School phone: 770-707-2130

Planning Period: 12:40-1:20 Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Course Title: Language Arts                                                                                  Grade Level:  7^th

Prerequisites
A positive attitude, a willingness to think critically about writing and the ability to produce only your best work, no matter how many times I ask you to improve.

Course Description

The 7^th grade language arts program will follow the curriculum mandated by Georgia’s State Department of Education which includes, but is not limited to: demonstrating comprehension and showing evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts; understanding and acquiring new vocabulary and using it correctly in reading and writing; participating in discussion related to curricular learning in all subject areas; producing writings that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader; maintains a coherent focus throughout, and provides a satisfying closure; and demonstrating competence in a variety of genres.

Course Outline

The 7^th grade course outline follows the Henry County Curriculum Guide and the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS’s).  The GPS’s may be located at http://www.georgiastandards.org/ 

Grading Scheme

*Practice                                       50%

**Assessments                            35%

 Exams           (final/semester)          15%

 TOTAL                                    100%

*Practice includes homework, class work, participation, etc.

** Assessments include tests, quizzes, and projects.

Interactive Student Notebooks (ISN)

The ISN will be a section in your three-ring binder.  All notes and most work will be kept in each student’s ISN.   Each page will be numbered for ease of location. There will be occasional ISN checks.  These checks will count as a quiz grade.

Current Events

Current events are designed to show how the material we will be studying is related to real world events.  One current event will be due each six weeks as assigned by the teacher.  Students will be required find a current event dealing with the topic/unit we are studying.  Current events may be articles from the news paper, magazines, internet, etc. and may not be more than three months old.  Students will be required to write a summary of the article and their response to it.

Agenda’s

Students should record all homework, due dates, and upcoming tests dates in their agenda. Parents need to sign agenda’s nightly.  Agenda checks will be performed on a weekly basis. 

Expectations for Turning In Assignments

Students are expected to submit assignments on the date specified.  Missing homework assignments are defined as items left at home, left in another classroom, lockers, or incomplete assignments.  If the student is absent on the day the assignment is given, he/she will have time to complete the assignment. 

Late Work

Late assignments refer to any assignment that is not in class on date it is to be turned in.  Assignments that are turned left in lockers, at home, or in another classroom are still considered late even if it is turned in at the end of class or the end of the day!

All assignments turned in past the assigned due date/class time will be graded as follows:

One (1) day late ~ 10 points deducted

Two (2) days late ~ 25 points deducted

Three (3) days late ~ 50 points deducted

Absent Make-up Procedure

Any assignment and/or test announced before a student’s absence is the student’s responsibility to be prepared for that test and/or assignment the day they return to school.  Students are allowed to complete all missing work when absent within the time allotted for by the county.  If the student is absent, he or she should check the “Have You Been Absent?” notebook when he or she returns to school.  All classroom and homework assignments are listed in this notebook.  It is the student’s responsibility to obtain missing assignments and turn in said assignment within the allotted time.

Scheduled Help

A student needing extra help may make an appointment in advance for morning or after school help.  Arrangements must be made 2 days in advance with the teacher to avoid conflicts.  Students may also take advantage of a “Working Lunch.”

Behavior Management Plan

All students are expected to adhere to the HMS behavior management plan in addition to the Henry County School District’s policies listed in the student handbook.  In addition, ALL students are expected to participate in class discussions in a mature and responsible fashion.

Teacher/Parent Communication

Parents should check their child’s agenda daily to keep up with all “at home” and long term assignments.  Please note that incomplete class work becomes homework.  Grades will be sent home approximately every 6 weeks.

A copy of this syllabus will be available all year to download from Infinite Campus.

I have read and discussed the Language Arts syllabus with my parent/child.

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Student Signature                                                                 Date

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Parent Signature                                                                   Date