The ultimate goal of the 6th grade reading curriculum is for students to read increasingly complex texts over the course of the year, preparing them for high school, college, and careers beyond. Students read a variety of texts and different genres, including fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction. There is a specific emphasis on and increase in the reading of non-fiction texts in order to prepare students to read, write, and research across subjects. As students read more complex texts, analyzing and understanding them in deeper ways, they strengthen their knowledge of all subjects, including science and history.
For Scholastic’s recommended reading list of books for 6th-8th graders click here.
In order to build reading skills, your 6th grader:
- Uses evidence from the text in order to summarize the plot, make inferences about and analyze the text, and determine the central theme or themes in a text.
- Understands and explains the point of view in a text; understands the significance of certain words and passages in a text.
- Understands and relays the main thesis or claims of a non-fiction text and its supporting evidence.
- Reads and compares different texts and genres that address the same topics.
- Uses a variety of media and formats, including video and audio, to further enhance understanding of a topic or text.
- Participates in class-wide and group discussions expressing the ideas and skills learned.
- Practices a variety of vocabulary skills, including using the context in which a word is found to determine the meaning of words, recognizing roots of words, and using digital and physical reference materials (dictionaries, thesauruses, and glossaries).
- Gains an understanding of and the ability to explain figurative language in a text.
