates understanding of what is read.
• Identify the critical elements of a story, (plot, characters, setting, theme, point of view, conflict and resolution).
• Build reading/writing vocabulary by using context clues, dictionaries, glossaries, and thesaurus.

Reading Quick Check: Does your child:

• Give logical reasoning for opinions gained and strategies used when reading to pursue an interest or task?
• Explore a topic in depth until expectations are met or satisfactory conclusions reached?
• Identify purpose and effectiveness of author’s choice of literary elements and functional features in text?
• Continue to explore interests through conventional and technological text. 

Writing:

• Use legible writing in daily assignments.
• Maintain legible cursive and printing in written assignments.
• Use the writing process (plan, draft, revise, edit and publish) to produce high quality written work.
• Write clearly and effectively: (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions)
• Write in a variety of forms for different audiences & purposes (lists, stories, journals, letters, informational).
• Assess writing for strengths and weaknesses.
• Continue to correctly identify and use subject, predicate, parts of speech, prefixes and suffixes in their writing.
• Consistently spell frequently used words correctly.
• Continue to use editing marks.
• Write coherent paragraphs using a topic sentence supported by details.
• improve effectiveness of writing by using appropriate word choices while varying sentence type and length.
• Use technology as appropriate.

Communication:

• Give informal oral presentations (current events).
• Continue developing effective listening and communication skills.
• Integrate reading, writing, and communications skills to produce projects and/or oral presentations on topics covered in math, science and social studies.