Welcome to Mrs. Hnatczuk’s 7 th grade English class!

English Curriculum Students will work on mastering the skills and concepts detailed in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for seventh grade. Let’s take a look at some of the focus standards and resources available to assist in their mastery.

Reading Literature and Literary Nonfiction In the area of reading, students will focus on the following skills outlined in the standards: Read and comprehend literature and literary nonfiction in the sixth-eighth grade complexity level. Analyze how particular elements of a story interact. Cite pieces of textual evidence to support analysis. Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text.

Listening and Speaking In the area of listening and speaking, students will focus on the following skills: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Language In the area of language, students will focus on the following Common Core Standards: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Writing In writing, students will focus on the following skills: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Honors English Honors students will focus on additional standards, especially while participating in the Winters Arts Program in December and January. Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama. Use common Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.

English Activities The schedule of activities and objectives to be learned are listed on the board each day for students. Families can also view detailed lesson plans and instructions for homework assignments by going to the class Web pages: If students are absent, they can check the class Web pages and Google Classroom, as well as call study buddies to find out what they missed. They can also check the Assignment Wall and Binder when they return.

English Resources Students have English Notebooks containing notes and resources, which should be used to assist in preparing for tests and completing assignments. Students will also be using Google Classroom and Google Docs to view, share, complete and publish assignments. In addition, students will be using Moby Max, an individualized computer program, to assess, learn and practice skills in a variety of areas.

Independent Reading Project Students are expected to read at least one novel (150 pages or more) every six weeks as part of their Independent Reading Project. Since students read at a variety of rates, they need to read for as long as it takes to complete at least one- sixth of their novels each week. Most students should be able to accomplish this during homeroom. Families should have seen and initialed blue IRP Record Sheet #1. Students have just started week 2 of IRP #1, which means they have already read one-sixth of their novels and will finish one-third by the start of next week.

Monitoring Student Progress Homework completion is tracked for the month using the pink Homework Calendar (stamp sheet), which is worth up to 100 points. Students have homework every school night. Families should have already received and signed the pink Homework Letter, and students should be on week 4 of the calendar. Students completing less than 70% (C-) of their monthly homework will have their stamp sheets mailed home. Families are encouraged to use Zangle Student and Parent Connect, our online grading program, to check student progress at any time.

English Grades 1.Tests, quizzes & projects50% 2.Graded assignments 30% 3.Homework completion20% 4.Citizenship*0% 5.Effort*0% *The citizenship and effort categories have been included in order to keep families informed and do not affect academic grades.

Goal of Home Court Research on learning has shown that students learn more and retain what they learn for longer periods of time if they feel safe and secure in their learning environments. Therefore, the goal of our Home Court Policy is to create a safe, secure and supportive learning environment where everyone will feel comfortable taking risks because learning involves risk-taking.

Behavior Policy The following steps will be taken to redirect inappropriate behavior:  Step 1: Warning  Step 2: Infraction  Step 3: Referral to office  Steps may be skipped due to the seriousness of the issue.

Contact Information & Resources Contact information: Name: Mrs. Nissi (Lapihuska) Hnatczuk  Pronunciation guide: Mrs. “Not-chuck” Phone: (619) (Room 504) Online resources:  Class Web pages:  School Web pages:  Zangle/Q (Gradebook): Student Connect: Parent Connect:

Thank You! Do you have any questions? Make sure you sign in and take a contacts and resources sheet before you leave! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to be here tonight!