Dinosaur Paragraph
Using your notes and the notes I provided, you will write one effective paragraph about dinosaurs. You can narrow your topic beyond just dinosaurs, but you may only use the notes (no other resources) and facts shared in the video. Your paragraph needs:
•12-14 point academic font
• paragraph form (indent first sentence)
• use academic language
• few to no errors in conventions
• double spacing
• 8-12 sentences
• to include no I statements (I, me, myself, etc.)
• about dinosaurs
• black ink/typed
• to be in your own words
• to have an effective topic sentence
• to have an effective concluding sentence
• include only video information
You will write your own paragraph. Your final draft paragraph will be written in Google Docs using a legible 12-14 point font and be double-spaced. Your final paragraph will be shared with me through Canvas.
Supplemental video notes are listed below.
•12-14 point academic font
• paragraph form (indent first sentence)
• use academic language
• few to no errors in conventions
• double spacing
• 8-12 sentences
• to include no I statements (I, me, myself, etc.)
• about dinosaurs
• black ink/typed
• to be in your own words
• to have an effective topic sentence
• to have an effective concluding sentence
• include only video information
You will write your own paragraph. Your final draft paragraph will be written in Google Docs using a legible 12-14 point font and be double-spaced. Your final paragraph will be shared with me through Canvas.
Supplemental video notes are listed below.
“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”
---Jane Yolen
---Jane Yolen
Language Arts - Building Effective Writers and Communicators
Students will spend time each day developing skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We will spend time working individually and collaboratively to develop effective communication. The Language Arts curriculum is dictated by the Common Core State Standards. You can learn more about the CCSS by clicking here.
In Language Arts, students will get DAILY writing practice. Students will write short paragraphs, essays, and longer research works. Writers in my classes will respond to prompts, write journal entries, caption photos, write letters from different points of view, and dabble in poetry. Writing will come in many forms and lengths to help students continue to develop skills in effective communication. Early in the year, we focus on effective paragraph production. Later in the year, we focus on longer pieces of formal writing. In sixth grade, students will focus on the writing modes of argumentative (similar to persuasive writing), explanatory/informative (sometimes identified as expository), and narrative. Each of these writing modes, while serving different purposes, share some common framework. While developing writing in these modes, we will focus on clear purpose, appropriate structure and organization, developing strong introductions and conclusions, understanding audience, using effective supporting details, and developing a recognizable voice for each individual's writing. With writing, we will also stress writing process. Students will learn to be more effective at editing and revising the writing of others and their own. Reading and Language Arts will often be integrated, with students working on tasks jointly for both classes. Additionally, I work closely with Mr. Montplaisir to support student writing that is needed in other core classes. At home, you will often see your student working on an assignment or project for Social Studies or Science, but completing the writing portion of the assignments for Language Arts. This gives students a stronger framework to support writing, and it creates learning opportunities that have greater integration across the curriculum. (This process also requires a good deal of communication between teachers, which helps to keep the homework quantity reasonable too.) |
Common Core
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