This full curriculum 30-week, one-and-a-half-hour class will cover grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing. There are 3 separate years of Middle School Language Arts, Year A, Year B, and Year C. The curriculum and books used are different for each year.

Grammar will be covered using Sentence Diagramming Beginning, Level 1 and Level 2 by The Critical Thinking Company. Diagramming sentences allows a student to see the underlying structure of English grammar in visual and logical ways. Test will be given in class at the end of each unit.

Vocabulary words and assignments will be taken from the book that is being read or if necessary, from The Critical Thinking Company’s Critical Thinking Detective Vocabulary Book 1. Students will be given vocabulary words each week with activities to help them master the words for a quiz. Activities will include matching games, Kahoot, Quizlet and writing sentences. I will provide the worksheets for this; no book will need to be purchased. Test will be given every 2 weeks in class.

Topics covered in writing during Year C will be Personal writing, Narrative writing and Expository writing.

Reading will include 4 (more if we have time) of the following books (2 per semester): (A variety of factors will determine which books, including student input.)

• Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer

• The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody

• All of the Above

• The Squire’s Tale

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond

• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• To Kill a Mockingbird

• Johnny Tremain

Reading assignments will be given weekly and then discussed in class. Books can be checked out at the library, listened to, or purchased. I do encourage a physical copy of the book for homework and discussion. An in class book test will be given at the end of each book.

Required materials: (you have the choice of purchasing the books on your own or I can order them for you – prices are listed under supply fees)

• The Critical Thinking Co. Sentence Diagramming Beginning, Level 1, and Level 2

• Books from the list above – I will give you 2 weeks’ notice so may check out or purchase the next book. (These are not included in either supply fee)

• Access to Schoology – this is where assignments and grades will be posted

Class homework requirements: The average student can expect to spend about 45 minutes to an hour each day on homework (~4 days a week).  Students will have all the necessary resources to complete homework mostly on their own after class. Homework will include grammar, vocabulary, and writing assignments, as well as reading assignments. This is a full curriculum

Thursday

Time: 10:45-12:15
Grades: 6-8
Cost: $400
Supply Fee: $60 (if you purchase textbooks on your own), $115 (if I purchase the textbooks for you)
Tutor: Jill Knight