Unit 1 - The writing community 3 weeks
FOCUS:
- Build a caring community and get to know one another
- Get ideas for writing from read-alouds
- Draft many pieces in a variety of genre
Unit 2 - The writing process 2 weeks
FOCUS:
- Select a draft to develop and publish
- Revise drafts
- Proofread for spelling and conventions
- Write final versions and publish
Unit 3 - Personal narrative 4 weeks
FOCUS:
- Write about significant experiences that resulted in learning or change
- Use sensory details
- Proofread for consistent verb tense
- Explore strong opening sentences and endings that draw a story's events to a close
Unit 4 - Fiction 6weeks
- FOCUS:
- Develop interesting plots that make sense
- Informally explore conflict in plot
- Use descriptive, sensory details to convey character and setting
- Develop character through dialog
- Explore verb tenses and first- and third- person points of view and apply them consistently
Unit 5 - Expository Nonfiction 6 weeks
FOCUS:
* Explore different ways to communicate information
* Select any nonfiction topic to research and write about
* Explore text features
* Explore different ways to communicate information
* Select any nonfiction topic to research and write about
* Explore text features
Unit 6 - Functional Writing 3 weeks
* Identify types of functional writing
* Draft and confer about functional texts
* Draft and confer about functional texts
Unit 7 - Opinion Writing 3 weeks
*Students generate opinions that they feel strongly about
*Students explore strong openings and conclusions for persuasive essays
*Proofread the final product
*Students explore strong openings and conclusions for persuasive essays
*Proofread the final product
TROPICANA SPEECH Late April through Early to mid May
*Pick a topic
*Prepare a speech
*Revise and edit
*Time it and place on note cards
*Prepare a speech
*Revise and edit
*Time it and place on note cards
Unit 8 - Poetry 2 weeks
*Explore imagery, sound, and form in poems
*Explore alliteration, repetition, similes, and metaphors in poems
*Write and review poetry drafts
*Write final draft
*Explore alliteration, repetition, similes, and metaphors in poems
*Write and review poetry drafts
*Write final draft