Kaleidos 6
Kaleidos 6 is a dynamic, full year language arts curriculum for sixth graders. Based on classic literature and writing, it promotes skills in all language areas.
The Year At A Glance
You can print The Year At A Glance chart that gives a concise overview of the program.
There are 15 three-week modules which include:
- 10 Full Modules = 3 weeks each (Literature, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, Phonics Reader, Computer)
- 2 Research Writing Modules - 6 consecutive weeks
- 3 Literature Only Modules - weeks
This is a total of 45 weeks which can be a year round 12 month curriculum. For those who prefer a nine-month, thirty-six week curriculum, instructions are provided on how to combine the research and literature modules.
Download Overview and 1st Week's Lessons
Literature in Kaleidos 6
The great line-up of books for sixth graders include::
- Amos Fortune, Free Man By Elizabeth Yates
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- Daughter of the Mountain by Louise Rankin
- The Door In the Wall by Margeurite de Angeli
- The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
- Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor
- Heidi by Johanna Spyri
- Calico Bush By Rachel Field
- Moccasin Trail by Eloise McGraw
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- The Incredible Journey By Sheila Burnford
- Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
Read the descriptions of the books in
Kaleidos 6 reading list.
Writing in Kaleidos 6
Sixth graders in Kaleidos continue learning creative writing and essay construction using
Write On, The Kid-Friendly, Mother Pleasing, Gentle Way to Learn to Write.
Particular emphasis is given to lessons #56 through 74, as well as reviewing and reinforcing prior skills introduced previously. Somoe of the writing done this year will include:
- Mastering chronological essays
- Writing about cause and effect
- Comparing different sources
- Writing analysis of literature
- Descriptive writing
- Using mood in writing
- Use of humor
- Poetry
As the picture above demonstrates, each Write On has a sample student model, directions for the teacher, and objectives. Many have idea clouds and sentence starters.
The wide variety of types of writing adds interest, and essays gradually build as students to learn to write with persuasive, narrative, and informative writing.
Speaking and Oral Presentations
Once or twice a week students give a short presentation of their studies for a few minutes in order to practice speaking and organizational skills. In addition, Kaleidos 6 gives them three opportunities to present formal oral presentations. These include:
- Informative Speech with Powerpoint presentation
- Character Sketch with silhouettes
- Cause and Effect Speech with demonstration
Syllable Savvy 6
Syllable Savvy Spelling 6 is the spelling program used in Kaleidos 6.
Syllable Savvy has some unique features that promote spelling mastery for even the worst spellers. Each word on the weekly spelling list is portrayed in three different columns:
- 1st column shows the phonetic spelling (pronunciation)
- 2nd column is the normal spelling
- 3rd column is syllable by syllable - showing the number of letters in each syllable
After studying the words, students write each word on the work page in syllables, then count to make sure each syllable has the correct number of letters and each is correct.
How does this help? Poor spellers tend to see a long list of imcomprehensible letters. Syllables are short, most are three or four letters.
While the number of letter combinations in practically infinite, the number of spelling patterns is quite finite. It is easy to recognize the patterns inside of words.
To make it even easier, the first page of each lesson identifies one of the twenty-one common spelling patterns or "rules." That's it. Only twenty-one rules to remember.
Moreover, no-one is expected to memorize the twenty-one rules. They simply use them.
Here is a simple of the some of the word lists in
Syllable Savvy 6.
Grammar
The Big Bad Grammar Slammer
Those students who did not use
The Big, Bad Grammar Slammer in fifth grade will complete the modules in two months. These will teach them all the functional parts of speech with an emphasis on writing and punctuation.
Students who completed
The Big Bad Grammar Slammer last year will play the diagramming game once a week. This allows them to continue to practice all the parts of grammar previously learned in a painless and fun activity.
Essential English Grammar
Students will continue their study of grammar using this non-consumable, economical guide from Dover Publications. Short activities, twice a week, will expose them to all the basic rules of grammar. We use this guide throughout middle school and high-school, emphasizing to students that grammar has a set number of basic rules.
Computer
The Kaleidos 6 Weekly Schedule includes three times a week lessons for computer: twice a week they practice those essential keyboarding skills and once a week they learn how to use Excel files. The Instructor's Guide in the back of the Kaleidos 6 book gives directions on how to individualize your curriculum if your student has already mastered this material, or where to turn if they need more basic computer information.
Buy Kaleidos 6
Just the Kaleidos 6 Manual
$12.99 Includes full-year schedule, Instructor's Guide and appendix
Note: The Instructor's Manual is part of the curriculum packages below, so does not need to be purchased separately if you buy the package.
The softcover manual will be shipped to your home.
Download the pdf from your own printer.
Buy The Curriculum Package
The Kaleidos 6 curriculum package contains these five books: Kaleidos Guide, Write On, Syllable Savvy Spelling 6, The Big Bad Grammar Slammer, and Essential English
$59.83
Note: The Curriculum package above includes only the four curriculum products pictured. It does not include the literature books. These classics are likely available at your library. You may find them locally, including at used book stores. For your convenience, we also have them available below in economical paperback editions.
Buy The Literature Package
$97.88
The literature package includes all thirteen books pictured above. It does not include the curriculum guide, writing, spelling, and grammar books which are sold as a package above.
Learn More About Kaleidos
Get more information about
Kaleidos Language Arts and the other grade levels.