Reading (Character Traits)

6th Grade

Our focus the past two weeks in Shared Reading has been fiction. The essential question we have been asking 6th graders is: How do the actions of the characters in the text move the plot to a resolution? (6.RI.3)

Students have been able to describe how a particular story's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as being able to evaluate how the characters respond to change as the plot moves towards a resolution. 

We began by reading the short story "To Sleep Under the Stars." As a class we made a story plot that included the characters, setting, and theme. From there we identified the main character and searched for character traits of the character and quotes from the text that supported the character trait. The last task we completed was to write a paragraph about the character and their traits using citations. 

In groups, students went through the same process with another short story called "Just a Pidgeon."

This past week, with a partner students are working on reading the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. They have dissected the story, identified traits and evidence for the main character Rachel, and are now working on their paragraphs. 

Here are some examples of what we have been working on: