Grade 6 ELA (CCSS-ELA) Exam Survival Guide

Must-do topics

• Reading: cite evidence; determine theme/central idea; analyze text structure; compare mediums.
• Writing: arguments (claim + reasons + evidence); informative/explanatory; narratives with dialogue & pacing.
• Language: pronouns (subject/object/reflexive); Greek/Latin roots; commas, dashes, colons basics.
• Speaking/Listening: summarize, analyze claims; present arguments clearly.

Top traps

• Answering from memory instead of citing text.
• Theme vs summary confusion.
• Weak thesis in argumentative writing.
• Comma splices/run-ons.
• Presentations without structure.

Quick checks

• Quote 1 line to prove theme.
• Argument prompt: “Should phones be in class?” → claim + 2 reasons + evidence.
• Fix: “Me and him went.” → “He and I went.”
• Summarize a video in 3 points.

You will make

• Text Evidence Highlighter Guide.
• Argument Organizer (Claim–Reason–Evidence).
• Roots & Affixes Word Wall.
• Presentation Outline Cards.

Daily plan (35–40 min)

• 10 min vocab/grammar.
• 15 min reading + evidence.
• 10–15 min writing mini-task.