Course Description: In seventh grade, students use diverse texts to respond critically, interpret messages, and analyze author’s purpose. Beyond examining assigned text, students develop personal reading goals throughout the year. Literature circles focuses on further exposing students to diverse texts while developing students' group discussion skills. Writing skills are taught and practiced through the use of mentor texts, mini lessons on both writing strategies and conventions, and peer editing. Process, collaboration, authentic experiences, and celebration are stressed throughout each unit. Seventh grade thematic units of study include: “Your Heroes, Your Inspiration”, “Your Differences, Your Connections”, “Your World, Your Future," and "Your Voice, Your Power."
Marking Period 1: Your Heroes, Your Inspiration
Using heroes as a guiding theme, students will interpret messages in texts and communicate their own understandings using evidence from various resources as they develop their ability to respond critically to texts using the claim, evidence, and reasoning paragraph structure. This first unit also builds understanding of basic sentence structures that provide a foundation for the year’s work with grammar. Students will also begin developing a personal independent reading goal.
Marking Period 2: Your Differences, Your Connections
Through the use of diverse texts, this unit uses the theme of relationships and the interaction between literary elements to analyze how writers bring personal stories to life through characterization, plot development, setting, and literary devices. This analysis may be fostered through the use of socratic seminars and blogging in the classroom.
Marking Period 3: Your World, Your Future
Students will be examining their relationship with the world and what impact they can have on issues that impact them. This theme allows students an entry point into texts that naturally employ charged opinion and distinct purpose to persuade. They will develop critical reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through research, essay writing, argument, and public speaking leading to a TED Talk style presentation. During this unit, students will engage in literature circles to foster reading enjoyment while simultaneously improving their group discussion skills.
Marking Period 4: Your Voice, Your Power
Each of us has a story to tell. This unit utilizes the study of mentor texts, writing skills, and collaborative communication skills. Students are exposed to the power of story as a way to change their lives and others’. Students explore the most effective way to share their own slices of story through mentor texts, mini-lessons on writing techniques, and peer editing. The capstone of this unit is a story celebration where writers’ work will be showcased for their peers, teachers, and community.
Marking Period 1: Your Heroes, Your Inspiration
Using heroes as a guiding theme, students will interpret messages in texts and communicate their own understandings using evidence from various resources as they develop their ability to respond critically to texts using the claim, evidence, and reasoning paragraph structure. This first unit also builds understanding of basic sentence structures that provide a foundation for the year’s work with grammar. Students will also begin developing a personal independent reading goal.
Marking Period 2: Your Differences, Your Connections
Through the use of diverse texts, this unit uses the theme of relationships and the interaction between literary elements to analyze how writers bring personal stories to life through characterization, plot development, setting, and literary devices. This analysis may be fostered through the use of socratic seminars and blogging in the classroom.
Marking Period 3: Your World, Your Future
Students will be examining their relationship with the world and what impact they can have on issues that impact them. This theme allows students an entry point into texts that naturally employ charged opinion and distinct purpose to persuade. They will develop critical reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through research, essay writing, argument, and public speaking leading to a TED Talk style presentation. During this unit, students will engage in literature circles to foster reading enjoyment while simultaneously improving their group discussion skills.
Marking Period 4: Your Voice, Your Power
Each of us has a story to tell. This unit utilizes the study of mentor texts, writing skills, and collaborative communication skills. Students are exposed to the power of story as a way to change their lives and others’. Students explore the most effective way to share their own slices of story through mentor texts, mini-lessons on writing techniques, and peer editing. The capstone of this unit is a story celebration where writers’ work will be showcased for their peers, teachers, and community.