7th Grade Language Arts – Mrs



7th Grade Language Arts – Team 4

Mrs. Everham and Mr. Miracle

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello and welcome to another school year! Mr. Miracle and I have the pleasure of teaching your seventh grader this year. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know a few of the goals for our Language Arts students, as well as other important information. As the Team 4 language arts teacher, I will be working closely with our student teacher, Mr. Miracle for the entire year.

During the year, our class will strive to develop habits that will benefit them as students and as productive members of society. For most students, seventh grade is typically a year of huge physical, mental, and emotional changes. Our Language Arts class is structured to take advantage of this drastic growth by giving your student some tools that will benefit him/her for the rest of his/her life. By the end of this year, students will demonstrate the ability to be punctual, calculate an academic grade, follow directions, manage time, pay attention to details, organize, persevere, respect others, take personal responsibility, work hard, and care about the quality of their work. The most important item that your child will hopefully learn this year is that his/her personal success in any endeavour is directly related to his/her effort.

I will use email and phone calls to communicate important information. The best way to reach me will be via school e-mail. I will check e-mail regularly, and will make every effort to respond promptly. You will find all of my contact information below.

The best way for students to be successful is if all parties (teachers, parents, and students) are proactive. Please don’t wait until the end of the card-marking to address concerns. I will update PowerSchools and Planbook regularly. If there is a concern, please ask!

I look forward to working with you and your child. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Amber Everham

aeverham@

(586) 439-4690

everham.

Supply List

We would like all of our students to have the following materials:

• ONE 2-pocket duo-tang folder, with prongs. This folder will go home with you every day. I will give you another folder that will stay in class.

• ONE Composition Notebook - (9.75"x7.5", college ruled, 100 pages)

A composition notebook IS NOT a spiral notebook. It has a durable cover with a sewn binding. They typically have a “marble” patterned cover. You may choose any notebook that appeals to you. ☺ This composition notebook will stay in the classroom.

• Pencils (if mechanical pencils are your choice, bring extra lead)

• Standard blue or black ink pens

Suggested Items:

• A pencil case/bag to carry or keep in your locker.

• Any other color ink pens, including red (for revising and editing)

• A set of highlighters

• Loose-leaf paper

• USB Flash Drive (Can be used for all classes)

Not needed on a daily basis – This will be used to save and continue work on word-processed pieces. Minimum memory required.

• Reading materials for daily silent reading time (novels, please)

• A “Planner” or calendar to keep assignments and due dates organized

Colors for each hour

2nd hour = RED

3rd hour = YELLOW

6th hour = GREEN

7th hour = BLUE

INSTRUCTION

• Seventh grade Language Arts consists of writing, literature, grammar, vocabulary, and speaking.

• We will use elements of the Reading and Writing Workshop model. The students will use a composition notebook to create a personalized textbook. It will be used for mini lessons, notes, and written responses.

• It will be the student’s responsibility to bring the appropriate materials to class. Many materials will be stored in class to help them meet this expectation.

• Students are expected to participate in all class activities and be active learners.

HOMEWORK

• There will not be a lot of traditional “homework” assigned. Homework may consist of an assignment that was not completed during classtime, an assignment that needs to be corrected to a show greater understanding, or assignments from an absence.

• Students will have one “homework” assignment every night. Students should be reading on a consistent basis. Research suggests 30 minutes a day is ideal for vocabulary and skill growth. This may not be possible every day, and I we will not use reading logs. Students have busy schedules – this is understandable. They may choose what they read – novels, online, magazines, blogs, etc. The point is that they are reading!

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

• Tardies: Students need to be in my room with all materials when I shut my door.

• Classwork/Assignments: Classwork and assignments will be listed each day on my front board. Assignments should be written as neatly as possible. All final copies of writing assignments should be double-spaced, and may be either written in ink or typed. All assignments are expected to be turned in on or before the due date. This does not include excused absences. These will follow the school guidelines for make-up work.

• Make-up Work: When a student returns from an absence, he/she should check the Absent Folders to find the assignments that were missed. Students should set a time with me to make up any tests. It is their responsibility to check with me about completing make-up work.

• Participation: Students should participate in class discussions and activities in a responsible and respectful manner.

• Materials: Students should come to class prepared with ALL needed materials. (pencil/pen, novel, folder)

• Bathroom and Locker Stops: If a student needs to use the restroom and will be tardy because there is not enough time between classes, he/she should ask me during passing time to avoid being marked tardy. Because our learning time is valuable, we appreciate the students’ use of their passing time for these needs.

• Classroom Expectations/Rules: Be on time. Come prepared with ALL needed materials. Listen carefully and follow directions. Raise your hand to speak. Respect yourself, your teacher, and your classmates.

Do your BEST!

GRADES

Exceeds Expectations (Advanced – 100%)

• Student could teach others how to do it. Student consistently shows mastery of the standard

Meets Expectations (Proficient – B – 83%)

• Student “gets it.” Student is performing at the level of understanding required by state standards.

Partially Meets Expectations (Partially Proficient – D – 66%)

• Student is beginning to understand and is showing a basic level of understanding of the standard

Minimally Meets Expectations (Not Proficient – F – 50)

• Student is still struggling. The work does not show an understanding of the standard.

• Student has not attempted to meet the standard.

Students are expected to make corrections or redo assignments in order to show mastery of the standard being assessed. There will be multiple opportunities to show mastery of their learning. Grades will reflect understanding of standards. Students will show their understanding through a variety of assessments (final projects, essays, stories, tests, quizzes, etc.) Work in class will be used to determine what the student needs to move forward with their learning. Unless it is deemed as an assessment, it may not be used in their final grade. Students are expected to make corrections or redo assignments in order to show mastery of the material.

What about ZEROES?

I try to explain my view on giving “zeroes” in this way. As adults, if we fail to pay a bill, the company does not have to say, “Hey, Mrs. Everham, that bill was due three weeks ago. It’s okay. We have moved on. You don’t have to pay it anymore.” I think the same should go for the students. If we find it important enough to assign, we WILL hold the students accountable for doing the work. That being said, it is very important to have support from the families to ensure students do not fall behind. Since they will be held accountable for all work assigned, it is important to stay on track and identify issues as they come. Just like my bill example, if I didn’t pay any of my bills for weeks, it would be really overwhelming to be asked to pay them all at once.

**Failure to complete assessments will make it impossible to assess student learning. The student may earn an “INCOMPLETE”, which could result in a failing grade.

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