HORSE HEAVEN HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL – 2007-2008

7TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING

MRS. BLACKBURN

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The first goal cited by 1993 Education Reform Act states, “Students will read with comprehension, write with skill, and communicate in a variety of ways and settings.”  To help seventh graders reach this goal, my language arts and reading course will provide students the opportunity to study and practice many forms of communication through writing, reading, speaking, listening, and presenting information visually.  Course curriculum includes the following areas:

  1. Using a variety of skills and strategies to improve reading skills
  2. Building vocabulary through reading, class discussions, and exercises
  3. Study elements of literature in fiction and features of nonfiction
  4. Present tools and ideas to increase student’s reading comprehension.
  5. Review of proper grammar usage and spelling techniques through editing techniques
  6. Explanation and use of the writing process that includes pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing
  7. Incorporating the Six Traits of Writing that includes organization, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, ideas, and style to improve writing
  8. Individual goal setting and self-assessment of writing portfolios.

 

COURSE GOALS:

During the course of this study, students will be expected to:

  1. Read daily at school and read at least 100 minutes per week at home.
  2. Maintain a journal of their reading material including a comprehension response targeting specific reading strategies
  3. Read a variety of material including fiction, nonfiction, biography, short stories, poetry, and others and complete reading projects.
  4. Set and maintain individual goals for reading and writing.
  5. Write frequently through writing journal and assignments.
  6. Develop both independent and collaborative learning skills including peer editing, peer response, and working cooperatively.
  7. Improve writing skills especially in persuasive and expository essays.

 

COURSE MATERIALS:

Textbooks:

The Language of Literature (2003) McDougal Littell Inc.

The Writer’s Craft  (1998) McDougal Littell Inc.

The Write Source 2000 (1999)

Tri-City Herald

Supplemental Novels

Related magazine and Internet articles

 

 

EVALUATION/GRADING PRACTICES:

1.      Work Expectations:

  1. Assignments are completed on time and typed whenever possible.  If not typed, final essays should be written in ink and double spaced.  Typed papers should be in Times New Roman or Arial font, size 12.
  2. Excused absentees are expected to make up missed work within the same number of days as the student missed including planned absences.  Students will not be given their work ahead of time because many times lessons change from day to day, students in the past haven’t done assigned packets, and students may need additional instruction to understand requirements.  At home reading requirements and project due dates are to be maintained.
  3. Absentees are expected to make up missed work within the same number of days as the student missed.  Reading log requirements are to be maintained.
  4. It is the student's responsibility to make sure they pick up their work and arrange for make-up tests and quizzes.
  5. Assignments are expected on their due dates!  Each quarter each student will receive 2 late passes for both  Language Arts and Reading.  Students have until the Monday after an assignment was originally due to turn the work into the teacher along with the pass.  If a student has no zeros, they can turn in their passes for extra credit at the end of the quarter (for reading - students also need 85% of their AR goal.)
  6. Late work due to absences must have the word “ABSENT” written at the top of the paper or the grade will be reduced.

 

2.      Grading:

  1. Students will be required to read a minimum of 100 minutes per week (10 points) and respond to their reading (10 points).
  2. Students will be required to meet their quarterly Accelerated Reader (AR) points as determined by the student and myself.
  3. Assignment grading will be discussed when an assignment is given.
  4. Grading Scale:

                             

A

100%-93%

 

C+

79%-77%

A-

92%-90%

 

C

76%-73%

B+

89%-87%

 

C-

72%-70%

B

86%-83%

 

D+

69%-67%

B-

82%-80%

 

D

66%-60%

 

 

 

F

59% and below