1. Welcome to 7 th grade Language Arts Back to School Night 2015-16

2. Language Arts Curriculum Common Core Aligned ​ Shift away from what students will do to what students will learn – Focus on the skills, not “the book” – Pairing multiple texts to teach skills ​

3. Pennsylvania Standards 1.2 Reading Informational Text ​ Students read, understand, and respond to informational text—with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence. ​ Non-Fiction Literature Circles Paired texts: articles ​

4. Pennsylvania Standards ​ 1.3 Reading Literature ​ Students read and respond to works of literature—with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence. ​ Novels, short stories, poems Reading Workshop

5. Pennsylvania Standards ​ 1.4 Writing ​ Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content. ​ Focus: – Argumentative – Literary Analysis Narrative Informational

6. Pennsylvania Standards 1.5 Speaking and Listening ​ Students present appropriately in formal speaking situations, listen critically, and respond intelligently as individuals or in group discussions. Book talks Small group / whole class discussions

7. Pacing Guide Fall Units : Building a Community of Readers and Writers Two Sides to Every Story: Understanding Point of View in Literature Writing about Your Reading Grammar Unit #1 - Sentence Basics Grammar Unit #2 - Modifiers: Expanding the Simple Sentence

8. Pacing Guide Winter Units : Tackling Complex Literature Distinguishing Your Point of View: Reading and Writing Argumentative Texts Grammar Unit #3 – Building Sophisticated Sentences Grammar Unit #4 – The Power of Punctuation

9. Pacing Guide Spring Units : Reading and Understanding Non-Fiction Texts Responding to Non-Fiction Texts Be The Change: Researching and Arguing Debatable Issues Grammar Unit #5 – Avoiding Common Errors Grammar Unit #6 – Using Conventions to add Style

10. Outside Reading PCR=Personal Choice Reading 30 minutes of PCR most nights of the week or the equivalent of 80-100 pages per week Just Right – 18 pages in 30 minutes Reading is in addition to other assigned LA homework

11. Department Grading Policy Reading Grade 40% Writing Grade 40% Grammar Grade 15% Homework/Classwork 5%

12. A successful student… Makes reading outside of school a regular part of the homework routine. Reads teacher comments on writing to improve future writing pieces. Uses 8 th period to: – seek additional help and practice before completing homework. – initiate a writing conference. Uses technology to: – check my webpage AFTER 3:15 for homework when absent. – check my website for a copy of a missing paper prior to asking for another copy from me. – check Skyward regularly for missing assignments as well as grades. Shares what is being read and learned with others.

13. What you can do to help… Use my teacher websitewebsite Contact me with concerns – please give me 48 hours to reply unless it is an emergency Donate gently used books Scholastic Book orders, library trips Model reading – Newspapers, book clubs, novels – Pick up a copy of your child’s PCR book