Welcome to Mrs. Tiesse’s Advisory

AdvisoryAdvisory period: 8:20-8:30

Notes and office announcements

Role of Advisor Your child’s adult advocate at school Can assist with general questions and concerns Help students deal with absences both planned and unplanned

Specific class questions: ask teacher Specific administrative questions: ask Dr. Matthews

How to reach me: 847-256-5006 ext. 4108 ltiesse@kenilworth38.org

7th Grade Language Arts &

Literature

Joseph Sears School2013-2014

Linda Tiesse

7th Grade Language Arts

Writing

Grammar

Writing The writing process: pre-write, draft, revision, editing, and final copy

Six Traits: idea, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventions/presentation

Writing instruction will focus on these forms: writing good paragraphs clearly writing about what they read personal narrative persuasive research poetry note taking

Helping students at home…

Grammar

Text: Elements of Language

Grammar will be taught using mini-lessons.

Every student needs to have a Language Arts spiral.

Lessons will emphasize sentence structure, parts of speech, verb tense and punctuation.

Assignments

Students are required to use an assignment book.

Time will be given each day in class to record assignments.

Homework includes vocabulary, grammar, reading assignments, and long-term projects.

Long term assignment due dates will be posted on my web page.

Work Expectations If a major assignment is late:

1 day late – 10% grade reduction 2 days late – 20% grade reduction 3 days late – Final Grade 60%. Parents

notified. Students will make up work and possibly receive a detention.

If work is not completed, student will receive a zero.

Daily homework (grammar, vocabulary, literature assignments): Students receive a minus in grade book

for late assignments After 3 late daily homework assignments,

parents will be called.

Students are expected to make up all late work.

Students will not be allowed to retake tests or create extra credit to boost grades.

Neatness counts.

Grading Scale Supplies 100-99: A+ 98-93: A 92-91: A- 90-89: B+ 88-83: B 82-81: B- 80-79: C+ 78-73: C 72-71: C- 70-69: D+ 68-63: D- 60-0: U

•Students are expected to have their supplies in class. These supplies include, but are not limited to: writing utensils, paper, assignment notebook and books.

•Each student must have a spiral for Language Arts.

•I will periodically check to make sure students have their supplies. Missing supplies will result in a “zero” for homework that day. After three zeros, I will call home.

7th Grade LiteratureComprehension Skills

Literary Elements and Devices

Literature

Vocabulary

Comprehension

Metacognition

Definition: the awareness and analysis of one’s own thinking or learning processes

Helping students become more aware of what they are thinking while they are reading

Metacognition, cont. Monitoring for Meaning: knowing when you comprehend and when you

don’t

Connections: using background knowledge (schema) to connect what you are reading with what you already know

Determining Importance: deciding what matters most, what is worth remembering

Synthesis: the process of adding new information with background knowledge to gain a new understanding or confirm what you already know

Inferring: combining background knowledge with information from the text to predict, conclude, interpret, etc.

Questions: asking questions while you are reading

Images: using sensory and emotional images to deepen understanding

Lessons will also focus on:Evidence:

Finding evidence in a text to support conclusions, inferences, summaries, etc.

Literary Elements and Devices:

Setting, plot, characters, conflict, theme

Symbolism, foreshadowing, flashback, imagery, metaphor, simile, personification

7th Grade Literature Short Stories The Outsiders Civil Rights Unit: The Contender, Roll

of Thunder, Yankee Girl, Walter Dean Meyers Study

Non-fiction: Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World

Shakespeare: A Midsummers Night Dream

Biography: Abraham Lincoln Contemporary Fiction: Wednesday

Wars, Tangerine Historical Fiction: Woods Runner, My

Brother Sam Is Dead, Chains, Forged, Founding Fathers

Word Study (vocabulary) The goal of the Word Study program is to study new

words in authentic reading and writing activities.

Focus on roots and affixes

Words will be taken from Literature, Social Studies and Academic Word List.

Students will be asked to: Explore meaning of the words, write with the words,

annotate the words in texts and participate in different word study activities

Independent Reading Students will be assigned approximately six

Independent Reading Reports this year. They may choose any book they want to read, however, I must approve the choice.

Students are required to complete a project for each book. Projects will include writing, art and oral presentations.

The focus of the report is following directions and writing clearly about the book.

Due dates for projects will be given approximately one month ahead of time. .

Communication

Phone number: 847-256-5006 ext: 4108

Email: ltiesse@kenilworth38.org

I am looking forward to a great year!!