Mrs. Hirschler
Northside Baptist School
Email: jhirschler@northsideministries.com
7th Grade English 2014-2015
TEXTBOOKS:
Writing & Grammar - 7
Explorations in Literature
Vocabulary Workshop – Level B
Across Five Aprils (provided later through class)
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this course is to increase the student’s understanding of English grammar and
mechanics and to improve his or her reading and writing skills.
CONTENT:
Quarter One – Literature, literary analysis, and composition
Quarter Two – Grammar basics and composition
Quarter Three – Across Five Aprils and literary analysis
Quarter Four –Mechanics and usage
HOMEWORK:
Weekly vocabulary homework and quizzes

Fridays = vocabulary homework (filling in the sentence & synonyms/antonyms)

Mondays = vocabulary homework (choosing the right word & vocabulary in context)

Tuesdays = spelling quiz over unit

Wednesdays = vocabulary quiz over unit (extra credit/flash cards due then)
Grammar exercises
Reading quizzes
Papers
EVALUATION:
Student evaluation will be accomplished through the following:
1. Homework
2. Quizzes
3. Book reports (4 reports total)
4. Unit tests
REQUIREMENTS:
Textbooks
Loose-leaf notebook paper
3-ring binder, folder, or notebook for notes
Blue/black pens, pencils, and red pen for grading
GRADE WEIGHTING:
20%
20%
30%
30%
-
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Book Reports
APPROXIMATE DUE DATES FOR BOOK REPORTS:
(These books can be found in the school library.)
Island of the Blue Dolphin
(Scott O’Dell)
September 22 (book review)
Christian missionary biography
(must be 90 or more pages)
November 3
(diorama)
Book from the approved list
(handed out in class later)
February 2
(informative)
Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day
(Scott O’Dell)
March 30
(char. sketch)
BOOK REPORT HONESTY:
All students at Northside Christian School adhere to an honor code. This includes
the work you complete and turn in for class. When completing book reports, you are
to sign and turn in a written declaration stating that you have read and completed
the book report on your own and without ANY outside help. Academic honesty also
refers to your usage and correct documentation of ANY outside sources that you
either quote, paraphrase, or create an idea from.
CLASSROOM HONESTY:
Students may not use unauthorized notes during homework, quizzes, and tests.
Students may not share their answers with classmates on homework, quizzes, and
tests (this includes vocabulary homework). By doing so, a student is cheating and lying
(claiming to have done all the work present). Students who copy answers or use
unauthorized notes will be penalized with a zero AND demerits. Students who share
their answers or provide the unauthorized notes to others will also receive a zero
AND demerits.
POLICIES:
Please refer to the MLA handout for book report requirements and formatting. All
writing assignments must be neat, legible, either written in blue or black ink or typed
double spaced in the appropriate format. All materials are required to be in class
EVERYDAY unless otherwise noted by the teacher.
LATE WORK:
Papers and homework are due at the beginning of the hour and are considered late if
not turned in at that time. Late book reports will be penalized five percent for each
school day not turned in. Late grammar and literature homework will be penalized ten
percent for each school day not turned in and will not be accepted a week after it is
due. Late vocabulary homework will be penalized fifteen percent for each school day
not turned in and will not be accepted a week after it is due.
TO THOSE INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
YOU are responsible to turn in homework before leaving AND to ask about class work
and assignments BEFORE leaving. YOU are responsible, not your teachers, coaches,
parents, or classmates! If you fail to turn in homework before leaving (on away
games, fine arts trips, etc.), will be penalized as late and lose points.
If you fail to ask about your assignments and class work, you will still be held
accountable the next day. For example, if a spelling quiz or reading assignment is
given for homework, you are expected to do the work AND will be penalized as late
or be required to take the quiz.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Students have several opportunities to earn extra credit: vocabulary flashcards
(bonus points for vocab. quizzes and review tests), grammar worksheet (given at the
end of a grammar chapter), and bonus questions on literature tests. The teacher
WILL NOT offer extra credit at the end of the quarter, so work ahead!