METHACTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Norristown, Pennsylvania 19408-2011
COURSE TITLE:
Reading
GRADE LEVEL:
Seven
DATE REVISED:
July/August 2006
LENGTH OF COURSE: one school year
I.
DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the Methacton School District to help prepare students for meaningful
participation in an increasing diverse world.
In pursuit of this mission, the Methacton School District will:



II.
help each student develop his/her potential
nurture an appreciation for life-long learning
graduate students who can think critically and creatively, communicate
effectively, and adapt to a changing environment
SUBJECT AREA MISSION STATEMENT
Students completing Seventh Grade Reading will be able to show growth and application
of basic comprehension, critical reading skills, and vocabulary development.
III.
GRADE LEVEL/COURSE PURPOSE
The course purpose is to develop an understanding and appreciation for the following:



IV.
To provide exposure to various literary genres
To instill an appreciation for the importance of reading
To develop the skills necessary for higher order thinking which enable
understanding of various genres of literature and content area reading
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Please see the following page.
Page 2
IV.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
CHAPTER/PAGE
CONTENT FOR MAJOR UNITS OF STUDY
PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS (Activities)
MATERIALS
INSTR
TIME
1.1. Learning to Read Independently
Grade 7 Anthologies:
Adventures for Readers
Blueprints
Doorways
Explorations in Literature
Houghton Mifflin
Literary Readers
Prentice Hall Literature:
Bronze
Teacher Selected
pages/chapters from
novels or anthologies
and/or teacher-designed
materials
A. Locate appropriate texts (literature, information, documents)
for an assigned purpose before reading.
 Match texts to purpose
 Identify and locate information for specific assignment
 Access various sources relevant to assignment
B. Identify and use common organizational structures and
graphic features to comprehend information.
 Apply knowledge of physical layout in texts to ascertain
meaning
 Idendtify and apply knowledge of editorial features i.e.
footnotes, citing, bibliography
 Locate and use reference aids in texts (glossary)
A.
1-2 weeks
1.
2.
3.
Teacher
Selected
pages/chapters
from novels or
anthology
3 weeks
B.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Anthology Selections:
“Seventh Grade” by Gary
Soto
“A Christmas Carol” by
Charles Dickens
“In the Shadow of Man”
by Jane Goodall
“Seti’s History Lesson”
“Fog Horn” by Ray
Bradbury
“The Monsters are Due on
Maple Street” by Rod
Serling
“You Can’t Take it With
You” by Eva-Lis Wuorio
“Rain, Rain, Go Away”
by Isaac Asimov
Mythology Unit in
Adventure for Readers
“No Gumption” and “Not
Poor, Just Broke” by Dick
Gregory
“Wonderful Things” by
Various internet
research activites
Library research
activites
Other reference
activities
5.
Graphic Organizers
Published skills
pages from
anthology
Teacher-made
skills sheets
Guided Reading
Activities
Graphic organizers
Content area
textbooks
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary
Workshop
Level B
Novels
C. Use knowledge of root words as well as context clues and
glossaries to understand specialized vocabulary in the content
areas during reading. Use these words accurately in speaking
and writing.
 Apply and use new words to extend vocabulary practice
 Recognize, identify, and apply multiple meaning
 Identify denotation and connotation
 Locate and identify etymology of vocabulary
C.
4 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D. Identify basic facts and ideas in text using specific strategies
(e.g., recall genre characteristics, set a purpose for reading,
generate essential questions as aids to comprehension and
clarify understanding through rereading and discussion).
Personal
Dictionaries/vocab
lists
Published skills
pages from
anthology
Teacher-made
skills sheets
Guided Reading
Activitiesvocabulary based
Vocabulary
Workshop pages
D.
1.
2.
Pre-reading
Activites
Small/large group
Audio Books
Published/teach
er-made skills
sheets/tests
Various
Graphic
Organizers
Literature
Circle Role
Sheets
Page 3
Howard Carter
“The Medieval Village”
by Marjorie Reeves



3.
4.
5.
Infer
Compare/contrast characters and situations
Recognize cause/effect in fiction/nonfiction
6.
Teacher Choice of any of
the following novels:
Banner in the Sky
The Dark is Rising
The Endless Steppe
Door in the Wall
The Hobbit
The Midwife’s
Apprentice
A Wrinkle in Time
Dicey’s Song
Holes
The Outsiders
Homecoming
Current Seventh Grade
science, history, and math
textbooks
Vocabulary Instruction:
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary Workshop
Level B
E. Expand a reading vocabulary by identifying and correctly
using idioms and words with literal and figurative meanings.
Use a dictionary or related reference.
 Locate examples of figurative language in assigned
literature
 Make text to text connections through figurative language
 Apply use of figurative language in writing
E.
3 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
F.
Understand the meaning of and apply key vocabulary across
the various subject areas.
 Use context clues to extrapolate meaning across
curriculum
 Apply and recognize vocabulary from stories and Sadlier0xford Vocabulary Workshop Level B in all facets of the
curriculum
 Practice and interact with vocabulary words through
word analysis and other activities
Personal
Dictionaries/vocab
lists
Published skills
pages from
anthology
Guided Reading
Activities
Teacher-created
materials
F.
4 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
G. Demonstrate after reading understanding and interpretation of
both fiction and nonfiction text, including public documents.
 Make, and support with evidence, assertions about texts.
 Compare and contrast texts using themes, settings,
characters and ideas.
 Make extensions to related ideas, topics or information.
 Describe the context of a document.
 Analyze the positions, arguments and evidence in public
documents
discussions
Literature Circles
Reading Journals
Published pages
from anthology
Graphic Organizers
Personal
Dictionaries/vocab
lists
Published skills
pages from
anthology
Teacher-made
skills sheets
Guided Reading
Activitiesvocabulary based
Graphic organizers
G.
5 weeks
1. Small/large group
discussions
2. Literature Circles
3. Debates
4. Fact vs. Fiction
activities
5. Graphic Organizers
Page 4
H. Demonstrate fluency and comprehension in reading.
 Read familiar materials aloud with accuracy.
 Self-correct mistakes.
 Use appropriate rhythm, flow, meter and pronunciation.
 Read a variety of genres and types of text.
 Demonstrate comprehension (Standard 1.1.8.G.).
Grade 7 Anthologies:
Adventures for Readers
Blueprints
Doorways
Explorations in Literature
Houghton Mifflin
Literary Readers
Prentice Hall Literature:
Bronze
1.2. Reading Critically in All Content Areas
Teacher Selected
pages/chapters from
novels or anthologies
and/or teacher-designed
materials
A. Read and understand essential content of informational texts
and documents in all academic areas.
 Differentiate fact from opinion utilizing resources that go
beyond traditional text (e.g., newspapers, magazines and
periodicals) to electronic media.
 Distinguish between essential and nonessential
information across texts and going beyond texts to a
variety of media; identify bias and propaganda where
present.
 Draw inferences based on a variety of information
sources.
 Evaluate text organization and content to determine the
author’s purpose and effectiveness according to the
author’s theses, accuracy and thoroughness
Anthology Selections:
“Seventh Grade” by Gary
Soto
“A Christmas Carol” by
Charles Dickens
“In the Shadow of Man”
by Jane Goodall
“Seti’s History Lesson”
B. Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the
quality of material produced.
 Compare and analyze how different media offer a unique
perspective on the information presented.
 Analyze the techniques of particular media messages and
their effect on a targeted audience.
 Use, design and develop a media project that expands
H.
5 weeks
1. Oral reading in
partners, small groups,
or whole class
2. Published and
teacher-made
comprehension
assessments
5. Small/large group
discussions
6. Literature Circles
7. Modified Running
Records
8. reading journals
9. graphic organizers
10. Accelerated
Reading Tests
A.
1. Debate
2. Persuasive Essays
3. Graphic Organizers
4. Interactive Media
Projects
5. Teacher-generated
Materials
6. Reading Journals
7. Small/Large group
discussions
Teacher
Selected
pages/chapters
from novels or
anthology
2 weeks
Content area
textbooks
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary
Workshop
Level B
B.
Novels
1. Interactive Media
Projects
2. Small/large group
discussions
3. Debates
4. Graphic Organizers
Audio Books
Published/teach
3 days
Page 5
“Fog Horn” by Ray
Bradbury
“The Monsters are Due on
Maple Street” by Rod
Serling
“You Can’t Take it With
You” by Eva-Lis Wuorio
“Rain, Rain, Go Away”
by Isaac Asimov
Mythology Unit in
Adventure for Readers
“No Gumption” and “Not
Poor, Just Broke” by Dick
Gregory
“Wonderful Things” by
Howard Carter
“The Medieval Village”
by Marjorie Reeves
Teacher Choice of any of
the following novels:
Banner in the Sky
The Dark is Rising
The Endless Steppe
Door in the Wall
The Hobbit
The Midwife’s
Apprentice
A Wrinkle in Time
Dicey’s Song
Holes
The Outsiders
Homecoming
Current Seventh Grade
science, history, and math
textbooks
Vocabulary Instruction:
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary Workshop
Level B
understanding (e.g., authors and works from a particular
historical period).
C. Produce work in at least one literary genre that follows the
conventions of the genre.
 Produce an original work which utilizes all the elements
of a particular genre
5.
Teacher-generated
materials
er-made skills
sheets/tests
C.
2-3 weeks
1. variety of genre
examples
2. graphic organizers
3. peer conference/edits
4. self- assessment
5. publish works
6. presentations
Various
Graphic
Organizers
Literature
Circle Role
Sheets
Page 6
Page 7
IV.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS - continued
CHAPTER/PAGE
Grade 7 Anthologies:
Adventures for Readers
Blueprints
Doorways
Explorations in Literature
Houghton Mifflin
Literary Readers
Prentice Hall Literature:
Bronze
CONTENT FOR MAJOR UNITS OF STUDY
1.3. Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting
Literature
A. Read and understand works of literature.
 Apply and facilitate the use of metacognitive strategies to
literature
 Demonstrate comprehension
 Self to text connections; text to world connections
PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS (Activities)
A.
1 . Oral reading in
partners, small groups,
or whole class
2. Published and
teacher-made
comprehension
assessments
3. Small/large group
discussions
4. Literature Circles
5. Modified Running
Records
6. reading journals
7. graphic organizers
8. Accelerated Reading
Tests
9. Graphic organizers
Teacher Selected
pages/chapters from
novels or anthologies
and/or teacher-designed
materials
Anthology Selections:
“Seventh Grade” by Gary
Soto
“A Christmas Carol” by
Charles Dickens
“In the Shadow of Man”
by Jane Goodall
“Seti’s History Lesson”
“Fog Horn” by Ray
Bradbury
“The Monsters are Due on
Maple Street” by Rod
Serling
“You Can’t Take it With
You” by Eva-Lis Wuorio
“Rain, Rain, Go Away”
by Isaac Asimov
Mythology Unit in
Adventure for Readers
“No Gumption” and “Not
Poor, Just Broke” by Dick
Gregory
“Wonderful Things” by
Howard Carter
“The Medieval Village”
MATERIALS
Teacher
Selected
pages/chapters
from novels or
anthology
INSTR
TIME
5 weeks
Content area
textbooks
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary
Workshop
Level B
Novels
Audio Books
B. Analyze the use of literary elements by an author including
characterization, setting, plot, theme, point of view, tone and
style.
 Demonstrate understanding of literary elements
 Locate and identify elements in various forms of
literature
 Produce examples of elements through creative writing
 Text to text comparisons
5 weeks
B.
