Mt Dora Middle School
7th GRADE INTENSIVE READING
COURSE SYLLABUS
August 2013 – June 2014
Planning period: 6th Period 3- 4pm
(Conferences must be pre-arranged)
Classroom phone will create email when
parents leave messages.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary to read for both
pleasure and purpose. The students will focus on increasing vocabulary as well as applying reading
strategies that will help with comprehension. The goal of the course is to guide students to become
proficient, fluent, and excited independent readers, as well as effective writers. Students who
enter the 7th grade with a foundation in fiction, drama, poetry, mythology, and literary nonfiction
will have many opportunities to read and analyze challenging text: nonfiction literature and
informational text from various angles, to view literature in historical context, and to observe
connections between literature and the arts. The 7th grade reading course is taught using the
Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS) encourages reading, writing, listening, and speaking in
groups and as individuals. In addition to discussing and writing about works, students should
memorize poems and excerpts of speeches and learn to deliver them with expression.
 Students must read selected text from the READ180 library, public library, school media
center, and classroom library.
 Students will be expected to give oral presentations, formal written reports, and complete
projects in groups as requested by teacher.
 Students will be expected to incorporate, listening, speaking, and writing in their course
work.
Required Materials:
 1 in binder
 Loose leaf Paper
 Spiral notebook
 Sharpened Pencil and Blue or Black Pen (no colored gel/glitter pens or colored ink will be
accepted)
 Highlighters,
 Correcting pens (red or green)
 Sticky notes/post its
Teacher: Dr. Opal Mahoney
Rm. 9-120
E-mail: mahoneyo@lake.k12.fl.us
Phone: 352 383 6101 Ex2891
Grading Procedures
The Lake County School Board policy has mandated the following grading scale:
%
Letter Grade
Progress
CIS
90 – 100
A
Outstanding
Proficiency
80 – 89
B
Above Average
Developing
70 – 79
C
Average
Emerging
60 – 69
D
Lowest Acceptable
Beginning
The CIS grading rubric is posted in every MDMS classroom
The student’s grades will be calculated based on a point system. The grade will be based on the
amount of points earned by the student divided by the total amount of possible points.
Grades may not appear immediately after they are turned in but they will be placed in a reasonable
amount of time so that we can help the student achieve his/her academic goal before any progress
reports or report cards are distributed. Students earning less than a B average will take home
weekly progress reports on Fridays as parent contact. Grades will be available for parents and
students to view through eSembler. Parents are encouraged to review eSembler with students or
allow students to create an eSembler account of their own. Parents and students will be expected
to create an eSembler account as well as students. Notifications will be generated to parents on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week, via email. Please feel free to contact me if you have
any concerns or need clarification. If you do not receive notifications please contact me as soon as
possible and provide your email. If you do not set up your eSembler account ASAP then I cannot
send you these notifications via eSembler.
Dr. M’s Classroom Procedures

Bell Work: Each day, a bell work activity will be posted on the screen. Students are
expected to read and decide on an answer. When the clickers arrive and a database created
you will be expected to input your response using the clickers daily.

SSR (Sustained Silent Reading):
o SSR or Independent Reading is an integral part of this reading class
o As soon as the students arrive into the classroom, they will immediately settle into
their assigned seats and begin to read.
o Students MUST have a novel (whether it is one that the entire class is reading or
one that is chosen by the student and approved by the teacher) AT ALL TIMES
during the Intensive Reading class.

Restroom Breaks:
o Bathroom breaks will be kept to a minimum based on urgency or need.

Seating Arrangements:
o The teacher will assign seats. The students are to remain in their assigned desks
unless the teacher indicates otherwise.
Dr. M’s Classroom Rules
All students are expected to follow the rules stated in the Lake County Student Code of Conduct.
In addition, the following rules will apply in the classroom:



Be Prompt:
o Arrive to class and be seated before the late bell rings. Tardies will be subject to Lake
County and MDMD school policy requiring students to show a sticker with the time they
checked in at the attendance office.
Eating and drinking are NOT permitted inside of the classroom:
o All snacks, soft drinks, juices, or any other form of food and drink must be eliminated
upon entering the classroom.
o If you do chew gum, please dispose of it properly by wrapping it in a tissue and placing it
in the proper trash receptacles upon entering the classroom.
Show Respect for Self and Others
o Be mindful of your classmates “space” and treat each other with due respect.
o Never “borrow” or remove anything from a classmates backpack, pocketbook, pencil
case, etc. without acquiring permission from the owner – stealing is a referable offense
o All equipment inside of the classroom (audio-visual equipment, computers, printers,
desks, walls, etc. are property of MDMS and therefore Lake County School district.
Students must not damage this property in any way, shape or form, including scribbling
on furniture.
Showing respect includes not bringing or turning on any type of electronic devices
(ipods, cell phones, PSP, DS, etc.) while inside the classroom unless they are a part of
the Intensive Reading class.
Be prepared for class:
o Always have your materials at hand: your own pencil, pen, paper, reading novel,
notebooks, loose leaf paper, etc.
o If the teacher requests additional material for a project or special assignment, make
sure that you bring it to class on time when required.
o Apply good study habits; being prepared means coming in with homework assignments
completed, ON TIME and being ready to discuss assigned reading material, etc.
o Late work will be accepted per the LCSB Code of Conduct. If the student is out
when a long term project is due, the project shall be submitted when the student
returns to class. All assignments are posted and due dates noted in students’
agendas. Late work will be handled according to the LCSB policy for late
assignments.
o


