Middle School
Avid Readers & Writers
Storytelling takes center stage in sixth grade Language Arts through genres as diverse as mystery, memoir, and poetry. Imagining life through another person’s eyes, we enlarge our humanity by peering into his culture, circumstances, and inner world. In sixth grade, your child will be spellbound by great stories, from the survival adventure Hatchet to the futuristic novel The Giver. Poetry recitations challenge her to memorize and recite a beloved children’s folk tale.
Then she will write a “pourquoi” tale of her own, such as “How the Zebra Got its Stripes.” Harkness-style discussions will allow students to engage in sustained discussions with peers not just about their reading, but also about their place in a larger world. For example, in their discussion of A Long Walk to Water, students are stretched to consider a global definition of “neighbor” in Jesus’ commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Some parents read this book concurrently with their children and continue these important discussions at home. April is National Poetry Month, and you may be surprised at the quality of your child’s poetry and the glimpse it gives you into his thoughts and character. In conjunction with The Giver, your child will consider what matters to him when he looks to the future and how to use his unique perspective and ideas for the good of others.