1. Personal
Dictionaries/vocab lists
2. Published skills
pages from
anthology
3. Guided Reading
Activities
4. Teacher-created
materials
5. Graphic organizers
6. Supplemental novels
7. Reading journals
8. Student writing
9. Collaborative
assignments
Published/teach
er-made skills
sheets/tests
Various
Graphic
Organizers
Literature
Circle Role
Sheets
Page 8
by Marjorie Reeves
Teacher Choice of any of
the following novels:
Banner in the Sky
The Dark is Rising
The Endless Steppe
Door in the Wall
The Hobbit
The Midwife’s
Apprentice
A Wrinkle in Time
Dicey’s Song
Holes
The Outsiders
Homecoming
Current Seventh Grade
science, history, and math
textbooks
Vocabulary Instruction:
Sadlier-Oxford
Vocabulary Workshop
Level B
C. Analyze the effect of various literary devices.
 Sound techniques (e.g., rhyme, rhythm, meter,
alliteration).
 Figurative language (e.g., personification, simile,
metaphor, hyperbole, allusion).
C.
D. Identify poetic forms (e.g., ballad, sonnet, couplet).
D.
2 weeks
1. Oral reading
2. Graphic organizers
3. Directed reading
activities
4. Small/Large group
discussions
2 days
1. Small/large group
discussion
2. Interactive media
projects
3. Oral/silent reading
E. Analyze drama to determine the reasons for a character’s
actions taking into account the situation and basic motivation
of the character.
 Demonstrate understanding of author’s purpose
 Demonstrate the understanding of relationships of story
elements to characters and their motivation
 Self to text connections; text to world connections
 Compare to professional performance if possible
 Compare to prose version when available
F.
Read and respond to nonfiction and fiction including poetry
and drama.
 Produce self to text; text to text; world to text connections
 Demonstrate understanding of author’s purpose
 Exhibit comprehension
 Produce creative products related to reading
E.
1 week
1. Class discussions
2. Reading journals
3. Graphic organizers
4. Field trips
5. Teacher-generated
Materials
F.
3-4 weeks
1. Class discussions
2. Reading journals
3. Graphic organizers
4. Teacher-generated
Materials
5. Student generated
projects/writings
Page 9
V.
EXPECTED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT
Our students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the standards in the
Seventh Grade Reading Curriculum aligned with PA State Standards.
VI.
GRADING SYSTEM
The grading system in the Seventh Grade Reading Curriculum is based on the
following and is in accordance with the Methacton School District policy.
Achievement
A
B
C
D
F
Consistently demonstrates exemplary performance
at instructional level (90-100%)
Satisfactory performance at instructional level with
room for further development (80-89%)
Demonstrates skills occasionally but not on a
regular basis (70-79%)
Has yet to grasp the essential skill (60-69%)
Demonstrates no understanding of essential skill
(0-59%)
Effort/Performance
1
2
3
4
VII.
Superior effort
Satisfactory effort
Needs to improve effort
Unsatisfactory effort
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES: VARIETY OF MEASURES
The following will be used to assess students: published and teacher-made tests and
quizzes, projects (group and individual), published and teacher-made graphic organizers
and skills pages.
VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH
The Seventh Grade approach is a combination of direct instruction, cooperative learning,
self-directed research/learning, and interactive media-based learning to form a balanced
literacy program.
IX.
MAJOR TEXT/RESOURCES
Resources:
Anthologies
Adventures for Readers: Book 1. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.,1996.
Blueprints. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1989.
Doorways. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1989.
Explorations in Literature. Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Co.,1987.
Houghton Mifflin Literary Readers : Book 7. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.,1989.
Prentice Hall Literature: Bronze. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1991.
Books
Cooper, Susan. The Dark is Rising. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1974.
Cushman, Karen. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York: Harper Trophy, 1995.
de Angeli, Marguerite. Door in the Wall. New York: Dell Publishing, 1977.
Hautzig, Esther. The Endless Steppe. New York: Harper Trophy, 1968.
Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Dell Publishing, 1967.
L’Engle, Madeliene. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Harper Trophy, 1977.
Reeves, Marjorie. The Medieval Village. England: Longman Group, 1988.
Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Dell Yearling, 1998.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. New York: Ballantine Books,1982.
Ullman, James Ramsey. Banner in the Sky. New York: Harper Keypoint, 1988.
Voigt, Cynthia. Dicey’s Song. New York: Ballantine Books,