6th Grade

SECOND QUARTER LEARNING PRIORITIES

Common Core Sixth Grade Literacy Standards Emphasized

READING LITERATURE / READING NONFICTION
KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS / KEY IDEAS AND DETAILS
1.Cite textual evidence to supportanalysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. / 1.Cite textual evidence to supportanalysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. / 2. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
3. Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. / 3. Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
CRAFT AND STRUCTURE / CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. / 4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
5. Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. / 5. Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.

Writing: CCSSW6.2 -- Explanatory (CPS Framework Assessment Specification)

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a Topic and BIG Question: convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

  • Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
  • Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
  • Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
  • Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
  • Establish and maintain a formal style.
  • Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Explanatory writing aligns with reading standards 7 and 9—integrate from different sources; and writing standard 7—research to understand a topic.

Sixth Grade: Second Quarter Learning Priorities Weeks 11-12

Week 11 Include response to REACH assessment / Week 12
Reading Literature
CCSSRL6.1
Read closely, analyze, then infer with evidence
6.5 and 6.6—analyze purpose, structure, techniques—the author’s choices / Answer with Evidence
Answer analytic questions and respond with evidence
Question / Answer / evidence
Infer the author’s purpose and analyze the strategies used to achieve it. / Answer with Evidence
Answer inferential questions and respond with evidence
Question / Answer / evidence
Infer the author’s purpose and analyze the strategies used to achieve it.
Science
CCSSRI.6.1
Read closely, analyze, answer with evidence
6.2 analyze ideas –central and main
6.5 analyze author’s choices / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Analyze how writer uses structure and examples to communicate ideas and examples—how the writer supports a claim. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Analyze how writer uses structure and examples to communicate ideas and examples—how the writer supports a claim.
Social Science
CCSSRI.6.1
Read closely, analyze, answer with evidence
6.2 analyze ideas—central and main
6.5 analyze author’s choices / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Analyze how writer uses structure and examples to communicate ideas and examples—how the writer supports a claim. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Analyze how writer uses structure and examples to communicate ideas and examples—how the writer supports a claim.
Fluency
Rate, comprehension, expression, diction / This week’s read-aloud: / This week’s read-aloud:
Word Knowledge
CCSSRI.6.4
Context / Multi-meaning words / Paraphrase
Writing
explanatory/informational / Outline essay or report or response—support a claim.
Emphasize clear focus and support / Write essay or report or response to support a claim and emphasize transitions and coherence
MATH
Practice Standard 1: analyze problem, then solve it
6 work with precision / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Extended Response / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response

Sixth Grade: Second Quarter Learning Priorities Weeks 13-14

Week 13 / Week 14
Reading Literature
CCSSRL6.1 analyze then infer with evidence
CCSSRL6.2 summarize
Analyze techniques and infer purpose 6.5 and 6.6
CCSSR6.9 contrast literature with same theme / Contrast fiction and poetry. Summarize how they are different.
Analyze how fiction authors use details and other techniques to create a mood. Compare and contrast that approach with the way a poet includes details.
Compare and contrast a poem and a story that each communicate the same message. / Explain how words help communicate theme/idea
Read poetry or high-image fiction.
Interpret non-literal language—explain how to interpret it
Explain metaphors, similes, symbols with examples
Science
CCSSRI.6.2
Summarize, central idea, main ideas
CCSSR6.7 integrate information from different sources / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Integrate information and ideas from two different sources to respond to the big question. Clarify the central idea and main ideas. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Integrate information and ideas from two different sources to respond to the big question. Clarify the central idea and main ideas.
Social Science
CCSSRI.6.2
Summarize, central idea, main ideas / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Integrate information and ideas from two different sources to respond to the big question. Clarify the central idea and main ideas. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Integrate information and ideas from two different sources to respond to the big question. Clarify the central idea and main ideas.
Fluency
Rate, comprehension, expression, diction / This week’s read-aloud: / This week’s read-aloud:
Word Knowledge
CCSSRI.6.4
Context / Use thesaurus / Non-literal terms
Writing
explanatory/informational / Organize/Write essay or report with focus, support, organization, clear introduction and conclusion / Write a poem (it’s Thanksgiving week—values could be the theme)
MATH
Practice Standard 1: analyze problem, then solve it
6. work with precision / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Extended Response / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response

Sixth Grade: Second Quarter Learning Priorities Weeks 15-16

Week 15 / Week 16
Reading Literature
CCSSRL6.2 theme
6.5 analyze author’s techniques and choices to develop a theme
CCSSRL 6.9 theme development across stories / Analyze how an author develops a theme.
Infer author’s purpose—development of the theme or lesson-- and analyze techniques author uses to achieve it—examples, tone, setting, characterization, figurative language / Determine the theme of a text.
Analyze how the writer develops it—what examples support it.
Re-read to locate information to support an idea or theme. Analyze author’s use of words, characters, examples, events, comparisons, contrasts, symbols, similes to accomplish purpose
Comparetheme across stories—contrast how different authors develop it.
Science
6.2 Summarize; central and main ideas and support
6.5 analyze author’s techniques, structure of text / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Use structure of text to identify central idea, main ideas, and effective examples.
Integrate information and ideas from two or more different sources to respond to the big question. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Use structure of text to identify central idea, main ideas, and effective examples.
Integrate information and ideas from two or more different sources to respond to the big question.
Social Science
6.2 Summarize; central and main ideas and support
6.5 analyze author’s techniques, structure of text / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Use structure of text to identify central idea, main ideas, and effective examples.
Integrate information and ideas from two or more different sources to respond to the big question. / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Use structure of text to identify central idea, main ideas, and effective examples.
Integrate information and ideas from two or more different sources to respond to the big question.
Fluency
Rate, comprehension, expression, diction / This week’s read-aloud / This week’s read-aloud:
Word Knowledge
CCSSRI.6.4
Structure and use; Context / Explain literal, figurative; paraphrase text / Use structure (root) and context to determine word meaning in text (confirm meaning through context—relate to multi-meaning words).
Writing
structure / Write own guide to writing an explanatory/informational essay or report or response to support a claim. / Follow guide (from previous week) to outline, draft essay or report or response
MATH
Practice Standard 1: analyze problem, then solve it / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Extended Response / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response

