Dominican International School
G7 LANGUAGE ARTS
COURSE SYLLABUS
Grade Level: 7
1 Year, 1 Credit
SY: 2014-15
Teacher: Mr. Wakeling
Email: ewakeling@dishs.tp.edu.tw
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Welcome to Language Arts! Seventh grade English Language Arts is the study of skills in reading literature and nonfiction, vocabulary usage, grammar, speaking, and listening. Written skills will be enhanced through vocabulary
development, journal writing, grammar activities, and reading comprehension quizzes and tests. Students will develop
comprehension and communication skills. Students will also develop reading strategies that they will use during
independent and classroom reading.
A portion of the class will be devoted towards class discussion. Literature should not be viewed through only one
particular perspective or angle but rather a wide range of viewpoints. For that reason it is vital that during a
discussion all students remain open and willing to accept opinions other than their own.
RELEVANCE:
This course will foster students’ ability to read critically, write more effectively, and communicate efficiently; providing
the foundation for High School.
COURSE STANDARDS:
The English department has adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in K-12 English Language Arts which
were released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School
Officers.
The CCSS for English Language Arts are based on research and evidence that describe the competencies necessary for all
students to become college and career ready by the end of high school. The CCSS outline a vision of what it means to be a
literate person in the 21st Century.
The CCSS are organized into four strands:
 Reading (Informational and Literary)
 Includes Reading Foundational Skills
 Writing
 Speaking and Listening
 Language
LIFELONG LEARNING STANDARDS:
• Knowledgeable person
• Effective communicator
• Complex thinker
• Self-directed learner
• Quality producer
• Contributing citizen
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students should be able to:
 build vocabulary for speaking, listening, reading and writing.
 productively use academic vocabulary words to answer questions about a short passage.
 write short reflections about the literature selections.
 read and identify a variety of literary genres.
 identify literary terms related to a literature selection and comprehend their meanings and uses.
 identify reading skills and comprehend their meanings and uses.
 read the literature selections with insight and comprehension.
 analyze and discuss the literature selections in depth.


independently read a novel.
apply the various grammar rules taught correctly, and recognize and correct mistakes found in their written work.
GRADING CRITERIA:
The quarterly grade will be awarded for all student work based on the following criteria:
 Grammar, Spelling, Journal Writing, Class participation, Vocabulary Worksheets - 1/3 of quarterly grade
 Reading Comprehension, Novel, Vocabulary Assessments - 1/3 of quarterly grade
 Quarterly Exams - 1/3 of quarterly grade
TEXTS:
G8 - McDougal Little Literature Textbook
G8 - Houghton Mifflin English Textbook
G8 – Wordly Wise 3000
REFERENCE/LINKS:
Our school website: http://www.dishs.tp.edu.tw/
Online Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Publisher website: http://www.mcdougallittell.com/ / http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/6_8/
STUDENT MATERIALS REQUIRED:
 Writing materials
 Dictionary and thesaurus
 Notebook
 Pocket folder for quarterly handouts and work (Sections – reading, vocabulary, grammar…)
 Portfolio folder (large) for storing your all your quarterly pocket folders
 A5 notebook for your literature journal
CLASSROOM RULES:
All students are expected to follow the rules. Consequences will follow if rules are broken.
1. Come to class on time and be prepared.
2. Have a positive attitude and be willing to learn.
3. Respect yourself, others, and our school.
4. Always complete your work and try your best.
5. Actively participate, listen carefully, but don't speak out of turn.
Plagiarism is a serious offense and a form of theft. In certain cases, it is also a criminal offense. It is defined as taking
words, phrasing, sentence structure, or any other element of the expression of another person’s ideas, and using them as if
they were your own. Plagiarism is a violation of another person’s rights, whether the material stolen is great or small – it
is not a matter of degree or intent. Plagiarism has serious consequences. Any act of plagiarism will result in an
automatic zero on the entire assignment.
HOMEWORK RULES:
 All assignments must be turned in on the day they are due.
 1 day late = Minus 10%
 2 days late = Only 60%
 3+ days late = Project-I & Only 60%
 If a student has been absent, it is his/her duty to find out what work is due, and hand it in a day later.
DISCIPLINE:
 Verbal warning, second reminder (if needed)
 Write-Up and then referral to the Discipline Office.
 Parent-Teacher conference.
