Course Objectives
In seventh grade, students will complete five collections of study with the overarching focus for all collections on building students’ literacy skills as they develop knowledge about the world. Each collection has a topic of focus with anchor texts, and close readings contributing to that focus. Included in each collection is are selection quizzes for each anchor text, collection test, and performance task. Some collections will be followed by a novel study relating to the previous collection focus.
Collections
Collection 1: Guided by a Cause
Performance Task: Participate in a Panel Discussion
Novel: A Long Walk to Water
Collection 2: Perception and Reality
Performance Task: Summary Presentation
Novel: A Christmas Carol
Collection 3: Bold Actions
Performance Task: Present an Argument
Novel: Hunger Games: Book 1
Collection 4: The Stuff of Consumer Culture
Performance Task: Create a Multimedia Presentation
Collection 5: Nature at Work
Performance Task: Poetry Analysis
Grammar and Vocabulary
Students will use a portion of each class period to study grammar and vocabulary.
-Wordly Wise 3000 is a 20 week vocabulary practice. Every other Monday a new list of words will be distributed, discussed, and practiced as a whole. Three practice activities and a writing piece will be completed independently over the next 2 weeks. Every other Friday the lesson will conclude with a vocabulary quiz.
-Weekly, a new grammar skill will be covered. Practice activities and IXL will be used for reinforcement. Grammar notebooks will be created and assembled in class as a reference material. A quiz will follow each unit of study.
Independent Reading Projects
Throughout the year students will be expected to read independently in and out of the classroom. My hope is for them to experience different genres than they normally would choose and to develop a passion for reading.
Students will select one book per quarter to read that falls into the quarters’ genre or theme focus. These can be books from my classroom library, school library, or brought from home. They must be books the students have never read before. After each book is read, students will complete a project to show comprehension of the text.
Quarter 1
Genre: Literature
Project 7th: Chain link story elements
Quarter 2
Genre: Theme of perception and reality
Project: One pager focusing on big ideas
Quarter 3
7th Genre: biography (black history month, presidents’ month, women's history month)
7th Project: Pennant
Quarter 4
7th Genre: Science Fiction
7th Project: Matchbook chapter summaries
Grading Scale
75%- Assessments (tests, quizzes, long-term projects, or presentations)
20%- Assignments (work that is completed in class)
5%- Homework (extra practice outside of the classroom)
In seventh grade, students will complete five collections of study with the overarching focus for all collections on building students’ literacy skills as they develop knowledge about the world. Each collection has a topic of focus with anchor texts, and close readings contributing to that focus. Included in each collection is are selection quizzes for each anchor text, collection test, and performance task. Some collections will be followed by a novel study relating to the previous collection focus.
Collections
Collection 1: Guided by a Cause
Performance Task: Participate in a Panel Discussion
Novel: A Long Walk to Water
Collection 2: Perception and Reality
Performance Task: Summary Presentation
Novel: A Christmas Carol
Collection 3: Bold Actions
Performance Task: Present an Argument
Novel: Hunger Games: Book 1
Collection 4: The Stuff of Consumer Culture
Performance Task: Create a Multimedia Presentation
Collection 5: Nature at Work
Performance Task: Poetry Analysis
Grammar and Vocabulary
Students will use a portion of each class period to study grammar and vocabulary.
-Wordly Wise 3000 is a 20 week vocabulary practice. Every other Monday a new list of words will be distributed, discussed, and practiced as a whole. Three practice activities and a writing piece will be completed independently over the next 2 weeks. Every other Friday the lesson will conclude with a vocabulary quiz.
-Weekly, a new grammar skill will be covered. Practice activities and IXL will be used for reinforcement. Grammar notebooks will be created and assembled in class as a reference material. A quiz will follow each unit of study.
Independent Reading Projects
Throughout the year students will be expected to read independently in and out of the classroom. My hope is for them to experience different genres than they normally would choose and to develop a passion for reading.
Students will select one book per quarter to read that falls into the quarters’ genre or theme focus. These can be books from my classroom library, school library, or brought from home. They must be books the students have never read before. After each book is read, students will complete a project to show comprehension of the text.
Quarter 1
Genre: Literature
Project 7th: Chain link story elements
Quarter 2
Genre: Theme of perception and reality
Project: One pager focusing on big ideas
Quarter 3
7th Genre: biography (black history month, presidents’ month, women's history month)
7th Project: Pennant
Quarter 4
7th Genre: Science Fiction
7th Project: Matchbook chapter summaries
Grading Scale
75%- Assessments (tests, quizzes, long-term projects, or presentations)
20%- Assignments (work that is completed in class)
5%- Homework (extra practice outside of the classroom)