Communication Arts

Assessment/Implementation Statement

Grade 6

IMPLEMENTATION

Every student must read and write everyday!!!

Basic materials: The Board of Trustees adopted the Harcourt Trophies materials for the purpose of implementing the Communication Arts curriculum. This program is designed to be taught sequentially and generally take 6 weeks per unit. The Daily Oral Language program, the D'Nealian penmanship program and the Keyboarding Program review will continue to be used in conjunction with the Harcourt materials. The Harcourt Intervention Program will be used in the Literacy Program. The use of these materials across the District will assure that students receive a well-balanced and consistent Communication Arts program, which is critical to the overall success of our students.

The assessment guidelines that follow indicate which Harcourt themes need to be covered to assure a complete program. Daily Oral Language and D'Nealian penmanship programs will be used as designed.

The Indian Education For All infusion lesson/unit The Arrow Over the Door is to replace Old Yeller.  Click on the hyperlink to find the unit plan.

Supplemental materials: Teachers, principals and building staffs are encouraged to make necessary professional judgments as to the supplemental materials and instructional strategies that best meet the needs of the students in their classrooms/schools as well as their individual teaching styles. To this end, Great Falls Public Schools has provided a number of training opportunities and/or materials. These include: computer software, strategies for literature, writing, Successmaker, and skill instruction as well as other communication arts topics. It is important to note these additional materials are not to replace the Harcourt materials but to support them.

ASSESSMENT

The assessment components for sixth grade include the use of MAP Assessment, Harcourt oral fluency, spelling review tests, holistic theme based tests, and skills based End-of-Year test. These assessments are aligned with state standards and the benchmarks found in the Great Falls Public Schools Curriculum.

Students will complete one piece of writing per quarter that will be rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric (see attached on previous page.) The District Writing Assessment will replace the fourth quarter assessment, which is administered each year in the spring. The goal is for students to score at the proficient level when rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric.

THEMES NEEDED TO COVER THE CURRICULUM:

Introduction to Socratic Seminar-1 week

(completed the 1^st curriculum week)

TE 3 Timeless Treasures, Unlocking the Past

Theme 3 Unlocking the Past Socratic-2 weeks

(completed at the end of Theme 3)

Big Ideas: fairness

Novel: Whipping Boy

Socratic Seminar piece(s): The Tragedy of Child Labor

TE 4 Timeless Treasures, Creative Solutions

Theme 4 Creative Solutions Socratic-3 weeks

(completed at the end of Theme 4)

Big Ideas: perseverance, self discipline

Novel: Number the Stars

Socratic Seminar piece(s): Excerpt from Night by Elie Wiesel

TE 5 Timeless Treasures, Making A Difference

Theme 5 Making a Difference Socratic-3 weeks

(completed at the end of Theme 5)

Big Ideas: caring

Novel: The View From Saturday

Socratic Seminar piece(s): Video- The Oprah Winfrey Show: Children Making a Difference

TE 6 Timeless Treasures, Expanding Worlds

Theme 6 Expanding Worlds Socratic-2 weeks

(completed at the end of the theme)

Big Ideas: bullying, caring

Novel: Who Will Tell My Brother

Socratic Seminar piece(s): Newspaper

Ronan Indian Mascot Called Into Question

Closing Socratic Seminar-1 week

(completed last curriculum week)

Big Ideas: responsibility

Socratic Seminar piece(s): self-selected

*Supplemental materials may change as curriculum committee completes its work.