Open House, Fall 2013
Language Arts and Reading now taught as two separate classes. Following Core Curriculum again this year. ◦ Reading focuses on reading strategies, while Language Arts focuses on grammar and writing. ◦ Test will still be CRCT – all necessary standards are incorporated. 7 th graders will also be tested in Sept. for eight days . These include the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the CoGat test. ◦ Units are theme based as opposed to genre based. ◦ There are two grading categories: Primary and Secondary. The syllabus explains this in detail.
Students will read one class novel per nine week period. ◦ First novel will be Monster by Walter Dean Myers. ◦ Students are expected to have a book with them everyday in class. There are NO reading logs this year. Yea! I do not assign a lot of homework, but I do expect students to be reading each night. Aim for at least minutes. Most work at home will entail long-term projects related to class novels. This class will focus on reading strategies for both fiction and non-fiction.
Students will focus on grammar and writing skills. Vocabulary books are new to the curriculum this year. Please make sure your child has purchased a book. They are $11 at The Husky Hut. Homework will usually be assigned if work is not finished in class. Shorter class periods may cause homework to increase!
Prentice Hall – Reader’s Journey (Reading consumable) McDougal-Littell – Literature ◦ Class set Interactive Reader and Writer (Reading consumable) Grammar workbook (Language Arts consumable) Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Level A (Language Arts consumable)
Language Arts morning sessions ◦ Every Thursday ◦ 1-2 LA teachers are available to help students Arrive at school by 8:15 most mornings ◦ If student needs to come in, let me know and I will make myself available. Study sessions when necessary After-school ◦ If student needs to come in, let me know and I will make myself available.
Blog ◦ ◦ AC Reading page ◦ Language Arts page Homework –Bolded for each class Updated several times a week. Agenda ◦ Students should write down work everyday in agenda. ◦ I attach handouts to the blog if available. ◦ me at
If you have questions, please me.