Course Description and Objectives
In this course, we will continue to build on our English language arts skills with a focus on developing critical and creative thinking through reading, writing, listening, and speaking in a variety of genres and for a multitude of purposes. Grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and research skills will also be taught and practiced throughout the course.
Primary Text and Proposed Extended Literature
We will explore a variety of short stories and informational texts in our course text and from other approved sources. In addition, you will select a minimum of one novel per term to read independently and discuss with small group literature circles.
In this course, we will continue to build on our English language arts skills with a focus on developing critical and creative thinking through reading, writing, listening, and speaking in a variety of genres and for a multitude of purposes. Grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and research skills will also be taught and practiced throughout the course.
Primary Text and Proposed Extended Literature
We will explore a variety of short stories and informational texts in our course text and from other approved sources. In addition, you will select a minimum of one novel per term to read independently and discuss with small group literature circles.
- Prentice Hall Literature: Grade 7 (Primary text)
- Uglies, Scott Westerfield
- Tangerine, Edward Bloor
- Number the Stars, Lois Lowry
- The Maze Runner, James Dashner
- Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
- Freak the Mighty, Rodman Philbrick
- A Mango-Shaped Space, Wendy Mass
How to Take This Course
It's not about what you "get" in this course, it's about how deep you go. Whether you consider English to be your favorite subject or your number one struggle, I want you to find a reason to be in this class everyday besides saying, "it's required."
It is entirely possible to do well in this course and not be transformed by your newfound literary knowledge, but that would be a darn shame! Borrowing from a syllabus by Dr. Tona Hangen, I like to think that this and any course operates on three levels. Take yourself back to that fantastic beach vacation you hopefully went on this summer. Imagine we are standing on the seashore; the course, seventh grade language arts, is the ocean (Hey, that's a simile!). Let's enter the ocean and go as deep as you dare... |
wading.You need the basic English language arts skills, the surface-level knowledge: reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary.
There is nothing wrong with staying in the shallows; this approach may work for you if you are new to English language arts skills or are just beginning to study them independently. "Waders" will tend to assume that textbooks, handouts, and teacher tell basically the same story. Waders are mainly concerned with WHAT they are reading and writing. |
snorkeling.You have a grasp of the basics and are ready to start thinking critically and creatively about reading and writing as you explore what is below the surface.
Perhaps you have done well in your previous English language arts classes, you keep a journal, or you love to read. You already know that English reading and writing skills are essential for thinking and communicating critically and creatively. "Snorkelers" notice literary elements and rhetorical devices used by other writers and attempt to use these elements and devices in their own writings. Snorkelers are interested in not only WHAT they are reading and writing, but also HOW & WHY authors write as they do. |
scuba diving.You want to go deeper with your English language arts skills. You want to use prior knowledge and the tools of great readers and writers to be a focused critical and creative thinker.
Experienced! You are well aware of reading and writing skills and how an author's or character's perspective can alter an informative or literary text. You actively seek opportunities to write, read, and think critically about what is presented to you. "Divers" don't see a course as a means to an end but rather as a journey to new knowledge, critical thinking, and creative ideas. They are curious, passionate and concerned with WHY ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE MATTERS! |
Course Requirements
This course involves reading, writing, listening, and discussion.
Reading. You will read short stories and informational texts with the class and literature circle novels independently at home. It is your responsibility to stay caught up with or ahead of the reading for this course, so that you may contribute critical and creative ideas about the texts to class discussions, literature circle discussions, and individual writing assignments.
Writing. You will write to express original ideas and write to analyze literature in this course. You will write to express ideas in a weekly journal that will be completed in class at least once a week. In both long and short essay formats, you will write creative pieces that use literary elements such as plot, character, setting, tone, mood, theme, and point of view. Also in both of these formats, you will craft argumentative writing pieces using literature, informative texts, and other reliable researched sources to back up your ideas.
Discussion. You will participate in whole-class and small-group discussions about the texts read in this course. Once per term, you will select a literature circle novel to read independently and discuss weekly with a small group. You are required to read this novel at least ten minutes per night and to generate text-based discussion questions to share weekly with your literature circle.
This course involves reading, writing, listening, and discussion.
Reading. You will read short stories and informational texts with the class and literature circle novels independently at home. It is your responsibility to stay caught up with or ahead of the reading for this course, so that you may contribute critical and creative ideas about the texts to class discussions, literature circle discussions, and individual writing assignments.
Writing. You will write to express original ideas and write to analyze literature in this course. You will write to express ideas in a weekly journal that will be completed in class at least once a week. In both long and short essay formats, you will write creative pieces that use literary elements such as plot, character, setting, tone, mood, theme, and point of view. Also in both of these formats, you will craft argumentative writing pieces using literature, informative texts, and other reliable researched sources to back up your ideas.
Discussion. You will participate in whole-class and small-group discussions about the texts read in this course. Once per term, you will select a literature circle novel to read independently and discuss weekly with a small group. You are required to read this novel at least ten minutes per night and to generate text-based discussion questions to share weekly with your literature circle.
Grading Policies
Grades will be calculated according to the following distribution:
Required Materials
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Late Work and Make-up Work Policies
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Behavior Expectations
You need to feel comfortable and be mentally prepared to think and learn in any environment. It is my mission to make our classroom an enjoyable space where you feel free to let your creative thoughts and critical thinking skills soar into innovations. Please do your part by meeting the course requirements and following the expectations below:
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Consequences
If you do not follow the classroom behavior expectations listed to the left, you will be subject to the following order of disciplinary actions. These consequences are for minor offenses only. Major offenses, identified on the Monocacy Middle School referral form, will result in immediate removal from class with an administrative referral.
Bathroom Passes
You will receive 20 bathroom passes per year. Please use them wisely!!!!!!!!!!!! I will keep track of your used/unused passes on our class roster. Please follow the steps below to request to use the bathroom:
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