Language Arts 7

Our English Language Arts Curriculum in 7th grade uses thematic units to meet and exceed the expectations of the Minnesota State English Language Arts Standards. Students are supported in developing critical thinking skills through careful reading, textual analysis, discussion and writing activities. The course includes both literature and content-rich nonfiction and informational texts. The texts and themes are found in the 2015 Collections series by Houghton-Mifflin/Harcourt Publishing.

The themes include:

1. "Bold Actions." Students read stories and articles in which the characters face challenges. This unit includes short stories, articles and Greek myths.

2. "Perception and Reality." Students explore how things in life are not always how we perceive them to be. In this unit they read a folk tale, poems, a drama and a science article.

3. "Guided by a Cause." Students explore the question, "What inspires people to take action to improve their world?" They read historical writings; both literature and nonfiction.

In addition, 7th graders read the novel The Outsiders plus additional novels in literature groups.

Students are taught how to write a realistic fiction story, a research-based argument and literature analyses with the Units of Study: Writing, a curriculum published by Heinemann Publishing in 2014. These three major writing projects plus smaller pieces of writings fulfill the Minnesota State ELA Standards for writing narratives, arguments and informational texts. Grammar and usage instruction is embedded during writing instruction. In addition, students study Greek and Latin roots to increase their vocabulary.