G7 LANGUAGE ARTS
Q1 - COURSE CONTENT - SY: 2014-15
(NB: Depending on time and interest, the teacher may delete and/or add other selections.)
Week
1
Aug. 11th - 15th
No classes Monday
Mass Friday
Topic
Combined classes – Mainstream and ELL
Tue. – Placement test
Keystone: Assessment Test
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 1 (Social link / Word Study: epidemic, trek, industrious)
Literature: U1: Reader’s Workshop: Parts of a Story, p.24
2
Aug. 18th - 22nd
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 1 - Cont.
Literature: U1: Reader’s Workshop: Parts of a Story, p.24
U1: Seventh Grade p30
Novel: Number the Stars - Ch.1-4, p.1-38
3
Aug. 25th - 29th
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 2
Literature: Seventh Grade p30 – Cont.
Grammar – 1L: U1: Kind of sentences – p.32 (Review)
U1: Writing good sentences – p.35
Novel / YSC: Number the Stars - Ch.1-4 / Play – The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street p.134
4
Sept. 1st - 5th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 2 - Cont.
Literature: The Last Dog p.42 (Short Story / Science Link)
+ Context Clues: Definition and Restatement p.105
Grammar – 2L: U1: Complete Subjects and Predicates p.37
U1: Simple Subjects and Predicates p.40
Novel: Number the Stars (Ch.1-4 Test – HW: Ch.5-9)
5
Sept. 9th - 12th
Moon Fest Monday
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 3
Literature: The Last Dog p.42 – Cont.
Grammar – 1L: U1: Forming Compound Subjects and Compound Predicates p.43
Novel / YSC: Number the Stars - Ch.5-9 / Play – The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street p.134
6
Sept. 15th - 19th
Fire Drill Tuesday
Wordly Wise - 1: Lesson 3 - Cont.
Literature: U2: Reader’s Workshop: Character and Point of View, p.176
+ Multiple Meaning Words p.153
Wordly Wise – 2L: U1: Finding the Subject p.45
U1: Conjunctions p.48
Novel: Number the Stars (Ch.- Test 5-9 – HW: Ch.10-13)
7
Sept. 22nd - 26th
Maths Day Friday
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 4
Literature: The Scholarship Jacket p216 (Short Story / Social/PSD Link)
Grammar – 1L: U1: Fragments and Run-ons p.51
Novel: Number the Stars - Ch.10-13
8
Sept. 29th - 3rd
9
Oct. 6th - 7th
No Classes Weds/Thurs
10/10 Hol. Friday
Wordly Wise – x1: Lesson 4 - Cont.
Literature: A Retrieved Reformation p.226 (Short Story / Social Link)
+ Idioms p.175
Grammar – x2: Q1 Review
Novel: Number the Stars (Ch.10-13 Test - HW: Ch.14-Afterward)
Wordly Wise: Review for Lessons 1-4
First Quarter Exams
G7 LANGUAGE ARTS
Q2 - COURSE CONTENT - SY: 2014-15
(NB: Depending on time and interest, the teacher may delete and/or add other selections.)
Week
1/10
Oct. 13th - 17th
Topic
Novel: TEST - Number the Stars - Ch.10-13, p.82-105 (HW = Ch.14-Afterward, p.106-137)
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 5 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U3 - Reader’s Workshop: Understanding Theme p.304
Grammar: U2: Kinds of Nouns p.70
2/11
Oct. 20th - 24th
Science/Faith Conf.
Thurs. – Sat.
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 5 – Passage & Questions
Reading: U3: Amigo Brothers - p310 (fiction - short story)
Grammar: U2: Collective and Compound Nouns p.73
(NO Middle School - Thurs. – Fri.)
