7th Grade Green Team: Language Arts
Branden Wood
bwood@mansd.org
(603) 628-6247
Curriculum:
The purpose of this class is to teach students to read, write, listen, and speak for:
-information and understanding
-literary response and expression
-critical analysis and evaluation
-social interaction
(adapted from NYS Standards, 1996)
I am currently addressing literary response by beginning each class with a poem, which we interact with and rate. I am using the Keys to Literacy program to teach students how to tackle small and large writing assignments. We will be using Amplify and iReady, as well as tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, to build our reading abilities. Social interaction is woven into all aspects of the class.
Requirements for Class:
-pen or pencil
-pocket folder with notebook paper
-chromebook
-book for personal reading (print or online via school library)
-willingness to learn
Grading:
Classroom practice assignments and homework are considered formative assessments and make up 25% of the grade.
Larger assessments are considered summatives and make up 75% of a grade.
Large writing assignments are broken into three separate scores:
-purpose/focus and organization
-evidence/elaboration
-conventions
I expect large writing assignments to be completed in class. The writing process is broken into small, reasonable tasks spread out among a reasonable amount of time. If students cannot complete an assessment during class, it is expected they do so during the advisory period (after an iReady assignment is completed) or during a scheduled time after school.
Homework:
Homework will begin being assigned next week. Expect roughly 20 minutes of Language Arts homework a night. Amplify homework requires a device of some sort and internet access. If homework specifically tied to Amplify is not assigned, students should be reading a book of their choice. Small writing assignments will require reading books outside of class.
Extra Help:
I am available most days after school until 3:15 p.m. I need to know two days in advance if a student would like to stay after school for help, so I may check my schedule (I’ll be joining various school committees and I don’t know yet when they meet). Please contact me via email, and do not assume I can stay after until I’ve responded back. Once confirmation is made, parents/guardians are responsible for letting administration know their student is staying after school, and parents must notify administration of plans for transportation home.
Discipline:
Multiple disruptions in class will result in a brief student/teacher conference before or after class. If disruptions continue, the student will meet with me at lunch to create a behavior plan. If behaviors don't improve, parents and administration will be notified and a more robust plan will be made.
Absences/Missing Work/Retakes/Resubmissions:
The school’s number one goal is to have 100% of the students attend class 100% of the time. If a student must be absent, my policy is the student has two days to make up any outstanding assignment. Students must approach me to receive missing work.
If a student would like to retake/resubmit a summative assessment, parents/ guardians must confirm this via email. Retakes are always more difficult than the original assessments, and will have to be taken during scheduled “extra help” sessions. Resubmissions also require “extra help” sessions, so we can go through the revision and editing processes together.