"Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex." - Norman Vincent Peale
S T U D E N T L I N K S
National Geographic
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ One Minute Typing Test 10fastfingers.com Typing Lessons sa.typingclub.com Nitro Type nitrotype.com Zombie Type typing.com/student/games/play/tommyq Super Hyper Typer Spider slimekids.com/games/typing-games/super-hyper-spider-typer.html Starship Type games.sense-lang.org/StarWars/ Keyboard Ninja typing.com/student/games/play/keyboard-ninja |
Story Board
storyboardthat.com Typing Pipes typingtest.com/games/typing-pipe/ Typing Chef games.sense-lang.org/typingchefEN.php Mario Teaches Typing marioteachestyping.type Ink Battle primarygames.com/langarts/inkbattle/ Fire Type typing.com/student/games/play/fire-typer Ring Toss typing.com/student/games/play/type-toss |
C A L E N D A R |
D E S C R I P T I O N |
Term 1
Autobiography - Narrative Essay - Presentation Animal Research Essay - Presentation (Story Writing) Creative Essay - Presentation Compare and Contrast Essay - Presentation Argumentative/Persuasive Essay - Presentation Typing & Handwriting Practice (Daily) Editing Skills Practice (Daily) Spelling Sets 1 - 10 Term 2 Biography Research Essay - Presentation Create Your Own Adventure Essay - Presentation Typing & Handwriting Practice (Daily) Editing Skills Practice (Daily) Spelling Sets 11 - 20 Term 3 Geography Research Essay - Presentation Debate Teams - Argumentative - Presentation Typing & Handwriting Practice (Daily) Editing Skills Practice (Daily) Writing Haiku Poems Spelling Sets 21 - 30 Term 4 Historical Event Research Essay - Presentation Storyboard Comic Stris - Presentation (Story Writing) Creative Essay - Presentation Year End Reflections Essay - Presentation Typing & Handwriting Practice (Daily) Editing Skills Practice (Daily) Spelling Sets 31 - 40 |
Writing Homework
Homework for writing class will only be assigned when a student is not able to complete their essay in class after receiving additional help, extra time, and accommodations. As a last resort a student may need more time and support at home in order to complete their essays. Writing Essays Students will practice various styles of academic writing and continue to build their writing skills through Spectrum Academy's proven writing process used at each grade level in preparation for college writing and the professional world. The Writing Process 1. Pre Writing 2. Drafting 3. Revise 4. Editing 5. Publish/Present The writing process has many components students will learn.. Each step incorporates elements, such as using a graphic organizer, drafting an outline, and instruction for how to formulate sentences. Students will practice writing 1 to 3 paragraph essays, and 5 paragraph essays; including lessons on how to write an introduction, body paragraphs with supported details, and a conclusion. Types of Essays ~ Autobiography, Bibliography ~ Research Essay ~ Narrative Essay ~ Creative Essay ~ Argumentative/Persuasive Essay ~ Compare and Contrast Essay Students learn and practice typing their essays in a google doc and electronically share their essay via email with parents at home. This allows students the opportunity for additional time at home on essays, especially for students who really struggle in writing.. At each grade level, Spectrum Academy uses utahcompose.com, This is is a learning tool students will use to learn to compose essays in each grade throughout each year including high school. Students will learn how to use spelling tools, formatting tools, and other assistive tools in writing. Students also get to peer review and help edit each others essays. Speech to Text is another tool available for students who are not yet able to type. They can speak into a microphone on the computer and the words appear on the google doc. This allows students to gain experience quickly with the elements of composing a detailed essay. Editing Skills Practice Students practice daily edit exercises. Daily practice and repetition will help them understand and remember to always use proper capitalization, spelling, grammar, and punctuation in academic writing. Typing Practice Many professions require a minimum typing speed of 35 words per minute, set as a minimal standard for work efficiency. Your son or daughter's efficiency in their ability to communicate through typing is crucial and will be involved in almost every aspect of their future academic and professional career. We test students' typing speed with 10fastfingers.com and we will have weekly lessons with students through sa.typingclub.com. Students also get to do fun typing activities from time to time that also helps improve their typing performance. Writing Practice At the 6th grade level, handwriting neatness is primarily addressed with an occupational therapist, however, in writing class students will be given weekly opportunities to practice their handwriting legibility. They will write in print or cursive form, and learn how to write their cursive signature. Oral Presentations Students stand in front of the class and present their essays. Students really enjoy sharing their essays with the class and take turns listening to what their peers have written. Students are motivated to write their best work when they have the opportunity to share it. Students get to practice their presentation skills in front of an audience. Students will also learn the how to create and present a PowerPoint Presentation this year. Other Lessons ~ How to write different types of poems ~ How to write a thank you note ~ Comics & how to integrate writing with art Utah Core Standards www.uen.org/core/ |
S T U D E N T L I N K S
Research Cedible Sources
research.easybib.com britannica.com Works Cited www.easybib.com List of Animals lib.colostate.edu/wildlife/ List of Compare and Contrast Topics 712educators.about.com |
T E A C H E R L I N K S
Pre-Writing
Autobiography Graphic Organizer - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8oJiVWZxwH4OHJXLXc4U3gweUE
Hamburger Graphic Organizer - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8oJiVWZxwH4RDZFZ0FtaklTSm8
Research Essay Graphic Organizer -
Drafting
Power Point ~ How to set up a google doc - google doc tools - How to place a heading
How to write an introduction Lesson -
Cursive Letters - Beginners
www.k5learning.com/cursive-writing-worksheets
Easy Cursive
http://www.homeeducationresources.com/free/EasyCursive1.pdf
Cursive Sciences
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4b2xJaTF1OFdyRjVEdmtXSzBZbEpGRXEtMU5V/view?usp=sharing
Cursive Landmarks
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4X2t3OFVRN1pFLVlVUkFxY3BvMk9DWVQtNVln/view?usp=sharing
Central America
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4YVc2bkZsY2czeFRLSHNsOU0yME9NVkRZeENZ/view?usp=sharing
Cursive Snakes
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4TVJrTkM3T2tQNmxOOC04UHhISVV6eDc4THhN/view?usp=sharing
Daily Edits
www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/edit.shtml
Credible Sources Video Lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_EAxomGhNY&feature=youtu.be
Autobiography Graphic Organizer - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8oJiVWZxwH4OHJXLXc4U3gweUE
Hamburger Graphic Organizer - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8oJiVWZxwH4RDZFZ0FtaklTSm8
Research Essay Graphic Organizer -
Drafting
Power Point ~ How to set up a google doc - google doc tools - How to place a heading
How to write an introduction Lesson -
Cursive Letters - Beginners
www.k5learning.com/cursive-writing-worksheets
Easy Cursive
http://www.homeeducationresources.com/free/EasyCursive1.pdf
Cursive Sciences
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4b2xJaTF1OFdyRjVEdmtXSzBZbEpGRXEtMU5V/view?usp=sharing
Cursive Landmarks
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4X2t3OFVRN1pFLVlVUkFxY3BvMk9DWVQtNVln/view?usp=sharing
Central America
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4YVc2bkZsY2czeFRLSHNsOU0yME9NVkRZeENZ/view?usp=sharing
Cursive Snakes
drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oJiVWZxwH4TVJrTkM3T2tQNmxOOC04UHhISVV6eDc4THhN/view?usp=sharing
Daily Edits
www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/edit.shtml
Credible Sources Video Lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_EAxomGhNY&feature=youtu.be