7th Grade Language Arts

Teacher: Ms. Mary Ellen Harmeyer, mharmeyer@stclarepdx.org

Daily Oral Language/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Writing/Literature
 Language arts is a comprehensive and integrated subject. We cover grammar, punctuation, writing, vocabulary development, and literature analysis. We complete a daily practice of grammar and punctuation exercises on the Smartboard and everyone gets a chance to correct on the Smartboard. We currently are utilizing the Literature: Reading with Purpose series from Glencoe for the basis of our literature reading and analysis. We will study literary elements and traits. In addition to the anthology, we also read several novels a year.

Every month we will complete a “Quick Write,” a creative writing exercise. We will use these pieces to practice our 6+1 Writing traits, peer proofreading, editing, and rubric scoring skills. We will take the monthly writing piece to a final writing piece.

7th Grade Syllabus 2012-2013

 

1st Trimester

Sept. 4 – Nov. 30

 

 

MAZE comprehension

testing #1

 

Literature Novels:  A Christmas Carol – in literature circles with Mrs. Napoli

 

 

Literature Anthology:

Unit 5: Is Progress Always Good?

 

 

Literary Elements: characterization, tone

 

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

 

 

 

Vocabulary

Unit 1-6

 

Writing Assessment #1

 

Grammar: review of types of sentences, subjects, verbs, clauses, phrases, commas

 

Writing Traits: thesis statements, conclusion statements; organization

 

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library and Computer Lab

 

2nd Trimester

Dec. 3 – March 7

 

 

MAZE comprehension

testing #2

 

Literature Novels:

A Christmas Carol (con’t);The Mighty -  in literature circles with Mrs. Napoli

 

 

Literature Anthology:

Unit 2: How Can We Become Who We Want To Be?

 

Literary Elements: point of view, setting, conflict, autobiography

 

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

Valley Catholic Speech Contest: Feb. 23, 2013

 

Vocabulary

Units 7-12

 

Writing Assessment #2

 

Grammar:  nouns, pronouns, pronoun antecedants

 

Writing Traits: voice, sentence fluency

 

 

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library and Computer Lab

 

 

3rd Trimester

March 8 – June 12

 

Stations of the Cross: March 21

 

MAZE comprehension

testing #3

 

Literature Novels:  Nothing But the Truth or The Pearl in small literature groups

 

 

Literature Anthology: Unit 4: Who Influences Us and How Do They Do So?

 

Literary Elements: style, resolution, tone

 

Sustained Silent Reading – reading response journals

 

 

 

 

 

Vocabulary

Units 13-15

 

Writing Assessment #3

 

Grammar: compound subjects, compound predicates;

 

Writing: word choice; persuasive techniques in media; persuasive writing; integrated project with Art on persuasive media writing

 

 

Monthly Quick Writes

 

Library and Computer Lab