7th Grade Religion - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS & SOCIAL …



Social Studies and English Language Arts

Course Outline

2017-2018

Teacher Miss Shackelford

Materials Loose leaf paper, black pens, pencils, binders, index cards, composition book and textbooks

Grading System Grades are based on the following criteria:

• Section content and vocabulary quizzes

• Morning Work writing or comprehension exercises

• Group work and projects

• Homework

• Assessments (quizzes, tests, projects, performance-based assessments)

I use a points system for grading. Students are informed of the point value of each assignment for all assignments so that you always know where your grade stands in our class. To find your grade, divide the points earned by the maximum points possible. For example, if you earned 8 points on an assignment worth 10 points, you could divide 8 by 10 and see that you earned an 80% on this assignment.

Students will receive report cards every nine weeks and progress reports in the middle of each nine weeks.

Grading Scale 100-90% A 79-75% C

89-80% B 74-70% D

69% and lower F

Inner & Outer Circle Periodically, students will participate in a class activity called Inner & Outer Circle. The object of this activity is to make class discussions easier and more productive. Students will be required to read and prepare for class discussions. They will be partnered with other students and take active roles in the class discussion.

Class Participation Much of our time together in English Language Arts and Social Studies will require that you participate fully in class discussions. I expect every member of our class to participate in a respectful and thoughtful way. Students are encouraged to be brave in their class participation! We are all learning together and everyone’s input, ideas, and questions are valuable, so speak up!

Independent Work All unfinished independent work becomes homework.

Group Work In our class, students will benefit from each other’s thoughtful, informed feedback, especially in writer’s workshops, reading groups, and inner and outer circle activities. At times, we will attempt to work in groups that are of your choosing. Should you or your group members not work well together (i.e., excessive talking, not cooperating, etc.), you will be assigned to a different group. There are no second chances. As a member of a group, you are responsible to participate and contribute fully to the group!

Give thoughtful feedback

Respect others

On task, all the time

Use soft voices

Participate actively

Stay with your group

Homework Homework is due at the beginning of class. Any homework turned in after it has been checked is considered late and will be marked off accordingly. Homework that is incomplete is considered late. The middle school homework policy will be enforced. (Refer to page 8 of the Middle School Handbook.)

Students should keep in mind the long-term assignments when doing homework. These assignments will likely require some time out of class to complete, and I will not always give daily reminders to work on completing long-term assignments.

Refer to page 13 of the Middle School Handbook for Homework Requests policy.

Vocabulary All ELA students will receive a Vocabulary Workshop workbook. Each unit of

Workshop Vocabulary Workshop has 20 vocabulary words. I will introduce each new unit in class and spend some class time on each unit. Each unit has a number of pages of workbook activities which students will have approximately two weeks to complete. At the end of two weeks, workbooks will be checked and graded. Approximately one week after this, students will take a test on spelling, pronunciation, comprehension, and usage of the words in that unit.

Reader’s Notebook Students will use a composition book as their Reader’s Notebook throughout the year. Each class has a required number of books to be read independently and outside of the normal course work. Students are informed of how many books must be read from each genre.

• Periodically, students must turn in a writing assignment (which will be graded) based on their independent reading. This assignment will be completed in the Reader’s Notebook. I will respond in writing to each student’s entry and periodically conference with each student as they complete this long-term assignment.

• At the end of each nine weeks, there is a given number of books which must be completed by a given deadline. This information is given to students to write in the Reader’s Notebook.

• Independent reading is a year-long assignment. When students don’t have other homework, they should spend the customary amount of time reading independently.

Bonus Points I will offer various opportunities for extra credit during each nine weeks. These opportunities will usually correspond with a reading response or community involvement.

Late work All late work must be turned in to me directly.

If work is turned in one day late, you may only receive up to 75% credit. After that, you may only receive up to 50% credit for work turned in 2-5 days after its original due date. At six days overdue, students will receive a permanent zero for the assignment and lost the opportunity for makeup credit.

