Sixth Grade Developmental Reading has as its ultimate goal to empower students to become independent readers and learners.  Through an integrated whole language approach, which includes both narrative and expository tests, students are taught the reading/study strategy SQ3R.  Study skills are also incorporated into the curriculum.  They include note taking, summarizing, memorizing, active listening and strategies to get organized.  In addition, students are given the opportunity to read for pleasure and discuss the books in a voluntary format called Literature at Lunch.

Literature

• Identify elements of fiction and nonfiction.

• Identify basic structure of plot, conflict, resolution.

• Use context clues to determine meanings of unknown words.

• Recognize and understand figurative and descriptive language.

• Understand literary terms.

• Develop self questioning techniques.  

Study Skills

• Develop notes from fiction and nonfiction texts.

• Develop strategies to facilitate concentration and memorization.

• Summarize text.

Speaking/Listening

• Become an active listener.

• Participate in group discussions.

• Respond to literature in a variety of performance-based assessments.

• Act in a play developed from a Greek myth.

Key Texts - Developmental Reading

The Acorn People by Ron Jones
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland  by Lewis Carroll Selected Biography (Student Choice)
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Selected Greek Myths (Teacher Choice)
Selected Newbery Author (Student Choice)  
I Can't Accept Not Trying by Michael Jordan

Nutmeg Selection -2005