Common Core Standard – Language
Teacher’s Edition
Introduction: L
6TH Grade Bellringers
Conventions of Standard English
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L.6.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 1, 2, 3, and 4
o Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, possessive).
o Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself, ourselves).
o Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
o Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous
antecedents).
o Recognize variations from standard English in their own and others' writing and
speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional
language.
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L.6.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation,
and spelling when writing.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 5 and 6
o Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical
elements.
o Spell correctly.
Knowledge of Language
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L.6.3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or
listening.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 7
o Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.
o Maintain consistency in style and tone.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
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L.6.4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases
based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 8, 9, and 10
o Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or
function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
o Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the
meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
Common Core Standard – Language
Teacher’s Edition
o
o
Introduction: L
Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and
digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or
its part of speech.
Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by
checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
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L.6.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in
word meanings.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 11, 12, and 13
o Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context.
o Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., cause/effect, part/whole,
item/category) to better understand each of the words.
o Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations
(definitions) (e.g., stingy, scrimping, economical, unwasteful, thrifty).
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L.6.6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific
words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important
to comprehension or expression.
Addressed on Bellringer Day 14
Language – Explanation
For the following few weeks, your students will work through the common core standards for Language.
Every day, your students work through one standard (or part of one standard) by reviewing a sample
question and answer and then by answering a few questions on their own. All of the common core
standards were taken directly from the Common Core Standard website at www.corestandards.org.
Each day’s bellringer will help to remove some of the mystery associated with the common core
standards by:
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•
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Addressing one common core standard each day. The standard is only on the teacher’s edition;
the student’s edition contains a place to write notes or things to remember as they work
through that standard.
Providing one sample question with the answer as a way to illustrate the common core standard
at work. This sample problem is on both the teacher and the student version.
Offering several questions for the student to work through every day. The bellringers contain
only a few questions each day – enough for the student to be exposed to the standard but not
too many to take away time from the lesson of the day. The teacher’s edition includes all
answers.
Don’t be stressed about the upcoming transition to the common core standards. These bellringers will
clarify your specific standards and provide an opportunity for your students to be exposed to them
throughout the year.
Common Core Standard L.6.1
Teacher’s Edition
6TH Grade Bellringers
Problem: Select the correct pronoun
to complete the sentence.
The boy is eating his lunch; _____ ate
breakfast earlier today.
a. He
b. They
c. She
Day 1
Notes on Common Core L.6.1 – Day 1:
Demonstrate command of the conventions of
standard English grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
•
Ensure that pronouns are in the proper
case (subjective, objective, possessive).
Answer:
a. He
Instructions: Select the correct pronouns to complete the sentences below.
1. The girl who won’t eat mushrooms still won’t eat _______. Why won’t ____ eat _____?
a. them, they them
b. them, she, them
c. her, she them
Answer: b. them, she, them
2. Nobody can stop _______.
a. us
b. we
c. themself
Answer: a. us
3. ______ likes ice cream. Her favorite flavor is vanilla, and ______ gets _____ every time.
a. She, it, her
b. He, he, her
c. He, he, it
Answer: c. She, she, it
Common Core Standard L.6.1
Teacher’s Edition
6TH Grade Bellringers
Problem: Select the correct pronoun
to complete the sentence.
Cousin Melissa gave _____ a trumpet.
a. myself
b. me
c. I
d. she
Day 2
Notes on Common Core L.6.1 – Day 2:
Demonstrate command of the conventions of
standard English grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
•
Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself,
ourselves).
Answer:
b. me
Instructions: Select the correct pronouns to complete the sentences below.
1. We should clean __________________.
a. ourself
b. themselves
c. ourselves
Answer: c. oursevles
2. I learned a lot about _______________ at my first summer job.
a. myself
b. me
c. themselves
Answer: a. myself
3. They should split the pizza among ___________________.
a. them
b. ourselves
c. themselves
Answer: c. themselves
Common Core Standard L.6.1
Teacher’s Edition
6TH Grade Bellringers
Problem: Underline the inappropriate
shift in pronouns; select the correct
answer to replace the underlined
word(s).
Most students experience different
teaching methods throughout his or
her high school career.
a. their, careers
b. their, career
c. student, experiences
Answer: a. their, careers
Day 3
Notes on Common Core L.6.1 – Day 3:
Demonstrate command of the conventions of
standard English grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
•
Recognize and correct inappropriate
shifts in pronoun number and person.
Instructions: Select which answer best resolves the shifts in pronoun number and person.
1. A student can learn to depend on their own hard work for success.
a. Students can learn to depend on their own hard work for success.
b. A student can learn to depend on his or her own hard work for success.
c. Both a and b.
Answer: c. Both a and b.
2. One can add their friends’ names to their Facebook groups.
a. Users can add their friends’ names to their Facebook groups.
b. One may add one’s friends’ names to their Facebook groups.
c. Both a and b.
Answer: a. Users can add their friends’ names to their Facebook groups.
3. A student can do almost anything they want during homeroom.
a. Students can do almost anything he or she want during homeroom.
b. Students can do almost anything they want during homeroom.
c. Both a and b.
Answer: b. Students can do almost anything they want during homeroom.