Syllabus 2025-2026 school year
Seventh Grade Language Arts
Contact Information:
Michelle Stein- mstein@greenville.k12.sc.us or 864-355-6958
Please feel free to contact me at any time in order to discuss your child’s progress in language arts. I welcome your communication.
Google voice #
Extra Help Times (Tutoring): After school Mon-Thurs upon request.
Overview: The purpose of this course is to provide the foundations and to further hone the skills of academic and personal composition and reading comprehension. The students will be asked to participate in a number of different kinds of activities aimed to expose them to new and different kinds of academic and argumentative writing, explore their ideas and opinions through writing, expand their vocabulary, and increase their understanding of the nature of the writing process. In addition, they will be asked to read a variety of texts and develop their reading skills to an advanced level.
Materials Needed for Class:
➢ Pens and Pencils, highlighters, glue
➢ Headphones/ear buds
➢ Composition book, loose leaf paper, folder
Grading Policy:
50% Major (3 assignments):
● 50%: Major grades-
➢ Summative Assessments (Unit Tests), Projects, Formal Writings, Research-based products, Culminating projects
50% Minor (10 assignments):
➢ Quizzes (vocabulary, reading, skill-based), Small writing assignments, Write to learn assignments, Informal presentations, Classwork- anything started during class time.
Benchmark Testing Dates TBA: October -November, January - February, and March - April
Grading Scale:
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F below 60
Units of Study:
Unit 1 Reality Check
Unit 2 Take Control
Unit 3 The Terror and Wonder of Space
Unit 4 Inspired by Nature
Unit 5 Game On!
Unit 6 Change Agents
Classroom Conduct
Students are expected to demonstrate respect, responsibility, and integrity at all times. When students enter the classroom, they are expected to immediately retrieve the required materials and proceed to their seat to begin the opening activity. Arriving tardy to class is disruptive and interrupts the learning process. Dress code violations, zero tolerance issues, profanity, fighting, or direct insubordination will face immediate disciplinary action and will be referred to administration.
ABSENCES
Students are responsible for asking the teacher for any classwork, homework, assignments, quizzes, or tests missed due to absence from class. This includes absences due to school events, such as field trips, testing, meeting with a school staff member, etc.
COMPLETION OF WORK
Each student must do his/her own work as required by the GCSD Code of Conduct. Cheating or copying another student’s work is not permitted. Students who cheat or copy or who assist others in doing so will receive a GFA for the assignment and teacher will take appropriate disciplinary action.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
Students will be held to the NWMS and GCSD Code of Conduct. In order to create the best learning environment possible, students should follow these guidelines for success:
- Be Prepared: bring your required materials every day.
- No phones are allowed in any classroom
- Show respect for your teacher, your classmates, and all property.
- Be a good listener/learner.
- Believe in your ability to think and learn, and keep an open mind.
Make-Up Work Policy
NHI (Not Handed In) is marked in PowerSchool (this weighs at a 0).
This code indicates the student is missing the work:
For not turning it in OR from an absence.
Either way, the student has 5 school days to turn in the missing assignment from the date the work was put in the gradebook or from the student's return date from the absence.
Upon completion of the NHI, students must immediately send the teacher an email to notify them of the completed work.
If work is not completed within the 5 days, teachers may convert the NHI to a zero
If work is completed within the 5 days, teachers may convert NHI to reflect the earned grade.
NHI = missing = 0
Exception: Teacher discretion upon admin approval for extenuating circumstances
Re-do Work Policy
Students may retake MAJOR assessments regardless of the score.
Test retakes are allowed for ANY MAJOR assessments, and the highest grade will be recorded for both middle and high school credit courses.
Student retakes are NOT required; however, if the student wishes to retake the MAJOR assessment, they must to follow these steps:
Students and/or parents must initiate the request within five (5) school days of the grade being posted by completing the teacher's Google Form. NWMS TAKE TWO Request Form TEMPLATE, located in the teacher’s google classroom.
All minor assignments for the instructional unit must have been turned in
Students must complete teacher-directed remediation or relearning activities before reassessment.
The teacher and student will coordinate the reassessment during an agreed-upon intervention time (e.g., before school, advisory, lunch, or after school).
An alternate assessment or revised learning task may be used to demonstrate mastery as determined by the teacher.
The highest score earned will be recorded in the gradebook.
Only 1 retake for any Major Assessment
***NO retakes on MINOR assessments for both middle and high school credit classes.
Late Work Policy
Schools will accept late work with no penalty to the student up to 5 days after the original due date or the end of the grading period, whichever comes first. A teacher may extend the late work acceptance deadline upon administration approval of extenuating circumstances but may not reduce the time. The work, although submitted late, will not receive a point reduction. Assessments must be about mastery of content, and, if graded, the goal is to assess mastery, not behaviors. Work can be accepted late across grading periods by special exception and approval of administration.
Cheating Policy
Consequences are the same whether it is a major or minor assignment.
Any students caught cheating will not be able to use the student re-do policy to retake the assessment
First Offense- Teacher will write the referral, and the admin will give a WARNING, and the student will receive a 50 on the assignment; the student cannot use the student re-do policy to retake the assessment. Parents will be contacted.
Second Offense- Teacher will write the referral. Admin will use the matrix to assign a consequence, and the student will receive a 50 on the assignment; the student cannot use the re-do policy to make up the assessment. Parents will be contacted.
Third Offense and each Offense thereafter- Will be handled by the admin.