Teacher- Mrs. L. Bezich
Course Outline
English Language Arts (ELA)
Grade 7
Fall 2011
COURSE EMPHASIS
An in depth study of core literature, as well as of writing as a process,
will be the two focal points in this course. Students will study literature
in order to improve their critical thinking skills, in order to make
personal connections and to have touchstone examples of a variety of
quality writing. Students will learn writing as a process by practicing
specific writing techniques in several of the writing domains outlined by
the California Standards and Framework for Middle School Language Arts.
CURRICULUM
* Textbook: Literature and Language Arts (Holt)
* Textbook: Handbook First Course (Holt)
* The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton
* The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 By Christopher P. Curtis
* The Giver By Lois Lowry
* Vocabulary lists, newspapers, videos, supplemental materials (poetry,
short stories, etc.)
Accelerated Reader (Students will read books and will be asked to take tests
in the Computer Lab to earn points. More information forthcoming.)
Study Island (A computer program that may be done on any computer.)
SUGGESTED MATERIALS
* Three-ringed notebook
* Spiral Notebook for Writer's Notebook
* Black and White Composition Book (or any other color) for Commonplace Book
* College or wide ruled paper (81/2 x 11)
* Colored markers and/or colored pencils
* Highlighter pens, two colors
* 2 ballpoint pens in either black or dark blue ink
* 1 ballpoint pen in red
* 2 pencils, No. 2 graphite
* School Planner (This should be in the student's possession every day.)
* A thesaurus and dictionary are recommended for home use, but not required
as in-class materials.
* It is also recommended that if you are able to purchase an individual
copy for your child of any and/or all of the core novels, mentioned, that
you do so. However, copies are available for class use.
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
Every student will be academically assessed on essays, Commonplace
Books, vocabulary lists, class work, homework, tests, and quizzes,
Accelerated Reader Points, Study Island, oral presentations, and group work. The student's class participation and completion of assigned work on time will determine
the effort grade. Classroom behavior and tardies will determine
the citizenship grade.
Grades start fresh every ten weeks. There will be four report cards, two each semester.
GRADING SCALE
Accelerated Reader/Book Project/Reading Logs 15% Writing Assignments/ Revisions 20%
Homework/Study Island/Classwork 15% Writer's Notebook Checks 20% Commonplace Book Checks 15% Tests and Quizzes 15%
CITIZENSHIP GRADES
E- Excellent S=Satisfactory N=Needs Improvement U=Unsatisfactory
ATTENDANCE AND TARDIES
Regular school attendance is vital to your child's education. Students who
are not physically present in the classroom will be marked absent. Please
notify the school when your child is going to be absent at (310) 533-4790.
Students who are not in their assigned seats when the bell rings will be
marked tardy. Tardies are disruptive and therefore will affect the
citizenship grade. Detention will be assigned when appropriate. Excessive
tardies in a semester may result in a U for that semester.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be assigned daily throughout the school week. Students are to
read at least 20 minutes per day (M-Th) and record it on the Reading Log.
Other assignments and special projects may require more time, such as the
weekends and/or vacations. Students may find long term projects and
deadlines on teacherweb.com under Richardson Middle School, Bezich and
Calendar. Daily homework is also to be written down in the Student Planner.
Every student should have a Study Buddy in each class to call if necessary.
MAKE-UP WORK
For each legal day of absence, a student will have one day to make up any
daily assignment. It is every student's individual responsibility to obtain
the missing assignment(s). Handouts are kept in the back of the classroom.
Any student returning from an absence is to check the Teacher Web or a Study Buddy's Planner. All makeup tests for absent students are given at lunch (usually on Wednesdays) by appointment with the teacher. It is up to the student to arrange to take the makeup test.
LATE WORK
First Semester- Late work will be accepted no more than five days after it is
due and will receive no grade higher than a C.
Second Semester-Late work will NOT be accepted except for an absence, see above.
Late work will also negatively affect the student's "effort" grade.
LONG TERM ASSIGNMENTS
Major essays, Commonplace Books, Writer's Notebooks,
Reading Logs, Accelerated Reader Points, Study Island and special projects that are
originally given more time to complete will NOT be accepted late any time.
Long Term Assignments must be in the day that they are due with no
exceptions. Arrangements need to be made to turn these assignments into
the teacher by a parent or another student should the student be absent that
day.
Extra Credit
Occasionally, Extra Credit is given to students. Students will only be given the extra credit
points if and only if their regular course work assignments are all turned in.
CITIZENSHIP
Students shall be responsible for obeying the class and school rules.
Classroom Rules will be discussed in class and posted.
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7th Grade ELA
Please read the Course Outline with your student, print it out, sign the following and
return to Mrs. Bezich in Room 31. The whole Syllabus will be attached to the Writer's Notebook as the first assignment. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
I have read the above standards and expectations and accept responsibility
for meeting them. I understand that Late Work will not be accepted after
the First Semester and Long Term Assignments will never be accepted late.
I also understand that Extra Credit points will only be given to the student if they have
completed regular course assignments.
X___________________________________
Print Students Name
X___________________________________
Students Signature
X____________________________________
Parent/Guardians Signature
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Date