Welcome to Mr. Welcome to Mr. Kiefer’s Grade 7 Kiefer’s Grade 7 Language Arts Language Arts

ClassClassProducing the readers, writers

and communicators of tomorrow.

Reading Reading CurriculumCurriculum

Novel unitsModel or “touchstone”

textsDeveloping a deeper

understanding of text

Novel StudiesNovel StudiesWhole class units: The Outsiders, The

GiverStudents are required to read at least

one book independently per month and to have a book on them at all times.

Reading circles are implemented for one novel study. Students analyze and discuss books in small groups of 3-5.

Model or Model or “Touchstone” “Touchstone”

TextsTextsWe read what we are writing at the time

Students learn to become better writers by emulating “the greats”

Students learn to be more independent as they deal with writing hurdles by consulting model texts

Developing a Developing a Deeper Deeper

UnderstandingUnderstandingInitial Understanding Basic plot comprehension

Interpretation Making inferences, understanding

characters’ motivationsAnalysis

Developing a critical stance about an author’s sense of purpose, understanding literary themes

Writing Writing CurriculumCurriculum

Narrative

Literary Analysis

Persuasive essays

The Writing Process—prewriting, drafting, revising, editing

Narrative Narrative WritingWritingMemoir

A short narrative about a meaningful moment in one’s life—perhaps an epiphany

Short stories Their favorite unit that really lets the

creative juices flow!“Snapshot” writing

8-10 sentence paragraphs that focus on a single moment in time

Varied sentence structure, sensory details, and mechanics are stressed.

Persuasive Persuasive WritingWriting

One formal drafted essay Personal cover letter, hot topic issue

editorial

CMT preparation

4 practice prompts throughout the year

Elaboration, organization, fluency

Literary Literary AnalysisAnalysis

The focus is on critical thinking Theme, character analysis, author’s

purposeBook Review or Theme Paper

Not a book report!

SpeakingSpeaking Round table class discussions about

literature as students find meaning in texts

Oral presentations

Grammar and Grammar and PunctuationPunctuationDeveloping complex sentence

structuresComma rulesRun-ons and fragments be gone!Parts of speechMini-units as neededEmphasis on the editing stage of

every writing unitMORE ACCOUNTABILITY THIS

YEAR.

Spelling and Spelling and VocabularyVocabulary

Bi-weekly Spelling quizzes from lists that

emphasize spelling rulesPersonal spelling listsVocab words drawn from texts we

read in class

What can parents What can parents do to help do to help

students be students be successful?successful?Check my Web page

Encourage reading at home www.scrantonlibrary.com/teen/

index.htmE-mail me with any questions or

concerns