Core Ready Lesson Sets for Grades 6-8 A Staircase to Standards Success for English Language Arts, The Journey to Meaning: Comprehension and Critique

by Allyn, Pam

• ISBN13: 9780132907521
• ISBN10: 0132907526
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-12-24
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Created specifically for middle school teachers, Pam Allyn’s dynamic Core Ready Program provides a complete toolkit for navigating and thriving with the core standards. In it teachers see clearly how to take complex concepts of the literacy standards and turn them into practical, specific, everyday instruction. The series is organized around the author’s Four Doors to the Core:

• The Journey to Meaning: Comprehension and Critique
• The Shape of Story: Yesterday and Today
• The Road to Knowledge: Information and Research
• The Power to Persuade: Opinion and Argument

 

Each book in the series includes powerful reading, writing, speaking, and listening sets; assessment rubrics; support for ELLs and diverse learners; and tips for doing high tech variations for literacy instruction for grades 6, 7, and 8.

 

Visit http://pdtoolkit.pearson.com to purchase access to the PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series. The PDToolkit access does not come with the print book.

 

PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series is a supplemental online subscription-based resource that provides the tools that educators need to implement the Common Core Standards effectively, fluidly, and successfully. The PDToolkit, together with the texts, provides the tools you need to ensure a standards-aligned year of joyful, effective, research-based literacy curriculum.

Author Biography

Pam Allyn is an authority in the field of literacy education and the world’s expert in home and school literacy connections. As a renowned motivational speaker, expert consultant, author, teacher, and humanitarian for children, she is transforming the way we think about literacy as a tool for communication and knowledge building. She is the executive director of LitLife, a national literacy development organization providing research-based professional development for K-12 educators. She founded and leads LitWorld, a groundbreaking global literacy initiative, reaching children across the United States and in over 60 countries. Her methods for helping all students achieve as literacy learners, including the most diverse learners, has brought her acclaim both in the United States and internationally. Pam is the author of eleven books for educators and parents including the award-winning What To Read When: The Books and Stories To Read With Your Child-And All The Best Times To Read Them (Penguin Avery), Pam Allyn's Best Books for Boys (Scholastic) and Your Child’s Writing Life: How to Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Skill at Every Age (Penguin Avery). Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, the Huffington Post, Al Jazeera English, NBC News, CNN, The New York Times and across the blogosphere.

Table of Contents

About the Author iii

About the Core Ready Series iii

Acknowledgments iv

Welcome xii

Walk Through a Lesson Set xv

FAQs About the Core Ready Lesson Sets xxiv

Grade 6 The Core “C’s”: Character, Change, and Central Ideas 2

Introduction 3

Common Core State Standards Alignment 4

Core Questions 5

Lesson Set Goals 5

Choosing Core Texts 6

Teacher’s Notes 7

Questions for Close Reading 8

Building Academic Language 8

Recognition 9

Complementary Core Methods 9

Core Connections at Home 10

Reading Lessons 11

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 12

Lesson 1 Readers summarize their reading. 13

Lesson 2 Readers examine how a character changes across a text. 17

Lesson 3 Readers determine the central idea of a text. 20

Lesson 4 Readers notice multiple central ideas within the same text. 24

Lesson 5 Readers examine how a central idea is conveyed across a text. 26

Lesson 6 Readers connect the change in a character’s point of view with the central idea or message of the text. 30

Lesson 7 Readers compare the experience of reading a text to viewing a performance of that same text. 33

Lesson 8 Readers look at how similar central ideas unfold across a variety of texts. 35

Lesson 9 Readers present their learning about central ideas. 37

Lesson 10 Students reflect on their learning. 41

Writing Lessons 43

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 44

Lesson 1 Writers study how a strong scene unfolds. 45

Lesson 2 Writers establish a narrative point of view and strong characters. 48

Lesson 3 Writers create narratives that illustrate a clear central idea. 50

Lesson 4 Writers use a variety of narrative techniques to enhance their work. 53

Lesson 5 Writers use transitional words and phrases to convey changes in time and/or setting. 55

