Reading, writing, thinking, speaking, viewing, and listening for effective communication at the 7th

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Heitz, Nagel, Small
Assessment of Course Questions
7th Language Arts

• What How
• Concepts Tests, Quizzes,
• Responses
• Applications Writings, Projects,
  Presentations
• Examples Guided
• Independent Practice

Reading, writing, thinking, speaking, viewing,
and listening for effective communication at the
7th grade level

• What is literacy and how does it affect the
  quality of life for young adults?
• How does an understanding of word knowledge (e.g.
  spelling patterns, etymology, root words, base
  words, prefixes, and suffixes) develop literacy?
• How do authors select various literary genres and
  how does recognizing genre affect understanding
  of forms of communication?
• How does writing as a process develop and clarify
  ideas?
• How does knowledge of grammar, usage, and
  mechanics effectively communicate ideas?
• What are the 61 Traits of effective writing and
  how can knowledge of these traits improve written
  communication?
• What are effective speaking skills and how can
  those skills be applied in both formal and
  informal speaking situations?
• How does knowledge and application of reading
  strategies improve comprehension?
• How does text structure affect communication and
  reader understanding?
• What defines a life-long reader and learner and
  how are those characteristics fostered and
  enriched by pursuing individual interests through
  self-selected reading?

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7th Language Arts
Odyssey, assistive technology, after-school help
sessions, extra credit opportunities, alternative
tests and testing locations, alternative note and
lesson format, vocabulary enrichment
small and large group discussion, journal
writing, guided and independent practice, direct
instruction, independent reading, routine
recording of daily homework in planner, daily
agenda posted, Course Organizer, Infinite Campus,
website and/or parent newsletter, reading,
writing, and study strategies, note-taking, field
trips

• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Fairness
• Caring
• Responsibility
• Citizenship

• Speaking, Listening, Viewing
• Informal and formal speaking
• Note-taking
• Response to viewed material

• Guided Reading
• Elements of Literature
• Novels
• Odyssey

genre, literacy, plot, characterization, theme,
point of view, prose, poetry, literary criticism,
informational text, text structure,
compare/contrast, cause/effect, authors
argument, main idea, summarizing, evaluating
evidence, word meaning, etymology, word parts,
parts of speech, writing process, 61 Traits,
speaking, listening, viewing

• Self-Selected Reading
• Fiction and nonfiction
• 10 minutes daily in class
• Average of 120 minutes weekly outside of class
• Goal of 25 books completed by end of school year
• Book talks

• Writing
• Memoir
• Dramatic script
• Literary response essay
• Persuasive essay
• Public service announcement
• Poetry

• Working with Words
• Spelling Connections
• Knowledge rater
• Vocabulary enrichment