Language Arts Newsletter 
Week of January 9th 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome Back! New Year, New Beginnings, New Learning, and Teaching Opportunities!  

Cycle 3A Instruction Begins:

6th-grade focus standards:

6.W.1


6.W.6


The Big Ideas: 

* Writing about the reading (RAP)

* Teaching grammar and conventions 

  through students’ writing

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7th-grade focus standards:

7.W.5, 7.W.3.1


7.RN.3.3, 7.RN.4.1


The Big Ideas:

*Research

*Argument

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8th-grade focus standards:

8.W.5, 8.W.3.1


8.RN.3.3, 8.RN.4.1


The Big Ideas:

*Research

*Argument

*Author's Perspective 


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"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.”   -J. B. Priestly

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Don’t forget to check the Instructional Calendar for information on standards, “I can statements", and resources. It's just one click away.

Click here to be on your way to our ELA Portal!
 

Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.  

-Alan Cohen
 
 
 
 
 Let's RAP School-Wide! 
 

6th Grade: 

 

1. Review Cycle 2C data and select students for small group instruction during homeroom. (Use our Digging Deep Datasheet)

   

2. ISTEP+ Resourses / RAP 


7th/8th Grades: 


1. Review Cycle 2C data and select students for pullouts during success time. (Use our Digging Deep Datasheet) 


2. ISTEP+ Resourses / RAP 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Cycle 3A mini-assessments are online and ready for review.  

  • NWEA Testing Dates:

    Week 1: Reading test- Thursday/Friday  

      Jan. 12 & 13*


    Week 2: Math test - Thursday/Friday

      Jan. 19 & 20*

    (off Monday for MLK and Wednesday is Early Release this week)


    Week 3: Language test -Tuesday/Wednesday  

    Jan. 24 & 25*


    Week 4: Make-ups Jan. 31-Feb. 3


    *Use the second day only if students need more time to complete the test.

    Use Chromebooks in your  classrooms for testing 
    If you prefer a lab you will need to sign up for one here: HMS Lab Schedule

    Step by step instructions for NWEA testing can be found here: NWEA Teacher/Student Steps-Test Day (Thanks goes out to Ms. Harvey.)
 
 
 
 Teaching is a wonderful way to learn. – Carol Dweck
 
 
 
 
ReadWorks - Digital
Article-A-Day 
(Just 10 Minutes a day!)
Go to ReadWorks Digital
 
Why do students struggle with Reading Comprehension?

   1. Background Knowledge
  2. Vocabulary
  3. Reading Stamina

Solve all 3 problems with Article-A-Day™

Article-A-Day is a new freature in  ReadWorks digital that builds students’ background knowledge, vocabulary, and reading stamina!

It takes students just 10 minutes a day, in 4 simple steps. 

Step 1: Set a purpose for reading 

 <— (See graphic on the left.) 

 

Step 2: Have your students read the 

  article independently

Step 3: The "Book of Knowledge”

  • For the "Book of Knowledge" you can use the online tool, pieces of paper, or a composition book
  • Have your students write down, or draw a picture of two or three things they learned from reading and would like to remember in their own "Book of Knowledge."
  • In addition to extra writing each day, students will see, document, and own all of the knowledge they are building over the weeks and months. Examples below.

Step 4: Students share knowledge in 1 or  

  2 minutes

Go to Article-A-Day on ReadWorks Digital
* Need help getting started with ReadWorks Digital? I’d be glad to help you!
 
 
 
 
Click here to visit the Language Arts Portal