Sixth Grade: Second Quarter Learning Priorities Weeks 17-18

Week 17 / Week 18
Reading Literature
CCSSRL6.1 analyze, answer questions with evidence based on close reading
6.2 determine theme
6.3 analyze elements of fiction to identify theme
6.5 analyze author’s techniques / Determine the theme of a text.
Analyze how the writer develops it—what examples support it.
Re-read to locate information to support an idea or theme. Analyze author’s use of words, characters, examples, events, comparisons, contrasts, symbols, similes to accomplish purpose
Comparetheme across stories—contrast how different authors develop it.
Write the synopsis of the sequel to a story. / Determine the theme of a text.
Analyze how the writer develops it—what examples support it.
Analyze author’s use of words, characters, examples, events, comparisons, contrasts, symbols, similes to accomplish purpose
Write the sequel to a story.
Science
CCSSRI.6.2
Ideas and support
CCSSRL6.9 contrast texts with same focus / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Evaluate the claims made by two different authors. Which provides the stronger and more sufficient evidence to support the claim? / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Evaluate the claims made by two different authors. Which provides the stronger and more sufficient evidence to support the claim?
Social Science
CCSSRI.6.2
Ideas and support
CCSSRL6.9 contrast texts with same focus / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Evaluate the claims made by two different authors. Which provides the stronger and more sufficient evidence to support the claim? / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Evaluate the claims made by two different authors. Which provides the stronger and more sufficient evidence to support the claim?
Fluency
Rate, comprehension, expression, diction / This week’s read-aloud: / This week’s read-aloud:
Word Knowledge
CCSSRI.6.4
Structure and use
Infer from context / Use structure (prefix) to determine word meaning in text. / Use structure (root-prefix-suffix) to determine word meaning in text.
Writing
Explanatory/informational / Analyze a “mentor” text.
Identify author’s techniques used to communicate central ideas and main ideas . Then outline and write your own text incorporating those techniques. / Improve the text from last week--with emphasis on focus support and transitions
MATH
Practice Standard 1: analyze problem, then solve it / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Extended Response

Sixth Grade: Second Quarter Learning Priorities Weeks 19-20

Week 19 / Week 20
Reading Literature
CCSSRL6.5
Analyze author’s techniques to communicate theme (6.2) and accomplish purpose (6.6) / Analyze two different stories with the same theme.
Contrast the writer’s use of dialogue, detail, plot events, characters and other elements of fiction to communicate the theme. / Analyze an unfamiliar text:
Author’s purpose, message—moral or theme of the text--and how the author achieves it—techniques, characters, sequence of events, other elements the author uses to communicate effectively.
Write constructed response, then write extended response—contrast the two kinds of responses.
Science
CCSSRI6.2 Summarize, identify central idea
CCSSRI6.5 analyze author’s techniques to communicate ideas / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Outline a passage.
Analyze structure of the text.
Identify the central idea, main ideas, and information that the writer includes that is important to communicating that idea.
Evaluate how effectively the writer supported a claim. / Write a report that supports a claim you have learned about
One science topic
Cite evidence from texts you have read, including direct quotations.
Social Science
CCSSRI6.2 Summarize, identify central idea
CCSSRI6.5 analyze author’s techniques to communicate ideas / TOPIC AND BIG QUESTION:
Outline a passage.
Analyze structure of the text.
Identify the central idea, main ideas, and information that the writer includes that is important to communicating that idea.
Evaluate how effectively the writer supported a claim. / Write a report that supports a claim based on you have learned about
One social studies topic
Cite evidence from texts you have read, including direct quotations.
Fluency
Rate, comprehension, expression, diction / This week’s read-aloud: / Students read-aloud with increased fluency.
Students explain how to adjust rate to maintain comprehension
Word Knowledge
CCSSRI.6.4
Structure and use
Infer from context / Tell how to use these strategies to figure out an unknown word:
Structure of the word (root/affix)
Context / Make explanation/guide to how to use structure and context to figure out word meaning when reading. (Root, prefix, suffix)
Writing
explanatory/informational / Write a constructed response.
Then improve it.
Add examples to support your claim. / Make guide to explanatory writing based on what you have learned, including examples.
MATH
Practice Standard 1: analyze problem, then solve it
6. Work with precisio / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response / This Week’s Focus:
Math Journal
Short Response
Math Digest: My own guide to the math I’ve learned this quarter

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Second Quarter Center for Urban Education2013