Welcome to 7th Grade
 English Class with Ms. Van Fleet





Reading,  Writing,  Speaking,  Listening
Our goals are to develop thinking and decision-making skills, and to clearly communicate thoughts orally and in writing.  My approach is to foster a love of reading and communicating as an exciting, interesting and integral part of growing up. Most importantly, I strive to make learning relevant to students’ lives –- both today and throughout their future.




Week of Nov. 16-20


State reading standards to be addressed this week:

Practice reading from a variety of genres with accuracy, automaticity (immediate recognition), and prosody (expression).

Acquire and use new vocabulary in relevant contexts by identifying word origins, roots and patterns. This week we introduce Word Detective, a unit on origins of the English language.

State language arts standards to be addressed this week:

Write persuasive text with an opinion statement, supporting evidence, persuasive techniques, and accredited sources of information.

Apply and practice the five-step writing process and the six writing traits for persuasive writing.

Mon., Nov. 16:
Review:  Smiley Face Tricks to improve writing.
Activities:  Groups read about/determine authorís purpose from Buckle Down AIMS prep workbook.
Pair-share to distinguish fact from opinion.
Follow your T Map to draft persuasive paragraph. Underline supporting details.
View Part 2 of Akeelah and the Bee.
Homework:  Complete rough draft essay if done done in class.

Tues., Nov. 17:
Lesson: Intro to Word Detective ñ take Cornell Notes.
Activities:  Peer edit of draft paragraph; revise accordingly.
Add to and practice root words with flashcards.
View conclusion of Akeelah and the Bee.
Reading groups analyze lessons learned from the film.
Homework:  Study Spelling List I, col. 3 for weekly quiz.

Weds., Nov. 18:
Review:  English origins from yesterdayís lesson via a White Quiz.
Lesson:  Anglo-Saxon word clues 1-6.
Assessment:  Weekly spelling quiz from list of most frequently misspelled/confused words.
Write final persuasive paragraph to turn in with T-Map.

Thurs., Nov. 19:
Periods 2, 6 and 7 meet in C-101 Computer Lab.
We will go on a Cyberhunt as background for our new novel.
Activity:  Groups work on design of their utopian community.
Homework:  Finish reading first two chapters of novel if not done in class, pgs. 1-19.
Fri., Nov. 20:
Lesson:  Anglo-Saxon word clues 7-11.
Activities:  "Relay Race" with review questions.
Philosophical Chairs discussion on topics from studentsí persuasive paragraphs.



*  Important information about Study Island
Study Island web-based lessons are available for 7th grade reading and writing subjects.  We have limited class time available in the computer lab, but your student also may use this learning tool from any computer at any time.  All you need is a computer with an Internet connection. Students simply logon to www.studyisland.com with their assigned i.d., and they will access their own file at the level they last completed.

I require that students first read the lesson on each topic, then answer 10 questions in test mode.î Once they earn a ribbon (either blue or white), they may choose from a dozen game modes for that topic.

Study Island enables students to interact with thousands of questions, then automatically and instantly corrects, grades and records all student work. I also have access to detailed real-time progress reports for individual students as well as each class as a whole.  Study Island topics cover and directly align with all of the standards that are tested through Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards.

I have chosen and calendarized the appropriate reading and writing topics for my English classes.  Students earn 10 points for each Study Island ribbon in assigned topics according to this schedule:

First Semester:

Reading (Pretest must be completed before accessing topics.)
Part 2.  Reading Process (Strand 1)
a.  Root Words and Affixes
c.  Multiple Meaning Words
d.  Determining Figurative Language
Part 3.  Comprehending Literary Text (Strand 2)
a.  Analyzing Plot
c.  Describing Characters
h.  Identifying Genres
Part 4. Comprehending Informational Text (Strand 3)
c.  Distinguishing Fact and Opinion
k.  Understanding Persuasive Text

Writing
Part 2.  Writing Components (Strand 2)
h.  Parts of Speech

Part 3.  Writing Applications (Strand 3)
b.  Letters
c.  Persuasive Argument
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General Information about
 7th Grade English with Ms. Van Fleet


Formatting Guidelines for Writing Assignments

If typing:
Grades are assessed through a variety of methods.  

English grades comprise both Reading and Language Arts subjects.  Graded assignments may include:
        -  comprehension and analysis of various reading genres
        -  participation in reading circles, pair-share and group activities
        -  vocabulary skills
        -  research, summarization and note-taking from written materials
        -  a choice of final reading projects when we conclude a class novel
        -  writing assignments, including essays, stories, letters, poems and reports
        -  weekly spelling and grammar quizzes

Note:  A student who fails an English test has an opportunity to make up points by correcting mistakes on the test or completing a worksheet that reinforces the skills assessed in the test.

In addition, students may earn up to 100 points each grading period for keeping a neat, complete English notebook.  This should be a separate spiral notebook used daily for:
        -  warm-up work at the beginning of the period
        -  note-taking during class lessons and research projects
        -  vocabulary and spelling lists
        -  pre-writing and rough drafts of writing assignments
In addition to being part of students’ grades, English notebooks often may be used for open-book tests.


Homework is assigned two or three times each week, and is weighted in students’ quarterly grades.  They usually don’t have homework on weekends, but may have make-up work.

Late homework is not accepted, except in cases of excused absences.  Students have one extra day per each day of absence to submit missed homework.  Students should pick up assignments from the drawer marked “Make-Up Work” when they return to class.

Daily assignments are posted on the board in the classroom.  Students are responsible for recording homework, class assignments and test dates in their planner.  In addition, assignments are updated on my Home Page each Monday.


Disclaimer for hot links: When you leave Ms. Van Fleet's web page and the Paradise Valley School District server, PVUSD has no responsibility for the content beyond this point. The Internet is a highly volatile place and pages change suddenly and rapidly. Because we believe that everyone has the right to exercise personal freedoms, we make no attempt to control or even monitor another person's values or tastes. It is not unusual to find information or images that are objectionable. Proceed at your own risk.

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Webmaster:  Barbara Van Fleet, 7th grade English

Last Updated: Nov. 16, 2009