7th Grade English/Language Arts (ELA) Syllabus
Welcome to 7th Grade Language Arts!
Class Expectations
Students will maintain an atmosphere in which learning can occur. There will be no behavior that distracts from our learning environment.
- Students will come to class on time, prepared, and ready to do their best.
- Students will treat others and themselves with respect.
- Students will participate in class in a positive fashion.
- Students will take responsibility for their actions—completing all homework and projects on time.
Class StructureReading: Without a doubt reading and literature will be a major focus in our class this year. In class throughout the year, we will read a number of short stories, novels, poems, and many other genres from all sorts of authors. Outside reading projects will be assigned each nine-weeks and these books will be student choice. I also have a reading challenge for each of you….. Stay posted!
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Your 7th grade ELA class is structured using the Language Arts Florida BEST Standards as a guide and map. I take every reading LAFS and embed each individually into our lessons. Although, my dear students, you may not realize it in class, but each lesson involves an element to focus and motivate, teaching the concept, giving time for guided practice, more practice and application of the concept, and then reassess and reteach. With this I promise to include as much interaction, movement, games, and music as possible. Is it all party and games? No, we have quite a bit of ground to cover and I take that very seriously. So along with the fun, we will work side-by-side.
Bellringers: Each day when you come in there will be a “Bellringer” to complete. These Bellringers come in many fashions from short reading passages with accompanying questions, vocabulary crosswords, journal writing, independent reading, and so on. From there we will conquer academic vocabulary words, reading fluency checks, short stories, novels, and nonfiction articles. Fabulous! Vocabulary: The importance of a strong vocabulary cannot be overstated and with that in mind, vocabulary work is a pillar of our 7th grade ELA curriculum. Expect a great deal of academic vocabulary interaction and engagement. Weekly assignments and assessments will help guide our work and progress. |
Class Supplies
- Three-prong pocket folder with loose-leaf paper
(for your homework to be carried to and from class and home) - Writing utensil
- A composition notebook (to be kept in class)
- Your current novel, and of course,
- Happy, Can Do Attitude!
Also, it is crucial that you have a current novel or magazine that you are reading with you in each of your classrooms. You never know when the opportunity will pop up for you to read a bit.
- Do not throw anything away until directed to do so!
Resources for Parents from KnowledgeMattersCampaign.org
From reading books aloud to visiting museums to asking teachers for more knowledge-building assignments, parents can do a great deal to ensure that their children build the knowledge that they need to do well in school.
Milestones Videos
This extensive set of short videos show parents what grade-level work looks like from kindergarten to high school.
“The hidden benefits of reading aloud — even for older kids” by Connie Matthiessen
Educator Jim Trelease explains why reading aloud to your child, no matter what her age, is the magic bullet for creating a lifelong reader.
“Helping Students Confront Obstacles Beyond Academics” by Torrey Palmer
An experienced teacher, Palmer writes from her perspective as a mother and offers some great tips for parents to see if their kids are getting the knowledge-rich education they need.
Milestones Videos
This extensive set of short videos show parents what grade-level work looks like from kindergarten to high school.
“The hidden benefits of reading aloud — even for older kids” by Connie Matthiessen
Educator Jim Trelease explains why reading aloud to your child, no matter what her age, is the magic bullet for creating a lifelong reader.
“Helping Students Confront Obstacles Beyond Academics” by Torrey Palmer
An experienced teacher, Palmer writes from her perspective as a mother and offers some great tips for parents to see if their kids are getting the knowledge-rich education they need.