Requirements for 7Th Grade English / Language Arts

Requirements for 7th Grade English / Language Arts

You will be required to complete the following things each week or grading period in order to meet the academic standards for 8th grade. In each case, I will explain and practice each requirement in class before expecting the students to complete each step! Rubrics for grading each item will be passed out and discussed as each item is introduced.

It is my goal for students to have time in class each week to work while I meet with small reading groups. The following requirements may be completed during that independent time, although at times may need to be worked on outside of class. Students who work carefully and use their time wisely in class will have less to do outside of class time! Reading:

Weekly Reading Log:

Research shows that student who read self-selected books of their choice increase their vocabulary, improve their reading skills and scores, and learn to enjoy reading both for pleasure and learning. That being said, I do require the students to read for at least 1 hour each week. This can be in school during their independent times, Flex periods, at home, weekends, etc.

Students will be required to select FICTIONAL books of any kind for the first semester, but may read NONFICTION for the second semester.

While I value magazines, comic strips, and other reading material such as internet websites, this reading does need to be in “book” form: print material, or can be downloaded to technology such as Kindle, etc. (I will not be responsible, however, for stolen or misplaced technology!)

Students will be given a reading bookmark on Mondays, due the NEXT Monday.

The STUDENTS will do the following:

 Write their name, due date, books being read, and goal of the number of pages for the week.  Read throughout the week, recording the number of pages each day.  On Monday, students will be given a few minutes to total their number of minutes for the week and complete the back of their reading log before turning it in for the week.  Students MAY also choose to complete a book review form to be included on our back wall, “Recommended Reads,” for each book they complete. Students will receive 5 extra credit points for each book review they complete appropriately. Literary Letter

Students will write a literary letter to me, your teacher, every two weeks. Dates will be clearly noted in your agendas so you know when they are due.

Your Literary Letter will be a place to share your thinking about your reading with me. In your letter, you will record thoughts, feelings, and ideas about your self-selected reading books during reading workshop time. You may write about ANY book you have selected and worked on during the previous two weeks of reading. In other words, choose your favorite book, one you really didn’t care for, or whatever book touched you the most. I will be providing for you a list of ideas of things to write about in your literary letter. You may work on your literary letter during independent work times or SSR time at the beginning of class.

The STUDENTS will do the following:

 Write your letter in appropriate letter format: date, greeting, body, closing, and signature.  Paragraph 1 will state the title and author of the book you are reading. The title MUST be underlined!  Paragraph 2 will be a SIMPLE summary: 5-7 sentences is probably plenty! I don’t want to read the book, I just want you to tell me basically what the book has been about.  Paragraph 3 will be the LONGEST paragraph! I’m interested in your THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND IDEAS about the book. You will use this paragraph to analyze the characters, setting, and plot, discuss the theme of the book, evaluate the quality of the book, interpret the author’s message or reasons for writing the book, etc. You will be given a list of ideas to help guide you with this part.

Self-Selected Vocabulary Journal:

I do not believe in handing out weekly lists of random words for vocabulary, as I don’t believe students learn vocabulary that way. However, students who read learn about 3,000 words a year. This year we will teach students the meaning of prefixes, suffixes, root words, Latin and Greek roots, use of dictionaries, thesauruses, and other reference works, and learn to apply word-learning strategies. However, I encourage students to learn new words from their own reading or reading we do in class. Therefore, we will try the following strategy:

 Students will complete a self-selected vocabulary journal in a composition notebook. The format will be introduced at the beginning of the year.  Students will select 5 words each week from their reading. They will write the sentence and source it was found in, a definition, part of speech, synonyms and antonyms, and draw a sketch.  Vocabulary journals will be check every two weeks, with a total of 25 points every other week. English / Language Arts:

Writing:

I believe very strongly in the power of the students’ ability to communicate in writing. Each grading period, we will focus on specific types of writing selected from narrative, informational, and argument. Students will have some assigned writing to complete related to our study, but will also be encouraged to select other types of writing to work on throughout the grading period. Students will have time to write in class, but may also write elsewhere as they are lead. Students will be expected to complete the following during the grading period:

 At LEAST one final copy of an extended student choice piece of writing. (revised, edited, word- processed / published) This piece of writing needs to showcase the student’s ability to communicate using appropriate writing skills, looking at such things as Mechanics, Usage, Grammar, and Sentence Structure (M.U.G.S)  At LEAST one short answer response to literature that has been read during the grading period.  Teacher Choice: a piece of writing we have guided you through for each grading period.

Grammar:

Students will be learning the conventions of standard English and Grammar. Students will be required to complete grammar exercises and practice as part of our daily routine in English / Language Arts. Homework in this area may be assigned from time to time to practice.