Survival Guide to Mrs



Survival Guide to Language Arts

Mrs. Cochren

Seventh Grade LA Curriculum

Grammar: Parts of speech—nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections—are a main focus of grammar standards. Capitalization, sentence structure, punctuation, antecedent agreement, and placement of modifiers will also be studied.

Writing: Students will word process essays of at least 500-750 words in the categories of summarization, narration, response to literature, persuasion, and research. These essays will contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. The Modern Language Association format will be practiced as will proper procedures for note-taking, paraphrasing, quoting, and citing sources.

Literature: A variety of poetry and prose from the Holt Literature textbook will be read and analyzed. Literary devices, plot development, characterization, point of view, and theme will be areas of focus. Two core novels will be read in class and analyzed —The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and A Midwife’s Apprentice. Students will have the opportunity to select from a variety of other novels to fulfill literature circle and independent reading requirements.

Seventh grade standards become more sophisticated in this year of language arts’ instruction. Reading to understand, appreciate, and respond with insight become important parts of literary analysis.

Independent Reading:

According to state standards, students should read one million words annually. This is possible with a routine of twenty minutes of independent reading outside of class daily. This reading allows for development of stronger reading and writing fluency. Our classroom blog has links to great reading resources, the independent reading expectations, and a copy of our weekly reading log. Students are asked to log their weekly minutes read and submit a parent/guardian signed reading log on Mondays.

Grade Calculation

Writing = 25% Tests/Quizzes = 30%

Homework = 20% Independent Reading = 10%

Final Exam= 15%

Important contact info

District address:

Blog address: acochren.

Digital lockers: lockers.

My Access:

Email: acochren@

Aeries

Aeries is an online grade program on which parents and students can view grade entries for each class. Viewing Aeries on the weekend is especially helpful since our late work deadline for the previous week's work is Tuesday. Block day homework always includes logging onto Aeries to verify scores. Please have your child visit me at the start of lunch on Monday if there are any questions regarding the previous week's Aeries' postings! If you experience difficulty logging onto Aeries, please contact the district office technology help desk at 949-447-7700 extension 226.

Homework

On the average, students will have approximately 20 minutes of homework for language arts each day. Homework is always due the following day unless otherwise specified. I ask that a parent or guardian send a note or email prior to the next day's class if there is difficulty in homework completion. Responsibility, the correction process, and participation during homework check are part of the homework score and learning process; thus, late work only receives half credit and must be submitted before Tuesday of the following week. Homework is considered late if it is incomplete or unavailable by the end of roll call. Late papers and projects receive a 10% deduction each day late.

Blog: acochren.

I post our daily agenda (including work collected and work assigned) on our classroom blog. Class notes, handouts, and links make this a valuable resource and communication tool. If interested, there is an option on the side bar to receive a daily email of the posting.

Planner Use and Participation

Students are reminded to copy homework from the board into their planner at the start of class each day. After roll call, I circulate and stamp planners to reinforce the importance of its use. Although I would like to stamp planners each day, please know that time does not always permit for this. Students earn weekly participation points for planner completion and acquiring the stamps. I may, occasionally, write comments home in the planner. Your child is to obtain a parent/guardian signature each weekend in the planner to facilitate our communication and a SMART routine.

Daily Materials

1. Composition notebook

2. Independent reading novel and reading log

3. Wordly Wise workbook

4. Pen, Pencil, Highlighter, pencil sharpener

Responsibilities after Absence

Perhaps the biggest area of difficulty for students is making up work after an absence. During an absence, students miss out on checking the previous day's work, instruction for new material, practice time, and homework. Block days are especially difficult to miss due to our lengthened instructional periods. After an absence, a student should:

1. Read blog and fill out planner. Include work collected, assigned,

or completed during class.

2. Submit previous day's HW and make-up work to in-box on my

desk.

3. Make up missed assessments during ESP or the start of lunch.

4. Email Mrs. C or stop by during lunch to receive extra help.

Parents can provide excellent support by having their student utilize the blog, complete the planner, and organize work to submit and complete. Please monitor Aeries to ensure your child has completed and submitted make-up work!

School Library

The library is available before school, at break and lunch, and after school for student use. It is equipped with 35 computers with internet and printer access. Homework Club is held Monday to Thursday from 3:10 to 4:00. A supervising teacher is available to answer your child's questions. A bus is available at 4:00.

Language Arts' Support

With Mrs. Cochren:

I ask that students that need my help stop by during the first 10 minutes of lunch. I am happy to work with students for as long as needed. Students are welcome to eat lunch in my room, and I often stock extra snacks to serve as needed. If no students stop by during this window of time, I assume that no help is needed, and I close the classroom. Students are welcome to schedule appointments for other times when needed.

From Language Arts' Teachers:

Students can complete homework and ask for assistance from a language arts teacher during the language arts' support sessions on Monday and Wednesday 3:10 to 4:00. Students are encouraged to bring their questions and good work ethic! A bus is provided at 4:00.

Communication

The most efficient way to communicate with me is by email, and I check it many times a day. When possible and appropriate, please encourage your child to initiate communication. An easy way to promote your child's accountability and communication skills is to have him or her email a teacher from your email account. This helps to prevent forgetfulness and fosters open communication between student, parent, and teacher.

I am happy to meet with you as a method of supporting your child's needs. Not only do I want to prepare your child academically, I want to make our learning environment engaging and fun. I value your entrustment of your child with me, and I am open to your feedback. If there is something that may affect your child's learning in my classroom, please feel free to communicate with me.

Our class time is valuable, so I ask for your support in having your child handle personal business at times when it does not take away from class start up or student/teacher responsibilities. Use of the blog, help session times, and Aeries are awesome tools for efficiency in your child's education. In any situation which your child has unanswered questions, please encourage him or her to email me immediately so that I can be aware and assist!

Technology in Our Lessons

I'm hoping to meet your child's 21st century needs by incorporating technology in our lessons. With use of an LCD projector and a classroom set of computers, I will model how to access and use our class blog, Aeries, My Access, and digital lockers. Students will then practice accessing and utilizing these tools.

Students will complete the majority of writing and typing within class, but some students may want or need additional time. Deadlines are established to accommodate students that do not have access to technology at home, and we are fortunate to have a library computer lab for students to use before, during, or after school. Students should have a USB storage device to keep within their backpack. Although the school has purchased a digital storage locker for your child, having a back-up method never hurts.

Our students will be continuing with our pilot program, My Access. My Access is an online writing instructional tool which conducts an early diagnosis of student writing proficiency. It provides immediate feedback to students on their strong and weak areas, and encourages the process of editing. As we begin our drafting of an essay, I encourage students to submit, read the MyAccess feedback, and make revisions. Students submit their essays to me for grading. After I return essays, students make their final revision and store their "published draft" in their online portfolio. In addition to our 5 types of essays (narrative, persuasive, response to literature, summarization, and research), we will also submit numerous "Quick Writes" and timed-writing assignments in order to adequately prepare your child for our state writing exam in March.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download