Culver City Unified School District
Culver City Middle School
Course Description and Expectations
7th Grade Language Arts
2014-2015
Welcome to Seventh Grade Language Arts!
Course Overview
This course will prepare you for mastery of California’s Seventh Grade Common Core English-Language Arts Standards. It provides a balanced, unified program of instruction that addresses reading comprehension, literature, composition and communication by teaching essential skills. These skills include reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, speaking, listening, and media skills.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will be exposed to a variety of literature, film, video clips and informational materials.
2. Students will continue to develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
3. Students will complete a wide variety of writing assignments.
4. Students will analyze and use a variety of language devices.
5. The four domains of the arts: music, theatre, visual arts and dance will be integrated into every lesson and/or assignment.
TEXTBOOKS
The Holt Literature and Language Arts and First Course and
The Holt (grammar) Handbook
CLASS MATERIALS
You need to have the following items in class EVERY day:
Ø Backpack or book bag
Ø Time Tracker
Ø Three ring notebook with dividers and a section for Language Arts or a separate Language Arts binder or folder for papers
Ø Lots of three hole, loose-leaf, lined paper
Ø At least two blue and one black ball point pens (to be on your desk before the bell rings)*
*WORK SUBMITTED IN PENCIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. If you have come to class without pens, you will need to borrow a pen BEFORE the bell rings or be marked tardy.
Ø Completed homework assignment when applicable
Ø A book, magazine or other publication to read between assignments
Revised 4/18/2014
Classwork/Homework Page
Students AND parents are responsible for consulting my “classwork/homework” page, which I updated regularly, and with copious detail. I do my best to keep it updated before, during or shortly after each lesson, allowing students who are absent to, potentially, work from home on their assignments. This page can be accessed without any secret codes, from virtually ANYWHERE in the world that has Internet. You access it via Culver City Unified School District’s main web site. You go to: www.ccusd.org AND, click through the following steps:
1) CCMS (Culver city Middle School)
2) STUDENTS
3) Classwork/homework
4) 7th Grade Language Arts
5) Ruth Morris
6) Homework
Acknowledgement of Possible Class Content, including films, literature and topics that have been covered in class over the past ten years:
1) Film & Video
PG-13 films such as: The Boy in Striped Pajamas, Hotel Rwanda, Freedom Writer’s Diary, Last Emperor, Dances with Wolves, Devil’s Arithmetic, Karate Kid (any from series), Akeelah & The Bee, Life is Beautiful, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars (any from series), The Book Thief, Mad Hot Ballroom, episodes or parts of from Twilight Zone or other network television shows, and other PG-13 and/or unrated (foreign and independent) films.
2) Literature
Notable authors such as: Ray Bradbury, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nora Zeal Hurston, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Jose Luis Borges, Elie Wiesel, Edgar Allen Poe, and others.
3) Topics
Bullying, the Holocaust, genocide and genocide prevention, tolerance, acceptance, and current events such as gun control, Gay rights, affirmative action, racial profiling, substance legalization, divorce, gender issues, and virtually any other relevant historical, social and/or current topics in the world. Arts will be integrated into every aspect of the curriculum, including exposure to music and dance.
Parent Acknowledgement Form:
I understand that the content and possible discussions that come up in a 7th grade Language Arts class can and do sometimes include mature topics and material such as, and not limited to, the above.
Parent Name (printed) Parent Signature Date
THE FIRST TEN PROCEDURES
1. Enter room silently and place your completed homework assignment in the upper left-hand corner of your desk before beginning bellwork.
2. Look on the board for the daily “bellwork” and begin writing immediately.
3. No questions will be accepted regarding “bellwork.” If you feel that you cannot answer the prompt, you may copy the prompt onto your paper and “freewrite” up to the required number of words for credit.
4. Look at the daily agenda after bellwork and be prepared with any required materials or page numbers.
5. Copy homework into your Time Tracker.
6. If you have completed procedures 1 through 5, and you still have questions, please write the questions on the bottom or back of your bellwork page. If you are done early, you may read or wait silently for directions. During class, you may ask questions by raising your hand. There are appropriate moments for asking questions, and certain inappropriate times; the distinction will be explained during the first week of class.
7. All assignments should include the proper heading in the top, right-hand corner: first and last name, period, date. The title of assignment (“bellwork”, “classwork”, “homework”, “book report”, etc.) should be centered and written on the top line of the paper. All homework AND classwork must be completed in pen to receive credit.
8. Homework is usually assigned several times a week, and is usually due by the following block period. Longer projects will have other deadlines. No late work is accepted. That means: all assignments are due by the due date, or will be counted as a zero grade. If you are absent on the day of an assignment or test, you will have the number of days you were absent to make up the assignment. It is your responsibility to get the assignment from another student or by accessing the homework Web site. You are responsible for contacting your teacher to arrange for a time to make up missed tests. All homework assignments must be submitted in blue or black ink. Although deadlines will be observed in this class, zeros can be turned into partial credit if a student comes to an in-school or after-school intervention for help.