Request to Retest Students who make a failing grade (69% or lower) have the option to request to retest on that concept or rewrite that paper for a better grade. Students must fill out and return a Request to Retest form with a parent or guardian’s signature no more than two school days after receiving their original grade. This form requires that students consider how they earned an unsatisfactory grade and tell me how they have worked hard to improve their understanding and prepare to retake the test. A blank form will be given to students for their binders. There will be blank forms available in the classroom or upon request. The form will also be available on the website for you to print or fill out electronically and attach in an email to me. When the assignment is a test, students should be aware that they will not receive the same test again, but that the same concept will be tested. Please note that you are turning in a request. This opportunity is not guaranteed. Students who make a habit of neglecting to study or prepare for assignments will not continue to receive this opportunity. You may only take advantage of this opportunity once every nine weeks.

Assessments In addition to the types of assessments you are accustomed to (i.e. tests, quizzes, projects, papers, and self-evaluations), your learning will also be assessed using the arts, as ACS places an emphasis on “Arts Captivating Spirits.” Performance-based testing and other assessments will be explained to students prior to implementation so that students have a complete understanding. Tests will be announced at least two days in advance, and quizzes at least one day in advance. Pop quizzes or reading quizzes may be given without notice.

Refer to pages 13 and 14 of the Middle School Handbook for Test Taking policies.

Exit/Entry Tickets I will regularly use exit tickets as a quick check-in to see how students are progressing with a project, how well they understand a concept, etc. Exit tickets are usually a response to a question or prompt that is written on a sticky note and turned in as the student exits class.

Units of Study Social Studies Domestic Affairs

Global Affairs

Civil Rights/Human Rights

Economics

Culture

ELA The parts of this course are all integrated throughout the year. We will study grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and the genres of literature from the perspectives of a reader and a writer.

Course texts Pearson, My World Geography: Western Hemisphere (6th SS); Prentice Hall, History of Our World (7th SS); Prentice Hall, History of Our Nation: Beginnings through 1877 (8th SS)

Writing with Power

Vocabulary Workshop or Vocabulary for Success

Assorted trade books, assigned and issued throughout the year

You are responsible for the care and maintenance of all books. Textbooks must be covered at all times.

Headings All assignments must have an MLA heading in the upper left corner. The first line is the student’s name (first and last). The second line is the teacher’s name (Miss Shackelford). The third line is the class and grade (ELA 7, for example). The fourth line is the date, in the following order: date, month, and year (15 August 2017, for example). Under this, a title for your assignment should be written in the center of the top line of your paper.

Classroom jobs Small classroom responsibilities may be assigned to students on a rotating basis as needed. Though these duties will not affect your grade, please do your part to help the whole class when it is your turn to do so.

Classroom rules Follow the 4 “Be-Attitudes”

and behavior Be Responsible - Be Respectful – Be Safe – Be Kind

Miss Shackelford’s classroom rules are posted in the classroom.

← Habit #1 – Be Proactive

• “That you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

• Accept responsibility for your actions.

← Habit #2 – Begin with the End in Mind

• “Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2)

• Follow directions the first time given.

← Habit #3 – Put First Things First

• “Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:29-31)

• Come to school prepared to learn with homework/assignments completed.

← Habit #4 – Think Win-Win

• “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

• Enhance the learning of others.

← Habit #5 – Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood

• “Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

• Show compassion at all times.

← Habit #6 – Synergize

• “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them.” (Romans 12:5-6)

• Use your gifts and resources wisely.

← Habit #7 – Sharpen the Saw

• “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

• Treat yourself and others with dignity.

Refer to the Middle School Handbook for further explanation.

Handbook All students are responsible for knowing, understanding, and following the ACS Parent/Student Handbook as well as the Middle School Classroom Management Plan as laid out in the Middle School Handbook.

Cut on the line above and return this slip to Miss Shackelford by ______________________________.

Parents and students, together, please review this course outline and sign below indicating that you have read and understood the information.

_____________________________________________ ________________________

Student signature Date

_____________________________________________ ________________________

Parent signature Date

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