Overview of Language Arts at McClure
Our Language Arts team has aligned our instruction with the Common Core State Standards and the district grading protocols for distance learning. (A, B, C, C-).  In this way, every assessment rubric offers skill work at grade level, exceeding grade level standard, and approaching grade level standard. This supports individual instruction and scaffolding in each classroom and with each student.

All Language Arts classes are structured in a “blended” model. Students who struggle with reading and writing skills will be provided with extra support, small group lessons and re-teaching of important skills. Students who demonstrate mastery will be provided with advanced learning opportunities, reading/writing enrichment activities, and advanced texts across genres to read and analyze. Our blended classroom model offers differentiation in every skill standard to meet the needs in the room and push the advancement of all students toward mastery and exceeding standard.   

McClure students are asked to read an average of 30 minutes each day. This has shown to improve middle grade skill standards in literacy, text comprehension, and writing fluency. Students use class-provided reading logs to keep track of their reading and communicate their reading success with their language arts teachers. Teachers often conference with students to support and discuss reading success throughout the year. Reading is expected to take place primarily outside of class, though silent reading and teacher-directed reading take place in class regularly.

Members of the Department	What They Teach
Adam Brickett	6th Grade Language Arts
Georgette Duggal	8th Grade Language Arts
Kelsey Klug	Librarian
Erin Johnson	8th Grade Language Arts
Jennifer Fanning	6th and 7th Grade Language Arts
Sarah Pattison	7th and 8th Grade Language Arts, Subject Matter Specialist

Scope and Sequence of Grades/Programs

6th Grade Language Arts
Reading Life, Personal Narrative, Character Analysis, Non-Fiction Pamphlets, Literary Essay, Book Clubs, Realistic Fiction, Poetry, Genre Fiction (Fantasy, Suspense, Sci-Fi, or Fairy Tale), Independent Reading and Responses to Literature. Writers In The Schools for all 6th grade students, focusing on narrative writing through illustration. 

7th Grade Language Arts
Research Based Informational Project, Character Analysis, Literary Essays, Book Clubs, Creating Graphic Novels from Classic Literature, Persuasive Essay, Poetry and Song Lyrics Comparison, Independent Reading and Responses to Literature.

8th Grade Language Arts
Hero Monologue, Narrative Writing and Reading, Monologue Presentations, Goal Formation, Literary Essay, Non-Fiction studies, Book Clubs, Global Flash Fiction-reading and writing, Social Issues, Realistic Fiction- reading and writing, Poetry, Genre expansion, Inquiry on Global Issues, Argument Essay, Novel Study- House on Mango Street, Promotion Speech, Independent Reading and Responses to Literature.