Long Beach Middle School

English Language Arts Department

Grade 6

Students will develop the language skills needed to pursue life goals, personal achievement, and participation as informed members of society. Students will be prepared to communicate effectively to meet the diverse literacy demands they will face in their futures. The reading program includes drama, novels, short stories, non-fiction, poetry, and informational text, and students are required to choose texts to read independently.

The New York State English Language Arts Assessment will be administered to all students. This exam includes critical reading and short and extended writing tasks.

Units of Study

Launching the Reading and Writing Workshop
Literary Analysis: Explore story elements, the concept of theme, and how an author develops a work.
Argument: Reading and writing to explore and create arguments
Test as Genre: Identify themes across texts, write comparative essays, cite textual evidence, understand the demands of one-draft writing and multiple choice questions
Research: Write from sources to read-to-learn across a collection of related texts

Outcomes for students in sixth grade:
Reading:

Cite textual examples of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
Determine how major ideas are developed throughout the text
Understand author’s craft and how authors create meaning
Determine the meaning of new words by using context clues
Analyze how a works format and structure is related to a text’s meaning
Compare and contrast texts on similar topics or with similar themes (fiction and non-fiction)

Writing:

Write arguments and support their claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences
Research topics using multiple print and digital sources
Develop editing and revision skills
(This information for reading and writing standards is adapted from the Common Core Standards documents found at http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy)

Sources for grades:

    Writing: Process and Product Scores
    Class participation
    Independent and group work
    Rubrics and checklists
    Independent Reading Activities
    Reading responses
    Notebooks
    Projects
    Homework
    Skills Tests

Curriculum approach used:

    Whole-class instruction
    Small-group work
    Workshops that require individual and small-group collaborations
    Team projects and inter-disciplinary connections
    Literature Circles: small group reading groups

Current News

LBMS 2025 Winter Concerts Showcase Student Musical Talent

A middle school orchestra stands on stage, with a conductor at the forefront. Students hold various string instruments, set against a blue curtain backdrop. thumbnail268564

On December 10 and 11, Long Beach Middle School was proud to host its Winter Concerts, where students delighted families, staff, and community members with two evenings of outstanding musical performances.

Students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Band, Orchestra, and Chorus took the stage sharing their enthusiasm for music. In addition, audiences enjoyed performances by LBMS’s morning music groups, including Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, LBMS Singers, and Jazz Band.

The concerts were a true celebration of student dedication and the strong support of the school community.

Special thanks to all of the talented students for their hard work and commitment, and to their families for their continued encouragement and attendance.

LBMS also proudly recognizes the dedication of its music educators Mrs. Farrell, Mr. Lobenstein, Mr. Marks, and Mr. Neri for their guidance and passion to our music education program.

LBMS Annual Food Drive

A group of smiling teenagers poses with donated food items in a bright room. Boxes and bags of groceries are in the foreground, with colorful autumn-themed posters on the windows. thumbnail268331

Thanks to the generous donations of LBMS students, staff, and families, teams collected more food than ever before for our annual Thanksgiving Drive with over 40 boxes and bags of food donations that were delivered to a local food pantry! The food items will be shared with more than 300 families for the upcoming holiday. A huge thank you to Mr. Gartung for leading and coordinating this incredible drive with the assistance of Dr. Cepeda and Ms. Durnan and to our NJHS students who assisted with packing and organizing the items for delivery.