Stephenson Middle School

7th Grade English/Language Arts

DeKalb County Schools

2015-2016 School Year

Course Name / 7th Grade English Language Arts / Course Number / 23.01210002
School Name / Stephenson Middle School / Teacher Name / Ms. Doretha Carter
School Phone / 678-676-4402 / Teacher Email /
School Website /
k12.ga.us/ / Teacher Phone / 678-676-4492
Teacher Website / / Teacher Secondary Website /
Course Description:
This course is rigorous and standards based allowing the students the opportunity to enhance their reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities. They will explore various genres and themes, improve their analytical skills, and use several literary devices and strategies to advance their skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The main tools for instruction are the McDougal Littell text and various web resources and videos housed on our Learning Management System (Schoology). They are aligned to Georgia’s Common Core Standards and are inclusive of the necessary performance elements needed for student mastery.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered.THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Unit 1 - Perseverance: literary extended text, informative/explanatory writing
Unit 2 – Courage: informational extended text, informative writing
Unit 3 – Literature Reflects: Life: Making Sense of Our World: literary extended text, opinion
Unit 4 – Survival: informational extended text, opinion
These 9-week thematic units will integrate grammar and vocabulary throughout the year along with writing based on the study of literary and informational texts.
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title / McDougal Littell –Literature
ISBN / 978-0-547-07530-3
Replacement Cost / $77.19
Online book and/or resources / Classzone.com
Online student access code (school specific) / Language Arts Online Book access Info: Go to classzone.com ( Select Language Arts.. Middle School...select state (GA) click go. Select McDougal Littell Literature (grade 7), select online book, click continue, select create student account, enter activation code ______complete information to create your own username and password.
GRADING SYSTEM:The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction.A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed.Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal.See Board Policy IHA.
GRADING CATEGORIES / *GRADE PROTOCOL
Formative Assessment - 0%
Assessment During Learning – 25%
Guided, Independent, or Group Practice – 45%
*Summative Assessment or Assessment of Learning– 30% / A90 – 100
B80 – 89
C71 – 79
D70
FBelow 70
Notes:
*Digital portfolios will be utilized as forms of formative and summative assessments in this course. These will be housed on our class blog which is located on our Learning Management System (Schoology) and/or Kidblog.org
**Book Club Chats are to be held every quarter (9 weeks) as part of our Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) program.
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONSFOR SUCCESS
STUDENT PROGRESS / Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered.Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students.See Board Policy IH.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY / Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password.See theCode of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook.
HOMEWORK / Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students.See Board Policy IHB.
MAKE-UP WORK
DUE TO ABSENCES / When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted.See Board Policy IHEA.
SCHOOL EXPECTATIONSFOR SUCCESS
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS / Arrive to class on time and prepared to learn
Respect your teacher, peers, and others who enter the classroom
Raise your hand to speak and/or leave your seat
No eating, drinking, or gum chewing allowed
Restroom usage will not be permitted during instructional time, unless a doctor’s excuse is on file in the counseling office
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES / 5 composition books
Blue &black pens and pencils
Glue/tape
Colored pencils/crayons,
Electronic device with internet capability.
EXTRA HELP / Morning and afterschool tutorials will be available. The days and times for this will be announced at a later date.
PARENTS
AS PARTNERS / We are partners working to help your student have a successful 7thgrade year. I encourage you to check our LMS weekly.Also, I will use Bloomz as a way to keep in constant contact with your regarding your child. Please contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns. I am most accessible by email.
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN
I have read the syllabus.
Student Signature______
Parent/Guardian Signature______
Date______
Additional information to support continued contact:
Information / Parent/Guardian
Day Time Phone Number
Cellular Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address

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