Northwestern Middle School

Northwestern Middle School

Subject: English Language Arts Syllabus 2011-2012

Grade: 7

1.  Teachers: Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Ott, Ms. Tuggle, Ms. Gleit, Mr. Mitchell

2.  Textbook(s): Prentice Hall Literature

3.  Course Description:

In Seventh Grade English Language Arts, students continue to develop an appreciation of written and spoken language. They expand their use of descriptive words and complex sentences, as well as their choices of modes of writing. Throughout seventh grade, students continue to develop the ability to critique constructively their own work as well as the work of others. Students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Students use the stages of the writing process to write clear, coherent compositions that develop an idea or tell a story. Although students in the Advanced Course will address the same instructional objectives as students in the On Level course, they will be held to significantly higher writing expectations, and will pursue a more abstract and analytical interaction with selected reading.

4.  Course Outline:

Due to 2011-12 7th grade county textbook pilot, the following anticipated units are subject to change and/or revision.

First Semester / Second Semester
Fiction & Nonfiction / Poetry
Short Stories / Novel Unit
Research / Persuasive Writing

5.  Teacher/Parent Communication:

Email – is the most efficient way to contact teachers

Conferences – may be scheduled based on each student’s needs

Interim Report Cards/Progress Reports – come home every 4 ½ weeks

Home Access Center – please check frequently for your child’s progress

Teachers can be contacted via their email address listed below:

Mr. Ott’s email is and his web page is http://www2.fultonschools.org/teacher/ottg/

Mrs. Wilson’s email is and she will use weekly email blasts to communicate with parents

Mrs. Tuggle’s email address is and her webpage is http://tuggletopia.webs.com

Ms. Gleit’s email address is and she will use weekly email blasts to communicate with parents

Mr. Mitchell’s email address is and he will use weekly email blasts to communicate with parents

Please ensure you are also registered for the Home Access Center (HAC) so you can view your child’s grades. Teachers will post grades in HAC within 2 weeks of test dates or project/assignment due dates.

6.  Grading:

Summative Assessments (Tests, Projects, Major Essays): 50%

Formative Assessments (Quizzes & Writing Process): 35%

Class Assignments: 15%

Fulton County Grading Scale:

A: 100-90

B: 89-80

C: 79-70

F: 69 and below

7.  Recovery Policy:

Tests are eligible for recovery if a student earns a 79 or below:

Student must initiate the recovery process by:

·  Student must submit an “intent to recover” letter within 3 days of receiving graded test back from teacher (letter template to be provided by teachers)

·  Student must attend a teacher-designated help session before re-testing

·  Student must attend the teacher-designated re-testing session

·  No make-ups if student fails to show for the help session or misses the scheduled re-test session

The highest grade will replace the original grade

Projects: not eligible for recovery

Essays: not eligible for recovery

8.  Help Sessions:

Teacher / Day / Room / Time
Ott / Wednesday / 713 / 8:00 – 8:30
Tuggle / Monday / 723 / 4:00 – 4:30
Holliday / Monday / 716 / 8:00 – 8:30
Mitchell / Monday / 710 / 4:00 – 4:30
Wilson / Thursday / 705 / 8:15 – 8:45
Gleit / Tuesday / 708 / 8:00 – 8:30

9.  Absence Make-Up Procedures (FCBOE Policy):

It is the student’s responsibility to request make-up work for an absence. Upon returning to school following an absence, the student should request make-up work. The student must complete make-up work within the same number of days that he/she was absent.

10.  Work not turned in:

Major Assignments:

·  5 points per day late subtracted from the assignment grade

·  After three days late, a private detention will be assigned to the student

·  If the student fails to show for his/her assigned detention, teacher will write an office referral

11.  Academic Dishonesty:

Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.

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Please tear off this signature portion and return to your Language Arts teacher by Friday, August 19th. Keep the syllabus for future reference.

Teacher Name: ______Student Name (print): ______

Student Signature: ______

Parent Signature: ______

Parent E-mail Address: ______