Let’s continue our journey through the Grade 6 milestones which learners in this grade achieve in English Home Language (HL). We have previously looked at the milestones for other grades. For Grade 6 we previously looked at the English HL listening and speaking progress. Here we will consider the skills of reading and viewing, and how they ought to advance in the Grade 6 year of your child’s schooling.
Reading and viewing skills need to be well developed. This is because these are central to learning success, across the entire school curriculum. Reading is also incredibly important for all aspects of adult life.
English HL Reading and viewing in Grade 6
Throughout the year, Grade 6’s will be entering into a range of activities to improve their reading and viewing. For parents of children with learning difficulties, rest assured, remedial learners can acquire the skills needed to be proficient readers.
Grade 6 learners will be engaging a wide range of literary and non-literary texts, which will also include visual texts. They will continue to learn about different genres and registers. They will learn how these reflect the purpose and which audiences are targeted by what they read. The aim here is to produce creative thinkers, thinkers who are also able to critically analyse what they read, including ideas and opinions.
What types of texts will sixth graders read this year?
To achieve the Grade 6 milestones, passages and extracts read will span the spectrum of genres and text types. They will include newspaper articles and persuasive texts such as adverts. Myths and legends or other examples of folklore writing will be read too. Simple dramas or plays are also utilised. Poems are read throughout the year, appropriately selected for the subject being taught.
Instructional texts are also part of the curriculum. These can be recipes or instructions on how to play a game. Following of written directions also falls under this category.
A short novel will be completed by the class. Short stories are also part of the reading diet in sixth grade. Informational texts are also used in comprehension and discussions. These could be weather reports, or fact-based articles on a range of subjects.
Cartoons and comic strips are also included in the reading materials. Reviews of movies or other forms of plays and/or dramas are also part of the students’ reading in this year.
As you can see, the remedial grade 6 learner will be exposed to a wide-ranging variety of texts. The exposure will be done at a pace that allows them to understand and work through the passages properly.
This will encourage them to develop an appreciation for the types of writing that they will encounter. This is a life skill applying not just to basic schooling, but it also looks beyond school to university and work in the future. It will also mean being able to read thoughtfully.
Grade 6 Reading and viewing activities that occur throughout the year
Dictionaries will be used throughout the year. This is one way that a remedial learner’s vocabulary and spelling will improve. Grade 6’s will engage in pre-reading activities. These include trying to predict what the text is about based on the title. When there are graphics, such as in an article, they form part of the discussion.
Practical reading skills developed at this level of schooling include scanning and skimming. This allows for an overview of any document to be formed. Careful reading is also stressed.
Thoughtful reading with understanding is the aim, and to that end the learners begin to identify the clear, intended meaning of the text. More than this, the more obscure cultural meanings inherent in the text can also be noticed. All of these can also be discussed with understanding. Interpretations of what is read can be explained. An overall grasp of the text can also be verbalised. Grade 6’s will become better at knowing when a text is literal or figurative, fiction or non-fiction.
Grade 6 teachers will also focus on an understanding of conventions of texts: for example, the differences between a diary entry and a news article will be identified. The structures and usual organisation of various genres can be recognised and used.
Grade 6 scholars will be able to identify and discuss how the message of what is read could be manipulated. They can also determine which techniques the writers have used to this end. The idea is for pupils to learn how a particular view of the world has been constructed, with the language used. These thoughts are also extended to photographers and designers. In the same way words can form an opinion, so too can the selection of images and layout contribute to perception of the topic. Sixth graders are taught to spot this.
Grade 6 learners will be taught and encouraged to invent alternative endings to stories, in both fictional and non-fictional writing. They can discuss what their preferred results might be, and how these could possibly be accomplished.
When it comes to problem solving, alternative ways to approach the difficulties or questions can be proposed. Different hypothesises can also be discussed and assessed.
With more complex texts, the various viewpoints can be identified. A student is also able to give their own perspective on what is being written about. They can validate this with evidence from the passages themselves. The diversity of social and cultural values within a passage can be identified and critically discussed.
For works of fiction plot, setting, characterisation and themes can be explained. The relationship to the students’ own lives can be understood. Reading out loud will also be adjusted depending on the genre and topic. The pronunciation will be clear and in the appropriate tempo.
Jumbled instructional texts can be put in their proper order. Different recipes or instructions can be compared.
Even novels can be summarised in a few sentences. The central point or idea of what is read can be explained.
All these skills will be taught and developed throughout the year in order to reach the level at . Grade six remedial learners can enjoy and interact with what they read.
At Japari, we are passionate about instilling a love for reading
Japari recognises the foundational aspect that reading and viewing plays in learning. For remedial learners, reading can be daunting. We work hard with our remedial learners to show them that they are capable of reading. We also want them to see that they can also enjoy what they read. We have a robust focus on reading, with a well-stocked library.
We also implement at least three hours (three periods) of DEAR every week. This is where all our grades, including the Grade 6’s, Drop Everything And Read. These times are scheduled in the weekly timetable. In this way our Grade 6’s will read through a few books every year in class. The students then complete a book report on each book when completed.
In this way we use both guided group reading and independent reading. This fosters more and more independent reading in our remedial students.
Japari: A Remedial school preparing remedial Grade 6’s to thrive
At Japari, we want to see remedial learners achieving their full potential. Our curriculum follows CAPS, but in such a way that allows these students to effectively learn according to their own individual optimum learning methods. These are children who are intelligent, possibly even highly intelligent. But they have learning barriers to overcome.
Japari is equipped to address these learning difficulties. With our small classes each student receives the attention they need. They have excellent support from our multi-disciplinary team. This is why the majority of our graduates are able to integrate into mainstream high schools after receiving input from Japari.
We encourage parents looking for potential schools for their children to give us a call today to arrange a viewing of the school. We can discuss the support we provide for our remedial students. Come and see how we can be a part of your child excelling.
Bibliography/Further Reading:
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-success-guides/guide-to-6th-grade.html
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/skills-kids-need-going-into-sixth-grade
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-books-for-sixth-graders
