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Mr. Eric Beers
Welcome to Grade 7 English: Students in English earn a letter grade in each of 4 areas - Language, Composition, Literature, and Conduct. In Language, students are expected to master an understanding of sentence types and kinds, clauses and phrases, the 7 main parts of speech, and punctuation. Students can expect weekly vocabulary exercises and vocabulary quizzes on a regular basis, as well as daily grammar and word study at the beginning of each class period. Students will have tests on grammar on a regular basis. In Composition, students will write on a regular basis. While the focus is narrative writing, students will use the Writing Process to write expository pieces - from Open-Response paragraphs to multi-paragraph essays. Students will also write poetry, and will engage in writing research papers in conjunction with the study of Literature. In Literature, students will read teacher-directed novels and will be expected to complete out-of-school reading as well. At the start of the school year, students received a Required Outside Reading Chart. Students are expected to fill in information about the books they have read. Parents should review and sign the sheet, verifying the title, author, dates, and pages. Click Behavior-Conduct-Participation Rubric to see a copy of the Required Outside Reading Chart. Students are assigned a letter grade for Conduct. Click Behavior-Conduct-Participation Rubric to see the rubric (which explains House 2 expectations for student behavior, conduct, and participation). Homework: Click homework list for a look at current and past assignments. Click grading criteria for a look at the rubric that House 2 teachers use to grade homework. I expect students to work on English homework for no more than 30 minutes each school night. If the English homework assignment can be completed in under 30 minutes, the balance of time must be spent reading a Free-Reading book. In the event that no homework is assigned, students are expected to spend the entire 30 minutes reading. English Class: The study of English is divided into three categories - Language, Composition, and Literature. Students will read and study literature this year by looking at one particular theme. In grade 6 English, the literature theme was: "The creation of one's identity is a journey of self-discovery that leads to an active process of change." In Grade 7, English teachers have created a theme that connects the theme studied last year in grade 6 to the theme studied in grade 8. The grade 7 theme is: "Through the journey of self-discovery, an individual sees beyond the boundaries of his or her culture, interacts with his or her community and society, and comes to a new and meaningful understanding of the world at large." In Grade 8 English, students look at how an individual can make change in society. Students will write expository pieces and descriptive pieces with the goal of increasing skill sets in composition. The writing process will be emphasized so that students master brainstorming, writing full and complete first drafts, revising and editing, and writing final drafts. Students will be asked to create many of their writing pieces as in-class assignments. For language study, students will create presentations for class using Powerpoint or other presentation software. Additionally, students will study vocabulary and word, sentence, and paragraph structure. On a regular basis, students will be quizzed on material covered by classroom lessons or on exercises they have completed in a grammar textbook. School Supplies and Home Resources: House 2: Grade 7 students at the Peabody building are members of House 2, and are taught by Mr. Beers, Mrs. Harmon, Ms. Newhall, and Ms. Wong. While your House teachers will help you learn new ideas and concepts in grade 7, and you will carry this knowledge with you into grade 8, the teachers in House 2 have chosen some themes that we want you to think about throughout the year. These themes, also called Habits of Mind, are ways of thinking about your world, and we hope the ideas we present will stay with you well beyond your time in the Concord Public Schools. They are not sayings to be memorized; they are concepts that we hope will inform and frame the ways you think about your learning, your environment, and yourself. They are:
Units of Study:
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park Grammar: Grammar Gorillas Daily Grammar Rules and Exercises Grammar Guide The Misfits by James Howe Amazon.com Info Poetry: Poetry.com Multicultural Council of the Gods: MythWeb World Mythology Persuasive Writing: An organizer for writing. A quick look at organizing an essay. Multicultural Book Circles: This link is under construction. Narrative Writing: Essay skill tips. Essay prompts. Short Story: The Short Story 101 A How-To Guide. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor Amazon.com Info Final Exam: There are Final Exams at the end of the school year. One is for Language and one is for Composition. In Language, the final is cumulative from the beginning of the year. In Composition, all students will process a new piece in class in preparation for a presentation to the class. |
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