📚 7th Grade ELA Weekly Update

September 28–October 2

Hello, ELA Families! 💜💛

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We have a BIG week ahead of us in 7th Grade ELA as we prepare for our first major Module 1 assessment and then begin a brand-new text!

🌟 Celebrating Our Students!

I have been so happy to see how well students are doing on their quizzes! Even more importantly, I am proud to see students learning to refer back to their notes, annotations, and the text to locate evidence and determine the best answer rather than simply guessing.

This is such an important reading skill! Students will not always remember every detail they read, but learning where to look, what evidence is important, and how to use their resources will help them become stronger and more independent readers.

📝 First BIG Module 1 Assessment – Tuesday!

On Tuesday, students will take their first major Module 1 assessment. This assessment will count in the 70% assessment category of their ELA grade, so it is important that students come prepared and give their very best effort.

Monday will be our preparation day! We will complete a study guide together in class that reviews the skills and concepts students need to know for the assessment.

Their homework Monday night will simply be to STUDY their completed study guide for Tuesday’s assessment.

💜 How You Can Help This Week

Ask your student to show you their completed study guide Monday night. Choose 2–3 questions and have them explain their answers to you.

They do not need to simply memorize answers! The goal is for students to be able to explain their thinking and know how to return to a text, their annotations, or their notes to locate evidence and information.

🏰 A New Text Is Coming!

After our assessment, we are officially beginning a new text: Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess!

Students will get another look at life during the Middle Ages, this time through the experiences of Tobias Burgess. As we read, students will continue thinking about our Module 1 Essential Question:

How does society influence a person’s future?

Students will be able to connect Tobias’s experiences to many of the ideas we have already explored through the characters in Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

📖 Lessons 15–17: What Are We Learning?

In Lesson 15, students will preview Castle Diary, record what they notice and wonder about the text, and practice incorporating internal dialogue into narrative writing.

In Lesson 16, students will examine what Tobias learns, how he learns it, and how his learning relates to his social class. They will also use their growing knowledge of medieval life to strengthen the setting of narrative writing.

In Lesson 17, students will examine how Tobias’s experiences are influenced by society, including the social factors that affect his illness and recovery. We will also look closely at how authors use description and dialogue to develop characters.

📚 Homework Reminder – 5 W’s & 1 H

Students now have TWO options for submitting ELA homework:

💻 Google Classroom OR 📝 Paper

Regardless of which option they choose, the expectations are the same. Homework summaries must include information addressing the 5 W’s & 1 H:

Who? • What? • When? • Where? • Why? • How?

Students should use these questions to develop a complete summary of their assigned reading in order to receive full credit.

Students should also be recording their homework assignments during class. However, if they forget what was assigned, they can always check the Homework Calendar in Google Classroom.

⭐ Building Responsibility & Independence

One of my goals this year is to help students become more confident in advocating for themselves and taking ownership of their responsibilities.

Students are becoming responsible for checking Google Classroom, recording homework, completing assigned reading, keeping track of assignments, and asking questions when they need help.

Moving forward, if a student submits an assignment late, please have the student email me directly to let me know that the assignment has been completed and turned in.

This serves two important purposes. First, it helps students practice self-advocacy, communication, responsibility, and independence—skills they will need throughout middle school, high school, and beyond! Second, it helps me keep track of late assignments as they are submitted so I can make sure I go back and grade them.

Parents are always welcome to reach out with questions or concerns, but I would love for students to begin taking the lead when communicating with me about their own missing or late assignments. 💜

💭 Ask Your Student This Week...

Before Tuesday:
“What is one thing you feel really confident about for your assessment, and what is one thing you need to review?”

After we begin Castle Diary:
“What have you learned about Tobias so far, and how does his place in medieval society influence his life?”

Thank you, as always, for your continued support at home! I am proud of the progress students are making—not only academically, but also in becoming more independent, responsible, and confident learners.

Here’s to another great week in 7th Grade ELA! 📚🏰✨

Ms. Thatcher
7th Grade ELA | TCMS