7 th Grade Reading Curriculum Marc Chalmers, Jan Jackson, Shannon Halverson, Amanda Struchtemeyer, Candie Ngkonchin

Textbook Our book is Literature: Language and Literacy, published by Prentice Hall. The text will be supplemented with novel studies.

SRI To determine each student’s reading level, SRI will be administered. This diagnostic deals primarily with comprehension. SRI will be administered three times a year. This assessment determines the lexile level of the student.

What is Reading Counts? A computerized reading management system which increases reading by: Enhancing Curriculum Motivating students at all reading levels Building readers with a lifelong love of reading Developing critical-thinking skills Boosting scores on reading tests including performance based assessments Providing performance reports which aid in individualized instruction.

Reading Requirements Our curriculum requires students to read 16 grade- appropriate books during the school year. Students should independently read four books each quarter. Two programs provide incentives to help students meet this requirement: Reading CountsDo the Dewey

Do the Dewey Due Dates Dewey Due Dates: 10/7/15 12/16/15 3/14/16 5/18/16

Grade Determination Grades are calculated as follows: Classwork, Homework25% Reader’s Log 20% Journal, Applied Practice 20% Tests, Major Assignments25% Do the Dewey (4 books each quarter) 10%

Will my child be required to complete outside reading for homework? Yes. Students are required to read 100 minutes each week, record it on their reading log, and have it signed by a parent/guardian.

When will my child be allowed to go to the Media Center? Students may go before homeroom (8:00- 8:20), during reading class when time permits, and when I take them as a class(which will be every other Thursday).

What curriculum will be covered? We follow the curriculum map provided by CCSD that correlates with the Georgia Standards of Excellence: English Language Arts. These can be accessed on the Cherokee County website.

Georgia Standards of Excellence: English Language Arts. Georgia Standards of Excellence add more rigor to the curriculum Focus on building knowledge through content-rich non-fiction and informational text Literacy standards for all content areas Reading and writing grounded in evidence from text

What is the format for the class? We will use the textbook for short stories, poetry, and nonfiction selections. We will read two novels and one autobiographical text this year. Students will be required to keep a notebook in which they will keep all of their reading materials.

How will my child be prepared for GMAP? Students will be given practice tests, warm- ups, and test taking skill reminders throughout the year. We will practice writing constructed response questions all year.

I look forward to a successful year and hope my excitement for reading will inspire your child as well. Please contact me anytime throughout the year when a question or concern arises.

FAQ What novels will be read this year? –The Giver by Lois Lowry –The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis What nonfiction text will be read this year? –Woodsong by Gary Paulsen

FAQ Are students allowed to have e-readers in class? –Yes, students can have their e-readers for RC time. Do RC books have to be in a certain Lexile range? –Yes, but there is some leniency in regards to fiction texts. I am more strict with nonfiction texts.