Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS:

This focus of this unit is analyzing words and phrases in order to examine the impact on the overall message of the text. Students will analyze short texts and poems as mentor texts to identify author’s craft elements and understand how authors use word choice, tone, structure and figurative language to develop characters and the overall meaning of the story. Teachers may choose texts that thematically allow students to explore ways that literature helps people embrace their unique identities and learn about themselves and others.  Using these techniques as authors, students will create personal narratives to express their own identities through personal experiences and events.  

Duration:

20 days (15 instructional days and 5 reteach days) Elementary Model - 130 minutes to 180 minutes per day; Middle School Model - five periods per week based on a traditional bell schedule