3/12
Oct. 27th – 31st
Masquerade Friday
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 6 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U3: Amigo Brothers - p310 (fiction - short story)
Grammar: U2: Possessive Nouns p.81
U2: Singular and Plural Nouns p.76
Novel: TEST - Number the Stars - Ch.14-Afterward, p.106-137
4/13
Nov. 3rd - 7th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 6 – Passage & Questions
Reading: U3: The War of the Wall – p.326 (fiction - short story)
Grammar: U3: Verbs kinds - p.100
U3: Subject-Verb Agreement – p.144
5/14
Nov. 10th - 14th
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 7 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U3: The War of the Wall – p.326 (fiction - short story)
U3: Homeless – p.356 (Problem-solution Essay)
Grammar: U3: Inverted and Interrupted Order – p.147
6/15
Nov. 17th -21st
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 7 – Passage & Questions
Reading: U4 - Reader’s Workshop: Mood, Tone, and Style - p.438
Grammar: U3: Verb phrases – p.104
U3: Simple Verb Tense – p.107
Young Shakespeare Rehearsals (1 period)
7/16
Nov. 24th -28th
Thanks. Mass Thursday
YSC Friday
8/17
Dec. 1st - 5th
Grammar: U3: be, have, and do – p.110
Young Shakespeare Final Rehearsals (3 periods)
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 8 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U4 - Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed - p444 (science fiction - short story)
Grammar: U3: Perfect Tense – p.113
U3: Irregular Verbs – p.117
9/18
Dec. 8th - 12th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 8 – Passage & Questions
Reading: U4 - Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed p444-465 (science fiction - short story)
Grammar: U3: More Irregular Verbs – p.120
U3: Progressive Forms – p.124
10/19
Dec. 15th -19th
Second Quarter Exam Week
Monday and Tuesday – Quarter Review/Exam Preparation
Weds and Thurs – Exams, half days
Friday – Mass, Christmas Play and Class Party (half day)
Dec. 20th – Jan. 4th
Christmas Holiday
G7 LANGUAGE ARTS
Q3 - COURSE CONTENT - SY: 2014-15
(NB: Depending on time and interest, the teacher may delete and/or add other selections/material.)
Week
1/20
Jan. 5th - 9th
2/21
Jan. 12th - 16th
Topic
6th
Monday
Jan: Exam Review
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 9 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U5 Reader’s Workshop: Appreciating Poetry
Grammar: U4: Adjectives – p.180
(Weds. Mass)
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 9 – Passage & Cloze Exercise
Reading: U5: The Names – p.548
U5: / the earth is a … / Sleeping in the … / Gold – p.554
Grammar: U4: Comparing with Adjectives – p.186
Independent Reading Assessment: Crispin - The Cross of Lead – Ch.1 - 12
(Cultural Awareness Day tbc.)
3/22
Jan. 19th - 23rd
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 10 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U6 Reader’s Workshop: Myths, Legends, and Tales – p.624
Grammar: U4: Adverbs – p.190
(Career Day Friday)
4/23
Jan. 26th – 30th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 10 – Passage Questions
Reading: U6: Prometheus/ Orpheus – p.632
Grammar: U4: Comparing with Adverbs – p.195
Independent Reading Assessment: Crispin - The Cross of Lead – Ch.13 - 25
5/24
Feb. 2nd – 6th
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 11 – Word Study & Activities
Reading: U5: The Charge of the … / The Highwayman – p.570
Grammar: U4: Negatives – p.198
6/25
Feb. 9th -13th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 11 – Passage & Cloze Exercise
Reading: U6: Young Arthur (Part 1) – p.660
Independent Reading Assessment: Crispin - The Cross of Lead – Ch.26 - 36
(CNY Show Friday)
Feb. 16th - 20th
7/26
Feb. 23rd – 26th
(3 Days)
Chinese New Year Holiday (10 days)
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 12 – Word Study & Activities
Grammar: U4: Adjective or Adverbs – p.201
(CNY Mon. / Peace Day Fri.)
8/27
March 2nd - 6th
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 12 – Passage Questions
Reading: U6: Young Arthur (Part 2) – p.660
Grammar: U4: Proper Nouns and Proper Adjectives – p.224
Independent Reading Assessment: Crispin - The Cross of Lead – Ch.37 - 48
9/28
March 9th - 13th
Wordly Wise – 2L: Lesson 13 – Word Study & Activities
Grammar: U5: Uses for Commas p.230
U5: More Uses for Commas p.235
(Iowa Tests?)
Wordly Wise – 1L: Lesson 11 – Passage & Cloze Exercise
Reading: U5: Jabberwocky / Sarah Cynthia …/ Two Limericks – p.592
10/29
March 16th – 20th
Grammar: Q3 Review
Independent Reading Assessment: Crispin - The Cross of Lead – Ch.49 - 58
11/30
March 23rd – 27th
(3 Days)
March 30th – April 3rd
Vocabulary: Q3 Review
Reading: Q3 Review
Grammar: Q3 Review
(Exams Thurs & Friday / Lenten Act. Friday)
Easter Holiday (10 days)