9. Completed assignments are passed from the back seat of each row to the front seat and then from the outside rows to the center rows, and will be collected by a designated student.
10. Class is dismissed by the teacher, not by the bell. Class will be
considered “over” when students are silent, backpacks are packed up and the
floor is entirely clean of any debris.
Revised 4/18/2014
CLASSROOM RULES: The 5 B’s OF ROOM 130
I. Be Prepared:
1. Be on time and start bellwork immediately.
2. Bring all required materials and assignments to class.
3. Go to the bathroom before or after class. “Emergency” use of the bathroom is considered an infrequent occurrence, and will be allowed at teacher’s discretion if a student has made a private request.
II. Be Aware That School Rules Apply:
1. School dress code, especially “no hats or hoods” is strictly enforced.
2. No food, gum or drinks are allowed in the classroom.
3. No physical contact is tolerated.
III. Be Neat:
1. Do not waste or crumple papers. Cross out errors and keep going.
2. Backpacks must be closed and kept under your desk.
3. No defacing of school materials (books, desks, floor, etc.).
VI. Be Respectful:
1. When the teacher or another student is speaking, remain quiet and always in your seat.
2. Questions must be appropriate in nature and timing.
3. Raise hands for questions or assistance.
V. Be Productive:
1. Students must be on task, working on Language Arts assignments at all times.
2. Students may not be out of their seats unless requested to do so.
3. Students will complete and/or participate in all assignments.
SOME POSSIBLE PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE RULES
1. One verbal warning, “That’s a warning”
2. In or out of room “time out” – responsible for all work in class
3. Writing assignment about the issue that occurred and six ways to correct it (due before end of period )
4. Student kept after class, after school or during lunch (known as “detention”)
5. Parent called during class to speak to student
6. Student sent out of class with assignment (parent contacted)
7. Referral to student court (parent contacted)
8. Referred to Counselor and/or Assistant Principal (parent contacted)
9. Referred directly to Principal (parent contacted)
10. Parent asked to attend class with the student to monitor behavior
BATHROOM USE
In my classroom, I employ a “no bathroom pass” policy. This DOES NOT mean a student cannot use the bathroom occasionally, on an emergency basis (we all have them), and by asking me PRIVATELY (so others do not hear). If there is a pre-existing medical reason for more frequent (more than once or twice a semester) bathroom use, please ensure that I have received a medical note, and I will make appropriate arrangements. In general, however, bathrooms are to be used before or after school, during passing periods, or at lunch.
GRADING
Academic grades are based on “bellwork” (each worth 15 points) “classwork” (each worth 25 points), “homework” (each worth 50 points). Other assignments include: quizzes, tests, written/oral projects (up to 100 points) and various participation points (bringing books & materials, in class contributions, etc.):
The grading scale is, in general, as follows (see Aeries for exact grades):
A = 90% to 100% (92% = A-)
B = 80% to 89% (87% = B+, 82% = B-)
C = 70% to 79% (77% = C+, 72% = C-)
D = 60% to 69% (67% = D+, 62% = D-)
F = 59% or below
Work Habits grade is based on completing all assignments (class work, homework, required parent signature, etc.) on time, bringing all necessary materials to class every day, writing assignments in Time Tracker, participating in classroom activities.
Citizenship grade is based on respect and responsibility. Every student can behave appropriately in the classroom with a minimum of rules. Every student is expected to: work cooperatively in class, observe school and classroom rules, treat others with respect, and be on time.
Communication
It is often difficult to accept or make phone calls during the school day, but I can be reached via e-mail 24-7. If you have not registered an e-mail address in your registration paperwork, or if your e-mail address has changed, please e-mail me with that information. My turnaround goal for e-mail responses to students and parents is usually within 48 hours or less. Please feel free to contact me with questions and concerns at: .
PLEASE KEEP THESE AND ANY SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURES OR NOTIFICATIONS IN THE FRONT OF YOUR LANGUAGE ARTS SECTION IN YOUR BINDER AT ALL TIMES.
Revised 4/18/2014
Please return AT NEXT CLASS PERIOD.
THIS SIGNATURE PAGE IS YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT, WORTH 50 POINTS.
IF TURNED IN AT NEXT CLASS PERIOD: 50/50, a+
IF TURNED IN by THE END OF THIS WEEK: 35/50, c
IF TURNED IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK OR NOT AT ALL: 0/50, f
* * *
We have read the course description and expectations for Language Arts class.
Student’s name ______
(Please print)
Student’s signature ______Date ______
Parent/guardian signature ______Date ______
Parent(s) contact number(s):
(1) ______(2) ______
Parent(s) e-mail address(es):
(1) ______(2) ______
Comments or questions:
08/29/12