ENGLISH Language ARTS Mrs. Kristi Choi

7th Grade (808)305­1289

kristi_choi@notes.k12.hi.us Course Overview The Language Arts (reading, writing, grammar, speaking, listening) are an extremely important part of your education. Students use skills developed in these disciplines in all areas of their schooling and life. Moanalua Middle School uses the state mandated curriculum, Springboard, which offers a proven Pre­AP program that increases participation and prepares a greater diversity of students for success in AP, college

and beyond. Based on College Board Standards for College Success and aligned to the Common Core State Standards, SpringBoard offers an integrated college readiness solution that includes a rigorous curriculum and formative assessments. Students are asked to bring in $13 (cash­exact change, or check made out to Moanalua Middle School) to offset the cost of the text.

To reinforce and provide practice in reading nonfiction text, as well as practicing test taking skills, students will be assigned online articles to read at a website used school­wide called TeenBiz (Achieve 3000). Students are pre­assessed to determine their reading levels, and any articles assigned by their teachers will be delivered to your child at his/her readability level. A short, multiple­choice activity will measure students’ comprehension of the article, and these scores will be counted as graded assignments. Students are always welcome to do other articles of their choice to help hone their skills.

Reading We all know the joy of finding a book that is “just­right” for us. When we are well matched with a book, reading can be one of life’s greatest joys; on the other hand, when a book is “all­wrong” instead of “just­right” for us, reading can feel interminable, humiliating, and tedious. There will never be a single litmus­paper test that can accurately match a student

with books, but as teachers we can make some progress toward this goal if we provide each student with four things: (1) the opportunity to choose books that he or she wants to read; (2) a community of other readers who promote and summarize and talk about books with enthusiasm; (3) books that are easy enough for the reader that he or she will be given lots of opportunities for highly successful reading; and (4) encouragement to occasionally read a text that is just a little challenging, and the scaffolding to make the experience fruitful. (From A CURRICULAR PLAN FOR THE READING WORKSHOP © 2011 by Lucy Calkins)

Writing 6 Trait Writing rubrics are used to develop students' writing skills in six different areas (ideas, voice, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions). In addition, Thinking Maps (8 different graphic organizers used school­wide) are integrated into lessons to make student thinking visible. The maps help students to organize their thoughts to communicate them more clearly through writing. This year there will be an added emphasis on argumentative writing as it will be one of the writing genres that will be required of students in the years to come. This genre includes persuasive and analytical essays. Other types of writing include narrative, informative/explanatory essays, poetry, response to literature citing evidence, making personal connections, summaries, annotating text, and note­taking.

Vocabulary Research has shown that vocabulary development is one of the key indicators to academic success in the Language Arts. Moanalua Middle School uses an online vocabulary program called Wordly Wise, along with classroom support activities, including the Class Blog.

Policies and Expectations* 1. Students will conduct themselves in a responsible manner. 2. Students will show respect for themselves, those around them, and their surroundings. 3. Disruption of the positive education environment will not be tolerated in any form, subtle or extreme. * All student rules and regulations in the student planner apply at all times.

Materials Students are required to bring a pencil or a pen, class notebook, a novel, any text we may be currently using, as well as a good attitude to class EACH day. Students will be assigned their own copies of any textbooks and some novels. Students are responsible for returning the texts in good condition. Students are required to keep ALL notes, handouts, tests, and assignments in an organized fashion until the end of each semester so that in the event that an assignment was mistakenly not recorded, proof can be provided. Classroom materials must be used with care so that all students can benefit from them. If you borrow an item, please return it to its proper place.

Typical Daily Schedule May consist of the following: 1. Teacher read­aloud 2. Daily Independent Reading Time (DIRT) 3. Grammar/spelling/punctuation exercise 4. Reading or writing mini­lesson (includes academic and content vocabulary) 5. Reading Workshop and teacher­student conferring 6. Writing Workshop and teacher­student conferring 7. Book talks 8. Reading and discussion of the genre we are studying 9. Journal writing

Written Work All assignments must be completed, properly labeled, and neatly written in complete sentences to receive credit. Full name, date, and period must be written in the upper right hand corner of your paper. It will be required that some assignments be typed. If a student does not have the resources to type at home, access is available to the computers at school. Any written work not completed in the time provided in class will become homework.

Article of the Week I use AoW for three things only, in order of priority:

1. Knowledge­building (in other words, to help you get smarter about the world 2. Increased reading volume (1­2 pages per week with this assignment) 3. Increased writing volume (250 words per week with this assignment)

Homework/Quizzes/Tests Homework is expected to be completed regularly and on time. Any assignment turned in late will be graded at the teacher’s discretion, when there is time, and after all work that was turned in on time. Do not ask when your work will be graded. Absences If an absence is excused, one day, or as many days as the student was absent, will be allowed to turn in make­up work. If a test or quiz is missed, please make arrangements with me to take it at a different time. Time will not always be available during class time and may have to be made up before / after school or during lunch. Please do not interrupt class to ask for absent work; instead you should: ask a classmate, check the class blog, or see the teacher on your own time. If you know of an absence ahead of time, please notify Mrs.

Choi in writing as soon as possible. If you are requesting work, please make sure to pick up assignments in the office on the day/s of the absence.

Common Core State Standards Standards can be found at: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA­Literacy/ Grading Each assignment is given a point value. Parents have access to their child’s grades and attendance online through our online system, JupiterGrades. Information was provided at Open House about how to access this information. Please use this site to periodically check whether your child has any missing assignments, tests, or projects. However please understand that Mrs. Choi does not update grades daily, but rather weekly or bi­weekly.

Grading Scale 90% ­ 100% A 80% ­ 89% B 70% ­ 79% C 55% ­ 69% D Below 55% F

Participation / Attitude Participation is an essential part of this class, as it facilitates student interaction and expression. Everyone is expected to participate. This can occur in any number of ways; sharing ideas, expressing opinions, volunteering to read a passage, asking a question, commenting on a topic at hand, or leading group work. Lack of participation will have a negative impact on the student’s grade, as will a consistently poor attitude, failure to bring materials to class, disruption of the learning environment, or not following directions.

Procedures 1. Students are expected to be in class consistently and to arrive on time (in assigned seat and ready to work when the bell rings). 2. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Working on homework for another class is not permitted, unless all work for this class is complete. 3. Helping another student is a great way for both students to learn, but copying is not. Copying another student’s work, with our without their permission, is cheating. Students will receive a 0% on the assignment and a discipline referral will be submitted.

4. Before being dismissed from class, all furniture and materials must be returned to the proper area and the floor should be clean. Students will be dismissed by the teacher. 5. Water bottles with lids are allowed in the classroom as long as it does not disturb the class. 6. Always put forth your personal best.

Mrs. Choi’s “Office Hours” If any student has questions about an assignment or needs extra help, he or she must take the initiative. You must sign in on the log in order to keep a record that you came for extra help. Students are to come in before school, during Advisory (get a blue pass from Mrs. Choi beforehand), or after school for assistance on M, Tu, or Th. Wednesdays are not usually available as teachers are in meetings during the afternoons. If it is not an urgent matter, you may also e­mail me and I will reply as promptly as possible.

Please go to this page: https://goo.gl/forms/5RboN0LUL0rQd3752 (case sensitive, 0=zero) Fill out the form acknowledging that you have read and understood all

of the information provided in this class syllabus. Your child will be entered into a drawing upon completion of form. Drawing to be held on Thursday, AUGUST 11, 2016.