th
Contact Information
: kconners@lisle202.org
630.493.8223
Before school (Be sure to ask for an early morning pass)
After school
Course Objectives
Name, locate and correct grammatical errors in sentences.
Structure and punctuate sentences to avoid fragments.
Vary sentences and ideas to create a unique voice in writing.
Adjust writing styles/organization to match audience and function.
(Descriptive, Narrative, Expository & Persuasive)
Expanding vocabulary by defining new words, recognizing their synonyms/antonyms, using them in sentences and finding them in the community.
Discuss and form opinions on the role and function of grammar in today’s society.
 All objectives and lessons have been aligned with Common
Core Standards
Texts
Writer’s Choice (Glencoe)
Vocabulary Workshop (Sadlier-Oxford)
Materials
Assignment Notebook
Pen and Pencil
Loose leaf paper for binder
Binder with journal (stays in classroom)
Writer’s Choice Textbook
Vocabulary Workshop book
Grades will be based on the following:
Homework and in class activities
Vocabulary tests (Spelling; Meaning)
Grammar tests and quizzes
Writing Assignments (essays, journals, etc.)

Speeches
Participation
Grade Scale
A= 93-100
B= 85-92
C=75-84
D=67-74
F=0-66
 Follow the rules according to the student handbook.
 Bring proper materials to class daily.
 Be on time! You must be in your seat with your binder and ready to work when the bell rings.
 Be respectful of others and their property. Help yourself and your classmates by respecting the rights of all students to learn.
BINDER REQUIREMENTS:
 You must have a binder for language arts. This binder will be left in the classroom.
 You must have the following dividers in your binder: Journals,
Notes, handouts, DLR
 It is best if you insert loose-leaf paper in each of the sections; you will also use this loose-leaf to take spelling tests.
 You should pick up your binder from the bin every day as you enter the classroom.
 Retrieving your binder after the bell rings will result in a tardy.
 Please make certain that you organize your binder each day.
JOURNALS:
 Journals will be posted on Edmodo every Tuesday.
 10-15 minutes will be given to journal on the topic in class. If you do not finish, it becomes homework.
 If you are absent, you must complete the journal entry on your own.
You are accountable for all assigned journals.
 Your journal entries may be checked at any time for a grade. Each journal should be at least 8-10 sentences.
 In addition to posting the journal on Edmodo, we ask you print the journal and place it in your binder.
WRITTEN COMPOSITION AND ORAL COMMUNICATION:

 Learning and perfecting the writing process requires dedication and practice (just like learning a new skateboard move, a computer game strategy, or a new dance step). Use your time wisely when you are given class time to practice and improve your writing skills.
 We will be using the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing model.
 Each essay will involve brainstorming, outlining, drafting and peer editing
 All final essays must be typed or computer-generated and are due at the beginning of the specified class hour.
 DO NOT WAIT FOR THE LAST MOMENT TO PRODUCE YOUR FINAL COPIES. BE
PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT OCCUR. YOU
MAY NOT PRINT IN CLASS ON THE DAY THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE.
 All assigned speeches and oral performances will have due dates.
All students must be prepared to present their speeches on that assigned date.
WRITTEN COMPOSITION AND ORAL COMMUNICATION SCHEDULE:
1 st Quarter — Descriptive Writing
2 nd Quarter —
Impromptu Speeches
Argumentative Writing
Essay Speech / Edmodo Debates
3 rd Quarter —
4 th Quarter —
Informational Writing
SPEECH / I Have a Dream Speech
Narrative Writing
Bad Day Story
VOCABULARY AND SPELLING:

