Syllabus for 7th Grade Language Arts 2016-2017 ...

Syllabus for 7th Grade Language Arts 2016-2017 Carmen Butts Room 211 [email protected] 580-366-7283 Materials—Students need to bring to class daily, a pencil, paper and library book. They will need a spiral notebook to keep in the classroom for projects and writing exercises. Lesson Plans – These will be posted on my web page each Monday. Format – I expect students to be kind to me and other students. It is important that students realize they are in my class to learn and they should listen when I am talking and remain quiet so that others may be able to hear and focus. Students should use the 4 minutes between class to visit the restroom or the water fountain. Students who show up to class tardy more than once a quarter will face consequences by the teacher. Students should enter class quietly and do bell work while waiting for class to begin. Students are expected to have a library book to read when they have finished an assignment. Grades—Grades are based on the work assigned in class, tests and projects. Students usually have sufficient time to finish work in class but may take work home if needed. Accelerated Reader is a reading tool we use at Emerson. The point goals are individual. When a student reads a library book, a test is taken over the book in the library. The student earns points for each book tested. The reading levels are updated every six weeks. This helps determine how much students are reading and how well they understand what they read. Those reaching their reading goal for each quarter will be able to attend special events. Discipline – A quiet classroom is more conducive to learning. Classroom disruption will be dealt with by giving a verbal then written warning. Parents will be notified if the problem persists followed by an office referral which could result in after school detention or Saturday school. Communication: Parents are encouraged to communicate when needed by phone (after 2:30) or by email. My address and phone # is at the top. Course outline: First quarter will focus on the Literary Elements and Genres. Students will read the novel “The Giver” in class. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of prereading strategies, elements of fiction, indirect and direct characterization, drawing conclusions and inferences, plot details and events, asking questions, analyzing characters, and writing an argumentative essay. Second quarter students will focus on vocabulary, comprehensive and critical Literature and research and information. The novel “The Red Scarf Girl” will be a focus of study. Students will demonstrate an understanding of words in context, word origins, Greek and Latin roots, idioms, gathering data, compare and contrast points of view, evaluate evidence, fact/inference/opinion, locate sources/research, access sources, appropriate sources, organize information, organizational strategies, graphic sources, and research/expository writing. Third quarter students will focus on vocabulary, comprehension, literature and research. The students will read “The Diary of Anne Frank”. Students will demonstrate an understanding of genres and subgenres, transition words, figurative language and sound devices, author’s perspective, theme, poetry, gathering data, reference features, credit sources, support statements and narrative/historical fiction writing. During the fourth quarter, students will read the novel “Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie”. Students will demonstrate an understanding of persuasive writing, making inferences, drawing conclusions, evaluating evidence, facts and opinions, the difference between persuasion, propaganda and faulty reasoning, supporting statements by referencing the text and using examples.