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

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.

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 Available on PDToolkit 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