Fleetwood Middle SchoolMrs. Langston7th Grade English/Language Arts (ELA)

Open House

Mrs. Langston

* Associates Degree from Luzerne County Community College in Early Childhood Education

* Bachelors Degree from Bloomsburg University in Elementary Education (K-8)

**Masters Degree from Lehigh University in Special Education

English certification 7th – 12th grade

+ 54 Credits

Contact information:

slangston@fleetwoodasd.k12.pa.us

610-944-7634, ext. 3223

7th grade English/Language Arts

Goals for the tonight:– To help parents understand the work their child will be doing

throughout the school year.

– To explain my expectations of their child.

– To share information about how parents can support their child’s learning.

Welcome Parents!

• Describe what the students will study during the school year, including the overall curriculum plans and goals.

• Suggest ways that parents can help their child learn, such as reading together for 20 minutes a day.

Curriculum Goals

Curriculum GoalsWriting:

• Students will write for a variety of purposes: narrative, explanatory/informative, and argumentative.

• MLA format must be used for typed work. (MLA format information will be sent home and found online and in notebook.)

• Please encourage your child to PROOFREAD FINAL WORK, whether written or typed. Spending extra time checking what is written can eliminate careless errors. (Reading both forward and backward is a good strategy.)

• Writing assignments turned in late are subject to loss of points.

Literature:

•Novel…Not yet decided on title

•Shorter works of a variety of genres

•Article of the Month (nonfiction article given on the first Friday of the month…due the following Friday)

Curriculum Goals

Grammar:

We do a variety of activities to practice grammar skills, from using the textbook or teacher- generated materials to practicing grammar skills in the writing assignments.

In addition, some memorization is used throughout the year.

Textbooks are not distributed. Instead, we use them in the classroom. Please feel free to request a book for home use if your child needs extra practice, is going to miss school for an educational trip, or has been absent.

Curriculum Goals

Spelling:

Weekly spelling tests are not given. Instead, spelling grades are given on their writing assignments and will count as quiz grades.

All misspelled words must be corrected. Checks are placed in the left margin so students can search for the misspelled words and spell them correctly.

There may be times during the year when the students will receive lists of commonly confused words that they will be required to spell, define, and use in sentences. (Examples: capital/capitol; all together/altogether; every day/everyday)

Curriculum Goals

Write an encouraging letter to their child.

On the index card that I handed out, please write a brief letter to your child encouraging them to try their hardest in 7th grade.

In-class Activity

Grading:

15% = Classwork

10% = Homework

25% = Writing

35% = Tests

15% = Quizzes

• Describe the amount of homework students can expect.

Class Information

• •Donations of used middle school level books are always welcome for the Room 223 class library.

• •Mrs. Langston participates in TAB/Scholastic book orders. Order online at www.scholastic.com/readingclub. Class code is – DWNYN

An added note related to READING:

• Explain Power Teaching and how it is a built in behavior system. (View short video clip of Chris Biffle, the founder)

1. Everyone Participates. No Exceptions!!

2. Help and encourage others.

3. Explain your answers and challenge each other.

4. Stay on task while working in groups. If work is completed early, read silently.

5. Complete the task.

Class Rules

• Assigns students to four member teams containing mix of abilities

• The teams choose their own name, class phrase, and they receive recognition for progress and ability to work as a team

• Teachers use strategies to deliver active, well paced instruction – timing is essential when using a variety of activities

• Teams have the opportunity to practice new ideas in their teams, learn with and from each other on mastering new skills before working as an individual for assessment

• Teams are given a point scoring sheet that acknowledges their progress and achievement in key areas

• Students benefit from the team, sharing and developing ideas. They gain support from their peers which allows them to consolidate understanding through their discussion with others

What is Power Teaching?

• It allows continual assessment• It allows individual and team feedback• It creates team interdependence• Students are motivated by common goal• Students take responsibility for their own

learning and that of others• Students translate teacher talk into kid

talk for one another• Less teacher talk, more student lead

What are the benefits?

• Students learn to see situations from another’s viewpoint and justify their own viewpoint. They analyze and refine their own understanding

• Improves classroom management

• Provides resolutions to classroom conflict

• Students (and teachers!) have fun with learning

• It provides a reward system with gems/rewards etc.

Continued…What are the benefits?

Why does it work?• It works on the basis of :

Equal opportunities for success

Individual accountabilit

y

Team Recognitio

n

Co-operative Learning Points There are five main areas for which teams can be awarded points in every

lesson

• Practice active listening skills

• Helping and encouraging each other

• Everyone participates

• Explain your ideas and tell why

• Complete tasks

Bonus points can be given for homework tasks and individual assessment scores

• 10% What we READ

• 20% What we HEAR

• 30% What we SEE

• 50% What we SEE and HEAR

• 70% What we DISCUSS with others

• 80% What we EXPERIENCE personally

• 95% What we TEACH to someone else

William Glasser’s Institute research says that we learn:

Effective learning within teams

Individuals become responsible for their own learning and that of others

Relentless learning – students never really have time to be off task

Learners teach each other

Learners become more focused on mastering a skill rather than completion of tasks

Students recognize understanding is their top priority

What makes it work?

Immediately before bedtime is “a time when information best

consolidates in long-term memory.” This is the time to drill math facts,

practice reading skills, or review for a test.

“When a child writes, he unknowingly lubricates many of his brain’s assembly

lines. Written output actually strengthens memory, language, attention to detail,

problem solving,and other powerful brain functions, and it

forces them to work together.”

“If you want to write well, it definitely helps to talk well. Encourage your children to verbally elaborate on topics, activities, or events that

interest them. Language is like a muscle – it has to be used strenuously

to become strong.”

From The Myth of Laziness by Mel Levine, M.D.

Questions?