Grade 7 Oceana Team Jennifer Gula Ext. 258 Language Arts Grade 7 Oceana Team Jennifer Gula Ext. 258

Novels: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Nothing But The Truth by Avi Letters From Rifka by Karen Hesse The Call of the Wild by Jack London Additional self selected novels: mystery, biography, and autobiography

Literature Activities Reading Responses shared in Literature Circles Plotlines Open-responses Character sketches Vocabulary in context activities Oral presentations

Junior Great Books Areas of Focus: Critical thinking skills Writing Shared Inquiry Discussion – All ideas must be supported with evidence from the text.

Empowering Writers Emphasis on expository writing using The Writing Process Grammar instruction is embedded in the novel units and taught in the context of writing activities. 6 six paragraph essays Models Direct instruction during each part of an essay Writing Conferences held with students Scored using a two page rubric Writing portfolio shared at Parent Conferences

Writing Opportunities – (cont.) Descriptive writing: poetry, character sketches, journal entries Narrative writing: plot summaries, personal experience essays, short stories Persuasive Writing: Cape Cod Times Essay Contest

Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program Students are provided with a list of grade seven priority words (top 130 words used in the English language) – 2 points are deducted if these words are misspelled on writing assignments Each unit focuses on a specific concept (Ex. prefixes and suffixes), and the words reappear in subsequent units. Independent spelling lists – generated from spelling units and student writing

Grading: Tests and essays: 35% Quizzes and open-responses: 35% Classwork:15% (work completed in class with teacher direction and feedback) Homework: 15% * X2 Program – Grades are posted online. * Rubrics and models are provided for all assignments. *Extra help sessions – Wednesday 8:00 – 8:50

Homework: Homework will not be accepted late – School Policy Assigned four-five nights per week Average of 20 – 30 minutes per night Begin homework in class Written on the board every day to be copied into the planner Homework Hotline: (508)255-0016 Ext. 359 Homework Online: www.nausetschools.org Homework Buddy

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