Middle School Language Arts
Mrs. Christine Clementi
My contact information:
clementic@archmil.org
sebsla@wikispaces.com
Classroom lessons and assignments will focus on four areas, the greatest focus being
writing and the application of vocabulary, grammar and usage within student writing.
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6+1 Traits of Writing
Vocabulary
Grammar and
Usage Concepts
The 6+1 Trait® Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment comprises 6+1 key qualities that
define superior writing. These are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency,
Conventions and Presentation. We will begin by defining each of the traits and completing
exercises using the different qualities. Students will then incorporate the traits into their own
writing.
Vocabulary Workshop by Sadlier-Oxford will help students expand their vocabulary, identify
parts of speech for correct usage and use new vocabulary in their own writing in the correct
context.
Grammar and Usage Concepts will be taught utilizing Daily Oral Language (D.O.L.), rules
of grammar & usage and students' own writing. Worksheets and textbook assignments for
reinforcement will also be included, as needed.
Daily Oral Language is a strategy for building student success in learning grammar and
usage, punctuation and spelling. A sentence is written daily on the chalkboard including
grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling errors. Students rewrite the sentence correctly.
As a class, we discuss the corrections (conventions) that need to be made and define why
they need to be made according to rules of grammar, usage and punctuation. DOL rules
and examples are written in the students' DOL binders on DOL Rules Sheets. Students
will then label the parts of speech in each sentence. DOL is done during the first 5-10
minutes of each class.
Grade 6 will focus on Vocabulary, Parts of Speech, Grammar and Usage and Writing Traits
from the 6+1 Trait® Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment.
Grades 7 & 8 will focus on Vocabulary and will continue to be centered on Grammar and Usage
as well as the Writing Traits from the 6+1 Trait® Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment.
Parts of Speech will be reviewed daily.
Major Writing Assignments (In Order):
Grade 6 – Fairy Tale, Explanatory Essay focusing on Organization, Letter Writing, Descriptive
Essay, Poetry Writing and a 1-3 page Research Paper including a Works Cited Page (6)
Grade 7 - Fictional or Autobiographical Narrative focusing on the development of a standard
plot line and character traits; Persuasive Essay, Descriptive Essay, Comparison/Contrast
Composition and a 3-5 Page Research Paper including an Outline, In-text Citations and a Works
Cited Page and the Newspaper Project (6)
Grade 8 - Fictional or Autobiographical Narrative focusing on dialogue, physical descriptions,
background descriptions and comparing and contrasting characters; Persuasive and Explanatory
Essays differentiating between fact and opinion; Washington, D.C. Oral Report/Presentation; 5-7
page Research Paper including an Outline, In-text Citations and a Works Cited Page (6)
and the Magazine Project, incorporating all genres of writing
* ALL Writing Assignments must be typed and double-spaced using a 12 pt font *
Students should type final papers two days before they are due in the event of computer
malfunction.
If you do not own a home computer, your child will need to make prior arrangements to use my
classroom computers after school.
If you do not own a printer, writing assignments can be emailed to me at clementic@archmil.org
Grade Calculation
Daily Assignments
Class Participation
Weekly Assessments
Tests
Writing Assignments
10%
10%
20%
25%
35%
Homework and Writing Assignment Policy
Students are able to redo daily assignments earning half credit for correct answers. Assignments
that are redone are due the following day – no exceptions. I encourage all students to correct
assignments showing that they understand the concepts taught. This is the only extra credit I
offer in language arts.
Late assignments will be given 75% credit for one day late, 50% for two days late and 25%
thereafter. Late assignments will not be accepted after one week.
I will post grades weekly on PowerSchool. Grades from the week will be posted over the
weekend. All assignments, due dates and deadlines will be posted daily on
sebsla@wikispaces.com
Please log-in to PowerSchool and Wikispaces weekly to stay informed about your child’s
progress.
Supplies Needed
Pencil and blue or black ink pen
Correcting pen or pencil (not black or blue)
Highlighters – 3 different colors
Notebook
Loose leaf Paper
1" Binder
Communication
The best way to communicate with me is through email. My email address is
clementic@archmil.org. I will check emails at the beginning of the day, at lunch time and at the
end of the day. I will try to respond the same day.
I will post notes, assignments, quiz and test dates, as well as writing assignment due dates on
sebsla@wikispaces.com. This is a great way to receive assignments and notes if the student is
absent.