Happy April! Here's what our 6th‑grade language arts class will be doing this month.
New Literature Circles: Books Adapted into Movies
Returning from spring break, students will receive their new literature circle novels the week of April 1. This quarter's unit focuses on novels that have been adapted into movies—an exciting opportunity to analyze how stories translate from page to screen!
Students will read to weekly checkpoint chapters (approximately 100 pages per checkpoint) with checkpoint quizzes the following Monday. All checkpoint chapter assignments will be posted in Schoology for students to reference. We remind students daily in class about upcoming deadlines, so please encourage your student to check Schoology regularly and stay organized.
Quarter 4 Project: Book vs. Movie Magazine
For their Quarter 4 project, students will create a magazine answering the age-old question: Which was better, the book or the movie?
Working with their literature circle novels, students will:
Analyze how the plot was adapted from book to film
Examine the director's creative choices and storytelling decisions
Evaluate cinematography and how visual elements enhance (or change) the story
Develop a well-reasoned conclusion about which version they believe is more effective
This project combines critical thinking, visual literacy, and argumentative writing in a creative format!
Reading & Writing Skills Students will continue building analytical skills through this project by:
Comparing and contrasting texts across different mediums
Identifying author's purpose versus director's vision
Analyzing how different formats impact meaning and audience experience
Supporting claims with evidence from both the novel and film
New Student Accountability Initiative
To promote student responsibility and keep families informed, we are implementing a weekly student communication practice beginning in April.
Here's how it works:
Every Friday, if a student has not turned in an assignment that week, the student will email their parent/guardian.
The email will include:
A description of the missing assignment
The student's reflection on why it wasn't completed on time
A specific plan for when the assignment will be completed
Parents: We ask that you respond to these emails so we know you've received them. Your acknowledgment helps us track communication and support student accountability.
Important: Please verify your email address in Infinite Campus. We will be using the email addresses currently on file to send these communications. If your email is incorrect or has changed, please contact the main office right away to update it. This ensures you don't miss important messages from your student.
Important: Language Arts CMAS (April 13–15)
Our state reading and writing assessment will take place April 13–15. This is an important opportunity for students to demonstrate the reading and writing skills they've worked hard to develop all year.
Please help ensure your student is prepared:
-Arrives on time each morning
-Has their Chromebook fully charged
-Gets adequate sleep and eats breakfast
We're excited for students to show what they know on this assessment. Your support in helping them prepare is greatly appreciated!
How families can help:
-Encourage your student to stay on track with their literature circle reading and checkpoint deadlines.
-Check Schoology to see which chapters are assigned and when quizzes are scheduled.
-Ask your student about the book they're reading
-Remind your student to charge their Chromebook each night before school
Verify your email address in Infinite Campus and respond to Friday accountability emails from your student.
We're looking forward to an engaging month of reading, creative project work, and celebrating student growth through CMAS. Thank you for your continued support!