 Two weeks will be spent on each vocabulary unit; there will be a review test every three units (1-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12). We will spend
1 week on these units.
 Vocabulary exercises will NOT be accepted after the due date.
 Your vocabulary book MUST be brought to class every day.
 You should also take your vocabulary book home every night in case of an unexpected absence.
 The following schedule will be followed:
Monday Tuesday
Week 1 Pronounce and review words.
Wednesday
Synonyms/Antonyms and Choosing the right Word
DUE
Week 2 Completing the
Sentence and Vocab in Context
DUE
Thursday
*Extra Credit
PowerPoint due
Friday
Spelling
Test
Unit
Test
EXTRA CREDIT:
Grammar Around You: If a student finds signs or books with grammar mistakes outside of Lisle Jr. High, he/she can receive 1 point of extra credit for each error. Each student is limited to 10 errors
(points) a quarter. To receive credit he/she must provide the ad or a printed photo of it.
Vocabulary: If a student finds a 7 th grade vocab word in a text he/she is reading, he/she can show it to the teacher to receive up to 5 points a quarter.
Vocabulary Review: If a student creates a PowerPoint or other review for a unit’s vocabulary test, he/she can receive up to 15 points of extra credit (one time deal – first come first serve). It is the student’s job to use all 20 words correctly and to present the presentation in front of the class. The PowerPoint is due the
Thursday before the test – it can be emailed or brought on a thumb drive. No late PowerPoints will be accepted.

MECHANICS, GRAMMAR, AND USAGE:
 You will be graded on quizzes, tests and assigned homework.
 You must have a section in your notebook dedicated to class notes.
 You should also use this section to record notes that you take for each assigned chapter. It is to your advantage to take good notes.
You will often be able to use these notes on tests and quizzes.
 You will receive DLR (Daily Language Review) and DGG (Daily Global
Grammar) exercises through the week. It is your job to keep these in that section of you binder and make corrections on them where necessary. These exercises will be assigned for homework and then corrected in class. These exercises receive a completion grade.
MECHANICS, GRAMMAR, AND USAGE CONTENT:
Quarter 1
 Parts of Speech
 Introduction to Roots
 Unit 17: Usage o Using Troublesome Words I o Using Troublesome Words II
 Unit 12: Adjectives o 12.1 Adjectives o 12.2 Articles and Proper Adjectives o 12.3 Comparative and Superlative Adjectives o 12.4 More Comparative and Superlative Adjectives o 12.5 Demonstrative o 12.7 Intensifiers o 12.10 Avoiding Double Negatives
 Descriptive Writing (Dream Room)
 Impromptu Speeches
 MAP testing
Quarter 2
 Unit 13: Prepositions o 13.1 Preposition and Prepositional Phrases o 13.2 Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions o 13.4 Conjunctions o 13.5 Interjections
Quarter 2 (continued)

 Unit 8: Subject/Predicate o 8.1 Kinds of Sentences o 8.2 Sentences and Sentence Fragments o 8.3 Subjects and Predicates o 8.4 Identifying the subject o 8.5 Compound Subjects and Predicates o 8.6 Simple and Compound Sentences
 Unit 10: Verbs o 10.1 Action Verbs o 10.2 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs o 10.3 Verbs with Indirect Objects o 10.4 Linking Verbs and Predicate Words o 10.5 Present, Past and Future Tenses o 10.6 Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
 Unit 16: Subject/Verb Agreement o 16.1 Making Subjects and Verbs Agree o 16.2 Problems with Locating the Subject o 16.3 Collective Nouns and Other Special Subjects o 16.4 Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects o 16.5 Agreement with Compound Subjects
 Outlining
 Research
 Argumentative Writing & Counter Arguments
Quarter 3
 Continuation of Unit 16: Subject/Verb Agreement
 Unit 11: Pronouns o 11.1 Personal Pronouns o 11.2 Pronouns and Antecedents o 11.3 Using Pronouns Correctly o 11.4 Possessive Pronouns o 11.5 Indefinite Pronouns o 11.6 Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns o 11.7 Interrogative Pronouns
 Unit 9: Nouns o 9.1 Kinds of Nouns o 9.2 Compound Nouns o 9.3 Possessive Nouns o 9.4 Distinguishing Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions o 9.5 Collective Nouns o 9.6 Appositives
 Martin Luther King Jr. Project o Parallelism
Quarter 3 (continued)
 Informational Writing
 Map Testing

 ISAT
Quarter 4
 Unit 14: Clauses o 14.1 Sentences and Clauses
 Unit 20: Punctuation o 20.2 Using Commas I o 20.3 Using Commas II o 20.4 Using Commas III o 20.5 Using Semicolons and Colons o 20.6 Using Quotation Marks and Italics o 20.7 Using Apostrophes o 20.8 Using Hyphens, Dashes, and Parenthesis o 20.9 Using Abbreviations o 20.10 Writing Numbers
 Narrative Writing
 Speech