In this class, students will read a variety of great books on their own, improving their reading skills through both oral and written comprehension skills. Their vocabulary will be expanded through the application of contextual clues, derivation of words from Latin roots, and use of the dictionary. Students will additionally be taught common literary techniques in order to identify them in all the different books, and will examine character qualities and experiences in these enthralling works. Art projects and creative activities will be included, adding excitement to their reading. The level and content of the literature will serve students well as the transition into more dialectic books readies them for our 7th grade book list. Most importantly, they will continue to increase their love of literature.
With opportunities to discuss grammatical skills, show mastery of the skills, and then independently practice them, students will continue to gain understanding in and love of the English language. Grammar concepts include: Sentence diagramming, four kinds of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory), principal elements, adjectives & adverbs, predicate verbs, predicate nominatives & predicate adjectives, prepositional phrases, personal pronouns, sensory linking verbs, indirect objects, sensory linking verbs, interrogative pronouns, relative (adjectival) clauses, adverbial elements: adverbs, interrogative adverbs, adverbial prepositional phrases, and adverbial noun phrases, adverbial clauses, reflexive pronouns, verbals: participles, gerunds, and infinitives, types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
This year students will progress through ancient history-based writing prompts. They will use techniques to continue to develop their writing skills with key word outlines, narrative stories, summarizing from notes, and creative and essay writing, readying them for our 7th grade Composition I class.