1. Teacher(s): Time: The Course Organizer Student: Course Dates: This Course: Course Questions: is about Reading, writing, thinking, speaking, viewing, and listening for effective communication at the 7 th grade level 7 th Language Arts What is literacy and how does it affect the quality of life for young adults? How does an understanding of word knowledge (e.g. spelling patterns, etymology, root words, base words, prefixes, and suffixes) develop literacy? How do authors select various literary genres and how does recognizing genre affect understanding of forms of communication? How does writing as a process develop and clarify ideas? How does knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics effectively communicate ideas? What are the 6+1 Traits of effective writing and how can knowledge of these traits improve written communication? What are effective speaking skills and how can those skills be applied in both formal and informal speaking situations? How does knowledge and application of reading strategies improve comprehension? How does text structure affect communication and reader understanding? What defines a life-long reader and learner and how are those characteristics fostered and enriched by pursuing individual interests through self-selected reading? Heitz, Nagel, Small WhatHow ConceptsTests, Quizzes, Responses ApplicationsWritings, Projects, & Presentations ExamplesGuided & Independent Practice Assessment of Course Questions

2. Community Principles Learning Rituals Course Map This Course: includes Performance Options Student: Critical Concepts Learned in these Units genre, literacy, plot, characterization, theme, point of view, prose, poetry, literary criticism, informational text, text structure, compare/contrast, cause/effect, author’s argument, main idea, summarizing, evaluating evidence, word meaning, etymology, word parts, parts of speech, writing process, 6+1 Traits, speaking, listening, viewing Guided Reading Elements of Literature Novels Odyssey 7 th Language Arts Trustworthiness Respect Fairness Caring Responsibility Citizenship small and large group discussion, journal writing, guided and independent practice, direct instruction, independent reading, routine recording of daily homework in planner, daily agenda posted, Course Organizer, Infinite Campus, website and/or parent newsletter, reading, writing, and study strategies, note- taking, field trips Odyssey, assistive technology, after-school help sessions, extra credit opportunities, alternative tests and testing locations, alternative note and lesson format, vocabulary enrichment Self-Selected Reading Fiction and nonfiction 10 minutes daily in class Average of 120 minutes weekly outside of class Goal of 25 books completed by end of school year Book talks Working with Words Spelling Connections Knowledge rater Vocabulary enrichment Writing Memoir Dramatic script Literary response essay Persuasive essay Public service announcement Poetry Speaking, Listening, & Viewing Informal and formal speaking Note-taking Response to viewed material