Week of August 28th 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6th-Grade Focus Standards:

  • 6.RL.2.2

  • 6.W.6.1e

  • 6.RN.2.2


The Big Ideas:

  • Main idea

  • Central idea 

  • Compound and complex sentences 


“I Can" Statemens: 


I can identify the main idea and supporting details by asking important questions during reading.


I can use a variety of sentences in writing. 


I can identify the central idea and supporting details in a text. 


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7th-Grade Focus Standards:

  • 7.RL.2.2

    7.RN.3.2

    7.RN.2.2


The Big Ideas:

  • Main idea 

    Central idea

    Text structures 


“I Can" Statemens:


I can identify and explain the main idea in a work of literature.

I can analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text.

I can identify and explain the central idea in a given text.


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8th-Grade Focus Standards:

  • 8.RL.2.2

  • 8.RN.2.2

  • 8.RN.3.2

The Big Ideas:

  • Main idea / central idea 

  • Text structure

  • Paragraph structure  


“I Can" Statemens:


I can tie the main idea of a text together with its supporting details.


I can identify the central idea in a given text.


I can analyze the structure in a given text. 

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“He who would search for pearls must dive below."  —John Dryden
 
6th-Grade Thursday Meeting:
  • SRC information 
  • Cycle 1A mini-data analysis  
  • Cycle 1B strategies 
  • Common writing traits 
7th-8th Grade Friday Meeting:
  • SRC information
  • Cycle 1A mini-data analysis
  • Cycle 1B strategies 
  • Common writing traits
 
 
 
 
Beginning of the Year Assessments:

  1. Mini-assessments for cycle 1B are ready for your consideration on the ELA Weekly Focus page.  
  2. SRI assessment window is still open.
  3. Please complete all NWEA Map Assessments this week.  
 Testing windows close on September 22nd.
 
 
 
 
 

Introducing the 6 Traits of Good Writing 
 
 
 
 

The icons appearing here are ones Kristina Smekens selected to correspond with each trait. 

You can click here to read a rationale for choosing each icon. 

If you like these icons, you may download them here for free. Just click here to access the 6-Traits 8.5 x 11 Mini-Posters.

GOOD WRITING INGREDIENTS

The six research supported components of all good writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions) need to be introduced to students.  Consider setting aside 1-2 writing mini-lessons per trait—that’s 6-12 days total. Within these initial lessons, introduce the six terms quickly. Remember this is only an introduction meant to build common vocabulary between you and your students.

BUILDING SCHOOL-WIDE CONSISTENCY

We need to consider incorporating a building-wide set of visual icons that represent each trait. Not only do students hear the same trait words from year to year, but they see the same standardized graphics. This begins to develop a building-wide consistency in implementation and writing expectations. We will discuss this at our meeting. 
 
 
 
 
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