Lesson 6 Writers craft logical conclusions for their narratives. 58

Lesson 7 Writers use a checklist to revise and strengthen their writing with a partner. 61

Lesson 8 Writers edit their writing for grammar and conventions of standard English usage. 63

Lesson 9 Writers add visual images that enhance the central idea of their stories. 66

Lesson 10 Writers share their narratives with authentic audiences. 68

Glossary 71

PDToolkit

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Essential Skills Lenses (PARCC framework)

Core Support for Diverse Learners

Language Companion Lesson (with teaching objective)

Speaking and Listening Checklist

Grade 7 Powerful Words and Phrases: Close Reading of Timeless Texts 72

Introduction 73

Common Core State Standards Alignment 74

Core Questions 75

Lesson Set Goals 75

Choosing Core Texts 76

Teacher’s Notes 77

Questions for Close Reading 77

Building Academic Language 78

Recognition 78

Complementary Core Methods 79

Core Connections at Home 79

Reading Lessons 80

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 81

Lesson 1 Readers cite evidence to support their interpretation of a central idea in a text. 82

Lesson 2 Readers track how a central idea develops over the course of a poem. 85

Lesson 3 Readers analyze the relationship between form, structure, and meaning in poems. 88

Lesson 4 Readers study the words and language of poetry. 92

Lesson 5 Readers pair poetry with images and/or sound to enhance and clarify the meaning and central idea(s). 95

Lesson 6 Readers read closely to study the imagery an author embeds within a longer text. 98

Lesson 7 Readers identify and study emotional or powerful scenes to determine how they contribute to the development of the overall plot. 101

Lesson 8 Readers determine the central idea and track its development across a longer text. 103

Lesson 9 Readers present their analysis of key scenes from texts. 105

Lesson 10 Readers reflect on their learning about the power of words in both short and long texts. 108

Writing Lessons 110

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 111

Lesson 1 Writers freewrite about the central ideas that inspire them. 112

Lesson 2 Writers select and plan a real or imagined narrative. 113

Lesson 3 Writers develop a strong narrator with a clear point of view. 117

Lesson 4 Writers use a variety of narrative techniques (pacing and dialogue) to enhance and develop their writing. 120

Lesson 5 Writers use a variety of narrative techniques (description and word choice) to enhance and develop their writing. 122

Lesson 6 Writers compose strong conclusions to their narratives. 125

Lesson 7 Writers collaborate with a peer to revise their writing. 127

Lesson 8 Writers edit their writing for grammar and conventions of standard English usage. 129

Lesson 9 Writers add visual components to enhance and clarify their narratives. 131

Lesson 10 Writers share their narratives with an authentic audience. 133

Glossary 136

PDToolkit

Available on PDToolkit

Essential Skills Lenses (PARCC framework) 

Core Support for Diverse Learners

Language Companion Lesson (with teaching objective)

Speaking and Listening Checklist

Grade 8 Symbols in Stories: 

Close Reading of Dystopian Fiction 138

Introduction 139

Common Core State Standards Alignment 140

Core Questions 141

Lesson Set Goals 141

Choosing Core Texts 142

Teacher’s Notes 143

Questions for Close Reading 143

Building Academic

Language 144

Recognition 144

Complementary Core

Methods 144

Core Connections at Home 145

Reading Lessons 146

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 147

Lesson 1 Readers determine whether a science fiction short story has the characteristics of dystopian fiction. 148

Lesson 2 Readers preview the characteristics of dystopian fiction in book blurbs. 151

Lesson 3 Readers explore the setting and setting-related symbols in dystopian fiction. 154

Lesson 4 Readers identify the characteristics of the dystopian fiction protagonist. 157

Lesson 5 Readers recognize symbolism in common forces of dystopian fiction. 159

Lesson 6 Readers recognize dramatic irony in dystopian fiction. 163

Lesson 7 Readers compare common elements of two or more dystopian texts. 165

Lesson 8 Readers recognize style and language techniques authors use to convey the deeper themes of a dystopian story. 167

Lesson 9 Readers make connections between dystopian writing topics and contemporary societal or global issues. 171

