Mrs. Lili Saum - 6th Grade ELA/6th Grade ELA GT 

I am entering my 29th 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 ELA and 6th Grade ELA Gifted and Talented.  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.

In these uncertain times, please know that I am here for you to help in anyway that I can. Starting with Remote Learning and/or alternating days will be challenging and there will be some bumps in the roads. but we will work through them together and be successful!  

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

Classwork: 40%

Assessments: 50%

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. 

Grading Categories and Weight 

Classwork: 40% 

Assessments: 50% 

EOC (End of Course Exam): 10% 

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.