Unit 1: Poetry

In this unit, students will explore poetry and its uniqueness by learning to read, listen, and make sense of several poems. Students will also learn to understand and appreciate poetry on a personal level.

Unit 2: Biographies

In this unit, students will explore the lives of people from the past who have made important contributions to history. Students will also have the chance to research and write a biography about someone alive today.

Unit 3: Narrative Writing: Short Stories

In Unit 3, students will learn about the different features and elements of short stories. Students will explore how authors use forms, features, and words to bring their stories to life. Students will learn how authors use both inferred and directly-stated details to help a story unfold both in written narratives and oral narratives. Students will also brainstorm, plan, and create a narrative text on a topic of their choice.

Unit 4: Informational Texts

In this unit, students will explore the different types of informational texts and their purpose. Then, they will create an informational text on a topic of their choice.

Unit 5: Communicating Effectively

In this unit, students will learn about listening, speaking, reading, and writing strategies. Students will learn how to use these strategies using everyday modern communication. Students will practice effective communication by using non-verbal communication techniques.

Unit 6: Media Texts

In this unit, students will learn to identify different media texts and the elements that make them unique. Students will also learn to identify who creates media texts and for what purpose.

Unit 7: Novel Study

In this unit, students will explore different novels as they develop their reading strategies and communication skills. Students will discover why characters do the things they do and make connections about their lives.

Unit 8: Opinion Writing

In this unit, students will learn all about forming and expressing their own opinions in media. Students will learn how to make connections and start gathering and evaluating sources for research. Students will think about their topic, purpose, and audience when making their argument for an opinion response that they will plan.

Overall Expectations Covered:

Oral Communication

• Listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes.
• Use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.

Reading

• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning.
• Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they communicate meaning.
• Use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading.

Writing

• Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience.
• Draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience.
• Use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages of the writing process.

Media Literacy

• Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts.
• Identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning.
• Create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.

Unit 1: Scripts

In this unit, students will learn about different types of plays and audiences. Students will learn how to read scripts and will develop strategies to help them write their own. Students will also learn how to read with expression by changing their voice to match what is written in the script.

Unit 2: Non-Fiction Novel Study

In this unit students will learn how to read a non-fiction text and identify the features of non-fiction. students will explore new topics that have to do with real people, places, and the natural world around us.

Unit 3: Graphic Texts

In this unit, students will learn about the features of graphic texts, how graphic elements create meaning, and how to use these elements and features in their own graphic text.

Unit 4: Poetry

In this unit, students will learn about different types of poems. They will learn about various elements found in poems and how they can be used to add value to writing. Students will also see how their writing can inspire others that read it.

Unit 5: Procedural Texts

In this unit, students will learn the purpose and features of procedural texts and understand how important it is to order ideas in a logical way. Students will learn to use different skills, such as reading and listening, to understand and follow instructions.

Unit 6: Historical Fiction

In this unit, students will learn about the historical fiction genre, make connections, and think about the plot, context, interpretations, and point of view of historical stories.

Unit 7: Presenting Texts

In this unit, students will learn how texts are presented and the factors that influence this presentation, including the production, purpose, and intended audience of different texts. Students will also learn about presenting articles in newspapers, magazines, or websites.

Unit 8: Persuasive Writing

In this unit students will learn the elements of persuasive texts, and how to create persuasive texts after exploring how to brainstorm ideas and do research for persuasive writing. Students will also learn about debates and have the opportunity to practice their speaking skills.

Overall Expectations Covered:

Oral Communication

• Listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;
• Use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.

Reading

• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning;
• Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning;
• Use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading.

Writing

• Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience;
• Draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;
• Use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.

Media Literacy

• Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts;
• Identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning
• Create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.

Unit 1: Text Formats and Writing Styles

In this unit students will learn how to read, write, and create a variety of texts for different reasons and for a number of audiences. Students will learn the strategies of effective reading, writing, and speaking. Students will be introduced to the various strategies for recognizing why a text was created and who it was intended for.

Unit 2: Speeches

In this unit, students will discover various types of speeches and their purpose. Students will explore ways to prepare, organize, and publish a speech. Students will also learn valuable presentation strategies that will help them speak clearly and confidently.

Unit 3: Narratives

In this unit, students will learn to sort narratives by genre and type. Students will examine the forms narratives take, and analyze the basic patterns that help them write and tell them. Students will also undertake a novel study and will analyze the structure of the novel and evaluate it.

