Mrs. Lili Saum - 6th Grade ELA

I am entering my 30th year of teaching in the West Ada School District.  I have taught 2nd, 4th, 5th, and more recently 6th grade English Language Arts.  I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, and my Elementary Teaching Certificate and Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University with an endorsement in Gifted and Talented education.  This year I will be teaching 6th grade English Language Arts.  Additionally, I am the advisor for the 6th grade Ambassadors.  I look forward to working as a team with parents to ensure all students achieve educational success.

Please check the Class Agenda tab for current weekly agendas detailing the learning intentions, practice work for students, and any upcoming assessments.

Grading Polices

1.  I will accept late work until the end of the quarter in which it was assigned, although it will be marked as late.

2. Students may redo assignments and assessments (excluding the EOC at the end of each semester) within the same quarter that it was assigned.

Course Descriptions

Lit and Strategies: This course focuses on reading strategies and comprehension skills. Students will read from various genres.

Writing and Composition: This course focuses on the writing process, modes of writing, writing traits, and language usage.

Grading Categories and Weight

Practice: 5%

Assessments: 85%

EOC (End of Course Exam): 10%

6th ELA Syllabus 

 
Course Descriptions 

Lit and Strategies: This course focuses on reading strategies and comprehension skills. Students will read from various genres. 

Writing and Composition: This course focuses on the writing process, modes of writing, writing traits, and language usage. 

ELA General Education

Power Standards (what students will learn) 

Quarter 1 

Lit and Strategies: 

RL.RI.6.1 I can cite textual evidence to support the analysis of a text. 

RI.6.2 I can:  
• determine a central idea from a text. 
• identify details that support central idea. 
• summarize the text objectively. 

Writing Composition: 

W.6.2 I can:  
• write informative/explanatory texts. 
• organize ideas using text structures. 
• organize ideas using different text features. 
• develop the topic using facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. 
• use transitional words, phrases, and clauses to show relationships among ideas. 
• use topic specific vocabulary to inform and explain the topic. 
• maintain a formal writing style.  
• develop an appropriate and formal conclusion. 

W.6.8 I can:  
• Gather information from multiple sources and assess the credibility of each source. 
• Use my gathered information to answer a question. 
• Quote and paraphrase information without plagiarizing. 

L.6.1-L.6.2 I Can:  
• Spell, capitalize, punctuate, and use proper word forms. 
• Use pronouns in their proper cases. 
• Use pronouns to add emphasis and maintain subject-verb agreement. 
• Use pronouns that match in number and person. 
• Use specific pronouns to eliminate vague language. 
• Edit my own work, and the work of others for errors. 

L.6.4.a I can use context clues and parts of speech to determine the meaning of a word or phrase.  

L.6.4.b I can use word parts to determine the meaning of a word.   
  

Quarter 2 

Lit and Strategies: 

RL.RI.6.1 I can:  
• Cite textual evidence to support the analysis of a text.   
• Identify and interpret connotative meaning in a text to determine what is being communicated 

RI.6.8 I can: 
• evaluate the claims in an argument.   
• evaluate the evidence and reasoning used to support a claim. 
• identify valid evidence and reasoning.   

Writing Composition: 

W.6.1 I can:   
• state a claim and cite evidence to support my argument.   
• use credible sources to determine relevant evidence and develop reasons to elaborate ideas.   
• use transitional words, phrases, and clauses to connect my claims and reasoning.   
• use precise language and specific vocabulary to support my argument.   
• establish and maintain a formal style.  
• develop an appropriate and formal conclusion.   

W.6.8: I can:   
• Gather information from multiple sources and assess the credibility of each source.    
• Use my gathered information to answer a question.    
• Quote and paraphrase information without plagiarizing  

 L.6.5.c I can tell the difference between the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions).  

 Quarter 3 

Lit and Strategies: 

RL.6.1 I can:   
• determine the difference between explicit language and inferential language.   
• cite textual evidence to support inferences.  

 RL.6.2 I can:   
• determine the theme or central idea of a text.   
• cite the details that demonstrate the theme or central idea.   

RL.6.3 I can:   
• identify the elements of plot in a story.   
• track the changes of a character throughout the story.   
• identify the main events in a story that advance the plot.   

RL.6.4 I can:   
• identify figurative language in a literary text.   
• interpret figurative language in a literary text to determine what an author is communicating.  

RL.6.6 I can: 
• Explain how an author develops a point of view of a narrator or speaker in a text.   
• Show that the point of view supports the author’s purpose  

 
Writing Composition: 

W.6.3 I can write a narrative that: 
• Engages the reader by carefully structuring a plot.   
• Moves the plot forward by establishing exposition, conflict/inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.   
• Uses narrative techniques such as effective dialogue, descriptive and sensory language, and appropriate sequencing of events.   
• Uses transitional words, phrases, and clauses to move between time frames and settings.   
• Develops an appropriate conclusion that resolves the story.   

L.6.5 I can:   
• interpret figurative language in context.   
• better understand the meaning of words by examining their relationship to one another.   

Quarter 4 

Lit and Strategies: 

RL.RI.6.10 I can read and understand grade-level text independently.  

Review of all Reading standards for the ISAT tests and EOC (end of course exam). 

Writing Composition: 

W.6.10 I can organize my writing to fit many diverse tasks, audiences, and, purposes.   

Review of all Writing and Language standards for the ISAT tests and EOC (end of course exam). 

ELA - Gifted and Talented - The reading and writing curriculum is compacted and additional curriculum topics are add to this year-long program.

Power Standards (What students will learn):

Quarter 1

Lit and Strategies:

RI.6.7: Integrate information presented in different media or formats as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Writing Composition:

W.6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

W.6.8: Gather relevant information from multiple print digital sources; assess the credibility of each souce; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.

Quarter 2

Lit and Strategies:

RL.6.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinion or judgements.

RL.6.3: Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

RL. 6.9: Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.

L.6.3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Writing Composition:

W.6.3:  Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive etails, and well-structured event sequence.

Quarter 3

Lit and Strategies:

RI.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as infrences drawn from the text.

RI.6.2: Determine central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

SL.6.2: Interpret information presented in diverse media and format and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.

Writing Composition:

W.6.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Quarter 4

Lit and Strategies/Writing Composition:

SL.6.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

L.6.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.