Cognates (English I Reading)
You will use your knowledge of cognates from other languages to help you understand unfamiliar words.
Synthesize Ideas and Details in Several Texts (English I Reading)
You will learn how to synthesize ideas and details in texts and support the connections with textual evidence.
Annotate for Meaning (English I Reading)
You will learn how to annotate or mark a text as you read and re-read to gain a deeper understanding of the text.
Annotate and Analyze a Paired Passage: Practice 1 (English I Reading)
You will read and annotate paired texts in order to make inferences, draw conclusions, and synthesize ideas and details using textual evidence.
Generate Ideas and Questions
You will learn strategies to help you generate questions and ideas about a topic.
Inferring: It’s a Beast!
Using a digital forum, seventh-grade students will collaboratively generate authentic inferences about character motivation. Students will utilize textual evidence and draw from personal schema in order to make logical connections across multiple genres.
Inferring Through Imagery and Figurative Language
Students rotate to four posters which contain a single stanza from a common poem (“Digging” by Seamus Heaney), marking key literary elements (imagery, diction, figurative language) before rotating to explain the connotation of the words and phrases selected by the previous group. After text marking, students regroup to discuss the inferential connections between literary terms and their connotative meaning to theorize thematic meaning within the poem.
Making an Inference
The class will review previous learning about how authors describe characters using speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks (STEAL). Students will make annotations on an excerpt using the STEAL strategy. We will talk them through making a guided inference. Students will complete a short-answer response on chart paper with evidence and inference for the focus question
Denotation and Connotation (English I Reading)
You will be able to distinguish between the denotative (dictionary) meaning of a word and its connotative (emotions or associations that are implied rather than literal) meaning.
Understatement/Overstatement (English I Reading)
You will be able to recognize and explain the purpose of understatement and overstatement in a text.
Diction and Tone (English I Reading)
You will be able to evaluate the diction in a text and discover the author's tone.
Close Reading of Prose: Practice 1 (English I Reading)
You will read carefully in order to identify diction, tone, and irony and evaluate their impact on the meaning of a text.
Development of Characters Through Literary Devices (English I Reading)
You will be able to recognize how literary devices such as character foils can create complex characters in a short story.
Analyze Literary Essays’ Inclusion of Personal Opinions and Facts (English I Reading)
You will be able to explain why literary essays include personal opinions and facts to describe an event or situation.
Distinguish Between Summary and Critique (English I Reading)
You will learn how to summarize a text in contrast to writing a critique that takes a position.
Analyze How Author's Style and Syntax Support Meaning (English I Reading)
You will be able to analyze how an author's style and syntax support meaning in a text.
Analyze Famous Speeches for Rhetorical Structures and Devices (English I Reading)
You will be able to analyze the persuasive impact of rhetorical structures and devices in famous speeches.
Analyze an Argument: Practice 1 (English I Reading)
You will be able to analyze the quality, relevance, and credibility of evidence that supports or opposes an argument.
Writing an Engaging Short Story with Interesting and Believable Characters
You will be able to write a short story with interesting and believable characters.
Writing an Engaging Short Story with Well-Developed Conflict and Resolution
You will be able to write a short story with a well-developed conflict and resolution.