Room 265: Periods 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 Assignment Calendar:

http://www.manhassetschools.org/Domain/285

Extra Help: 7:30-8 AM Monday-Friday Periods 2, 4, 5 (M, Th, F), 6

Spelling Test Retakes at 8 AM Every Day

Michael_Koondel@Manhassetschools.org

English 7, Blue Team: Curriculum Map

1

Process Writing: “Wisdom, Courage, and Love” Project (summer reading:

persuasive extended response)

In-class Reading: Tex and CCLS-aligned non-fiction passages

Outside Reading: The Outsiders

On-Demand Writing: CCLS-aligned short and extended response essays (non-

fiction)

Reading Comprehension: ELA strategies and weekly CCLS-aligned multiple-

choice assessments (fiction and non-fiction)

Grammar: Parts of speech, weekly spelling/vocabulary tests, and mechanics/usage

assignments

Enrichment: Writing contests and “Overcoming Obstacles” personal narrative

2

Process Writing: “Stay Gold” Project (Outsiders and Sentries: narrative essay and

literary analysis essay)

In-class Reading : Tex and CCLS-aligned non-fiction passages

Outside Reading: Sentries

On-Demand Writing: CCLS-aligned short and extended response essays (non-

fiction)

Reading Comprehension: ELA strategies and weekly CCLS-aligned multiple-

choice assessments (fiction and non-fiction)

Grammar: Complete subject and predicate, phrases and clauses, weekly

spelling/vocabulary tests, and mechanics/usage assignments

Enrichment: Writing contests

3

Process Writing: “The Pearl of the World” Project (The Pearl: argument

essay)

Class Reading: Nightjohn/Sarny and CCLS-aligned non-fiction passages

Outside Reading: The Pearl

On-Demand Writing: In class single- and multi-paragraph expository essay

(ELA prep)

Reading Comprehension: ELA strategies and weekly CCLS-aligned

multiple-choice assessments (fiction and non-fiction)

Grammar: Kinds of sentences, pronoun/antecedent and subject/verb

agreement, weekly spelling/vocabulary tests, and mechanics/usage

assignments

4

Process Writing: The “Great Beings” Project (Diary of a Young Girl: MLA

Research Paper)

Class Reading: The Pigman and CCLS-aligned non-fiction passages

Outside Reading: Diary of a Young Girl

Reading Comprehension: ELA strategies and weekly CCLS-aligned

multiple-choice assessments (fiction and non-fiction)

Grammar: Sentence variety, weekly spelling/vocabulary tests, and

mechanics/usage assignments

Enrichment: Writing contests and “Gateway” portfolio

English 7, Blue Team: Curriculum Map

Homework Policy: All homework is due by 3:08 on the date assigned or points will be deducted for lateness.

Exams: Reading and writing skills will be assessed weekly, and all essays may be revised for extra credit. There will be no 7th grade English midterm or final exam, but a culminating MLA research paper will be assigned during the fourth quarter. The 7th grade NYS English Language Arts assessment will be administered in April.

Grades: Students are encouraged to keep current and accurate grade pages in the "Assessments" section of their English binders or in their planners. Individual assignment grades (other than pass/fail or checked work) will appear as fractions: the denominator indicating the total number of points possible for a given assessment, and the numerator indicating the total number of points scored. The final year grade will be an average of grades for each marking quarter, and all quarter/year grades will appear as alpha scores on the progress reports and report cards.

Enrichment: Students are strongly encouraged at any time during the school year to improve their grades by designing (with the help of parents and/or the English teacher) an independent study, extra credit project or projects. Project suggestions include, but are not limited to, outside readings, Indian Ink articles, writing portfolios, contests, essays, short stories, poems, narratives, and journals. Students may earn up to 20 points of extra credit per marking quarter.

English 7, Blue Team

Secondary School Testing Policy: Students may receive no more than three

assessments per school day. Tests, quizzes, and long-term assignments will be

posted in advance on the Assignments Calendar page of my teacher page on the

district website. English classes will assess students on odd days, only.

Spelling and Vocabulary Lists: Students will study ten spelling and vocabulary words

per week and are strongly encouraged to retake each list as many times as is

necessary until a score of 100% is achieved. Spelling retakes for all lists in a given

marking quarter are offered every morning at 8 am in this classroom (265), and the

only deadline is the end of the marking quarter. Students may retake one spelling list

per day, and only the highest score is counted. Since weekly spelling and

vocabulary lists are not conventional, terminal assessments, the odd-day testing

policy (above) is not applicable.

Peer Responder Mentor Program: Students have the opportunity to participate in the

Peer Responder Mentor Program, which is an optional resource for students to work

collaboratively throughout the school year with an assigned Peer Responder Mentor.

The goal of the program is to provide enrichment, remediation, and transition

support to Middle School students in all subject areas with an emphasis on the

essential skills of organization, task analysis and completion, time management,

exam preparation, and written expression. Students and PR Mentors will schedule

mutually convenient appointments as necessary before, during, and/or after school.

English 7, Blue Team

“Mr. Koondel, what can I do at home to help my child in English?” 1. Be sure to request a current grade page by email weekly, biweekly, or

monthly. Review current grades with your child regularly and set goals for improvement.

2. Consult Mr. Koondel’s on-line Assignments Calendar for pending

assignments, projects, and assessments. 3. Read and discuss weekly literature and non-fiction homework assignments

with your kids. 4. Finished with today’s homework? Students are more successful when

parents review the quality of completed assignments and consistently hold students accountable to parents’ expectations before assignments are submitted and graded.

5. No homework tonight? Really? How about creating an enrichment

assignment? Spelling list retake? Study for upcoming tests or quizzes? Reading homework? Long-term assignments?

6. Students benefit greatly when attendance is consistent and parents help

with time-management and general organization (lockers, book bags, binders, planners, paper, pens, and other essential daily materials).

English 7, Blue Team