Lesson 10 Readers identify their novel’s theme and support their interpretation with evidence from the text. 173

Writing Lessons 175

The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 176

Lesson 1 Writers of dystopian fiction imagine future scenarios and their possible impact on humanity. 177

Lesson 2 Writers of dystopian fiction imagine apocalyptic story topics that include strong central messages for the reader. 179

Lesson 3 Writers of dystopian fiction imagine scenarios where government oppresses the people. 181

Lesson 4 Writers of dystopian fiction develop protagonists with detailed behavior and characteristics. 184

Lesson 5 Writers of dystopian fiction develop detailed settings with symbolic elements. 187

Lesson 6 Writers plan dystopian fiction stories, referring to mentor texts as models. 188

Lesson 7 Students draft the climax and resolution of their stories, leaving the reader with an implied message. 192

Lesson 8 Writers revise for narrative techniques and transitions to enhance the setting (place and time). 194

Lesson 9 Writers connect their personal ideologies to their original dystopian stories. 197

Lesson 10 Writers plan book trailers for their original dystopian stories. 199

Glossary 202

PDToolkit

Available on PDToolkit

Essential Skills Lenses (PARCC framework)

Core Support for Diverse Learners

Language Companion Lesson (with teaching objective)

Speaking and Listening Checklist

Appendixes

Grade 6 Appendixes

Appendix 6.1 Summary Characteristics and Process 203

Appendix 6.2 Common Central Ideas in Middle School Literature 204

Appendix 6.3 Determining the Central Idea of a Text 205

Appendix 6.4 Sample Narratives 206

Appendix 6.5 Central Idea Tracker Graphic Organizer 208

Appendix 6.6 Visual Text Conversation Goals 209

Appendix 6.7 Central Ideas across Texts Discussion Questions 210

Appendix 6.8 Presentation Checklist 211

Appendix 6.9 List of Transitional Words and Phrases 212

Appendix 6.10 Scene Revising and Editing Checklist 213

Appendix 6.11 Clip-Apart Milestone Performance Assessment Checklists 214

Appendix 6.12 Core Ready Reading Rubric 221

Appendix 6.13 Core Ready Writing Rubric 226

Grade 7 Appendixes

Appendix 7.1 Timeless Central Ideas in Poetry and Literature 232

Appendix 7.2 List of Transitional Words and Phrases 233

Appendix 7.3 Strong Image Tracker Graphic Organizer 234

Appendix 7.4 Powerful Text Presentation Checklist 235

Appendix 7.5 Sample Storyboard 236

Appendix 7.6 Sample Narrative Scene: Taking a Leap 237

Appendix 7.7 Narrative Revising and Editing Checklist 240

Appendix 7.8 Clip-Apart Milestone Performance Assessments 241

Appendix 7.9 Core Ready Reading Rubric 246

Appendix 7.10 Core Ready Writing Rubric 251

Grade 8 Appendixes

Appendix 8.1 Characteristics of Dystopian Fiction Graphic Organizer 255

Appendix 8.2 Sample Book Blurbs 256

Appendix 8.3 Dystopian Settings Graphic Organizer 257

Appendix 8.4 Dystopian Protagonist Graphic Organizer 258

Appendix 8.5 Dystopian Symbolism Analysis Graphic Organizer 259

Appendix 8.6 Dystopian Style and Language Graphic Organizer 260

Appendix 8.7 Contemporary Issues Graphic Organizer 261

Appendix 8.8 Apocalypse Writing Graphic Organizer 262

Appendix 8.9 Apocalyptic Story Beginning: Lonely Road 263

Appendix 8.10 Dystopian Government Graphic Organizer 264

Appendix 8.11 Dystopian Model Story: Paris in the Springtime 265

Appendix 8.12 Character Sketch Graphic Organizer 270

Appendix 8.13 Plot Graphic Organizer 271

Appendix 8.14 Dystopian Story Editing Checklist 272

Appendix 8.15 Clip-Apart Milestone Performance Assessment Checklists 273

Appendix 8.16 Core Ready Reading Rubric 278

Appendix 8.17 Core Ready Writing Rubric 282

References 286