Unit 4: Autobiographies

In this unit, students will learn more about the purpose of autobiographies, their organizational patterns, and the importance of perspective. Students will work on improving their writing skills in order to brainstorm and develop ideas.

Unit 5: Non-Fiction

This unit will require students to read a variety of complex texts, understand their features, and develop interpretations. Students will consider perspective, point of view, tone, bias, and how each of these things can contribute meaning.

Unit 6: Graphic Texts

In this unit, students will learn how to use, interpret, and create graphic texts. Students will examine language and text features in complex texts. Students will interpret media texts such as persuasive advertisements and posters. Students will analyze the purpose of, and differences and similarities between, graphic novels and comics. Students will also learn research techniques and use them to create infographics and persuasive presentations.

Unit 7: Poetry

In this unit, students will explore various poetry styles and ways to create meaning for their audience.

Unit 8: Presentations

In this unit, students will learn how creators of media make compelling presentations for their target audience. Students will discuss what makes an effective media presentation. They will have the chance to use the skills they learn in this unit to evaluate the quality of different media pieces, such as advertisements and speeches. Students will also learn about ethical media practices and what goes into creating a fair and well-balanced piece. Students will learn how to think critically about what they see in the media and assess the trustworthiness and value of a media presentation.

Overall Expectations Covered:

Oral Communication

• Listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes.
• Use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas of improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication
• situations.

Reading

• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning.
• Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning.
• Use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading.

Writing

• Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience.
• Draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience.
• Use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.

Media Literacy

• Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts.
• Identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning.
• Create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques.
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.

Unit 1: Oral Presentations

In this unit, students will explore various presentation strategies that include the use of vocal effects, non-verbal cues, and visual communication. Students will learn how to appropriately select and apply these strategies to their own persuasive, entertaining, or informative presentations. Students will take a closer look at the use of quotation marks and how writers use them in dialogue, and also look at how dialogue appears in a script. Throughout the unit students will discover ways to enhance their oral presentation skills and effectively communicate on a wide range of topics.

Unit 2: Digital Literacy

This unit examines elements of form in common digital media like web pages, social media posts, internet advertisements, online news articles, and blogs. In this unit, students will break down media forms and analyze their purpose and audience. Students will also focus on practicing digital literacy skills, such as evaluating a digital source for reliability. Students will learn how to make inferences, interpret digital media pieces, and analyze digital texts.

Unit 3: Non-Fiction

In this unit, students will explore the text forms, features, and structures that characterize non-fiction writing. Students will learn about the differences between the types of non-fiction texts. They will learn how to consider the purposes of reading by exploring cultural texts and descriptions of unfamiliar places. Students will develop their interpreting, listening, and reading skills.

Unit 4: Advertising

In this unit, students will learn about the four key concepts of advertising, focusing on an advertisement’s purpose, special interests, diverse audience responses, and value messages. Students will also examine the techniques and conventions used in advertising, understand how they persuade audiences, identify bias, and break down the commercial and ideological interests.

Unit 5: Essay Writing Process

In this unit, students will learn about each step in the process of essay writing. Students will learn how to develop and brainstorm an interesting topic to write about. They will learn how to organize their ideas effectively so that they can write the best essay possible. Students will also look at effective researching techniques and thesis writing. Students will also explore the proper structure of an essay and how to properly write introductions and conclusions, as well as how to proofread and edit their work.

Unit 6: Debating

In this unit, students will study active listening strategies, speaking strategies, and the fundamentals of arguments. Students will also work on their grammar and explore delivery, focusing on reason, character, and logic to present solid spoken arguments. They will also explore rebuttal strategies and critical and strategic thinking.

Unit 7: Poetry

In this unit, students will learn how to evaluate how effective various poems are based on the strategies used to craft meaning. Students will read, hear, and view poetry to discover how interpretations can vary based on each individual’s perspective and personal connection to the poem. This unit will give students examples to help them select words, structures, and poetic elements that help further connect their poem with their audience. Students will also learn ways to enhance their poetic voice.

Unit 8: Novel Study

In this unit, students will hone their novel reading skills, learning how to read details to make connections and check inferences. Students will learn how to summarize important ideas, make inferences, make connections, and analyze texts. Students will work on their grammar and reading skills, as well as their writing skills.

Overall Expectations Covered:

Oral Communication

• Listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;
• Use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.

Reading

• Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning;
• Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning;
• Use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading.

Writing

• Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience;
• Draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;
• Use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.

Media Literacy

• Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts;
• Identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning
• Create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques;
• Reflect on and identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.