• Grades 5-6 English Language Arts

     

    The Nazareth Area School District’s 5-6 English Language Arts Program encourages all students to become readers, writers, speakers and listeners. All grade levels are aligned to the PA Academic Standards for English Language Arts and includes instruction in Reading, Writing, Grammar, Word Study, Vocabulary, Speaking, Listening, and Conducting Research. Instruction in English Language Arts occurs daily for 80-85 minutes in Grades 5-6. Each grade level’s curriculum is comprised of three main parts: Reading, Writing and Word Study/Vocabulary.

     

    Grade 5 Reading: Instruction exposes students to literature (fiction) and content-area (informational or non-fiction) leveled texts and books. The program framework pairs instruction on a metacognitive strategy that can be applied to any text with a literary element. In addition, students are exposed to different genres of books throughout the year. Whole group and small group instruction occurs daily. Students in Grade 5 read texts in small groups, utilizing texts selected specifically for their reading level and interests. Students are assessed each month using a variety of formative and summative assessments, which measure their progress in reading and understanding grade-level texts.

     

    The District utilizes Benchmark Literacy as its core resource in Grades 5.

     

    Grade 5 Writing: Students learn to write in different genres, including narrative, informational and argumentative. Students are assessed using On Demand Writing Prompts and Working Pieces that have been edited, revised and polished throughout the unit of instruction. In addition, students are taught grade-appropriate conventions, which includes language usage and grammar skills. These skills are assessed in isolation and when embedded in their writing. Finally, students practice the use of cursive writing and the reading of cursive writing.

     

    The District utilizes Units of Study for Writing as its core resource in Grades 5 and uses Sadlier’s Grammar Workshop and Benchmark Education’s Writing to Sources as supplemental resources.

     

    Grade 5 Word Study: Instruction focuses on supporting students in their development to categorize, integrate, compare and analyze words as they decode them. Students develop strategies to analyze multi-syllabic words and word elements, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words. This will support students in their ability to read and spell words. Students are assessed bi-weekly on words that use that pattern or feature.

     

    The District utilizes Benchmark Education’s Word Study/Vocabulary as its core resource.

     

    Grade 6 ELA: Students in Grade 6 ELA are exposed to a variety of literature and learn to write narrative, expository and argumentative texts. They learn specific strategies for planning, drafting, revising, and editing their writing in an integrated English Language Arts format. They explore the fundamentals of research and deepen their understanding of topics using film. A common text is used throughout the year to support this strategy/skill-based instruction.

     

    The District utilizes SpringBoard English Language Arts as its core resource and uses Sadlier’s Vocabulary Workshop as a supplemental resource in Grade 6.

     

    Speaking & Listening: Students in each grade level are expected to participate, present, listen and ask questions throughout the school year. They are assessed using a common rubric in each grade level.

     

    For more specific information about content expectations in a specific grade, please click on the links below that are organized by grade level.

     

    Click here for Fifth Grade English Language Arts.

     

    Click here for Sixth Grade English Language Arts.