Speak at appropriate times:
o Never shout out answers, wait to be called on.
o Only one person should speak at a time; when someone is speaking, everyone should be
listening.
o Use an appropriate tone of voice inside of the classroom.
o Know when to be quiet and when to speak

Remain on task:
o Come to do work for the Intensive Reading class only!
o Remaining on task means “sticking” to whatever task the class is working on.
o If you have completed the assigned task, ask the teacher for further instructions or
read your SSR novel while the other students complete their work.
o Never work on another class’ assignment with the teacher’s permission.

Show self control with language and behavior:
o Obscene or objectionable language is forbidden in the classroom.
o The classroom is not the place for “tantrums”, anger fits, shows of excessive emotion,
violence, etc.
o Any infraction to this classroom rule will result in parent conference and/or referrals.

Keep the classroom clean:
o All paper or pencil sharpening shavings should be disposed of properly in the
wastebasket.
o Nothing should be thrown on the floor or under any desks in the classroom (if you chew
gum, please place it in a paper before throwing it in the wastebasket…and never put it
under the desk!)
Movies viewed in the classroom for analytical review
Although viewing movies in the classroom is not a regular, routine activity, there will be times throughout the semester
during which a movie will enhance the student’s perception of a story or novel that has been read in class or may serve as a
lesson or motivation relating to classroom behavior and overcoming obstacles.
Please review the list of movies that may be shown in the classroom. The ratings given to the movies are provided. If you
have any objection to having your son/daughter view a specific movie, please let me know by indicating this on the attached
Return Receipt. If you have no objection, please mark the “Authorize” section. Your suggestions and opinions are highly
regarded and always respected. You will be notified if any new movies are added to the list.
Movies based on novels
Tuck Everlasting
Because of Winn-Dixie
Pride and Prejudice
Around the World in 80 Days
PG
PG
PG
PG
Motivational Movies
Dead Poets Society
Stand and Deliver
Lean on Me
Freedom Writers
Glory Road
The Pursuit of Happyness
Radio
Take the Lead
PG
PG
PG-13
PG-13
PG
PG-13
PG
PG-13
Movies for Entertainment
National Treasure
Secondhand Lions
Night at the Museum
Fat Albert
Clockstoppers
Cellular
Hairspray
The Game Plan
Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief
PG
PG
PG
PG
PG
PG
PG
PG
PG
Please return your signed acknowledgement of the syllabus, classroom rules, and fill in the requested
information by Friday, August 23rd, 2013 so that we can initiate and maintain parent/teacher
communication during the term.
Return Receipt
I have received a copy of Dr. M’s 7th grade Intensive Reading Syllabus for the term from August,
2013 – June 2014. I have read and discussed the syllabus completely with my son/daughter. We agree to
comply with the rules and regulations as established by Dr. M and Lake County Student Code of Conduct and
will be held responsible for any infractions as per school and county policy.
STUDENT’S PRINTED NAME: __________________________
Period: ___________
STUDENT SIGNATURE: _______________________________ DATE: ____________
STUDENT BIRTHDATE: _________________________
MOTHER/GUARDIAN NAME: _________________________________________________
FATHER/GUARDIAN NAME: __________________________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE: ________________________________
DATE: ____________
E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS:
_______________________________________________________________________
ALLERGIES, ILLNESSES, OR OTHER INFORMATION TEACHER SHOULD BE AWARE OF:
________________________________________________________________________
PHONE(S) TO CONTACT PARENTS:
Home Num.: ______________
Cell phone : ______________________
In case of emergency: ________________ Contact: ________________
BEST TIME TO CONTACT PARENTS: ________ AM
_______PM
*****************************************************************
I HAVE REVISED THE MOVIE VIEWING LIST AND
______AUTHORIZE
______ DO NOT AUTHORIZE
MY DAUGHTER/SON_______________________ TO SEE THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
_______________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE