Seventh Grade Reading Syllabus

Mrs. Krambeer

Course Description

            Reading 7 is a required class for all seventh grade students.  The course will include experiences in the Iowa Core Curricular areas of writing, reading, language, speaking, and listening, as well as 21st century skills, but will mostly focus on the Iowa Core Reading Standards for Literature and Informational Texts.  

I Can Statements based on these standards are located here.

Course Outline

     A. Weekly instruction on key terms and concepts

     B. Weekly reading strategies instruction

     C. Ongoing practice reading literature and informational texts.

Course Resources

Students in this class will be required and expected to use the following resources:

                        -Classroom laptops

                        -Independent reading material

         -Supplementary material online and provided in class

Evaluation Methodology and Scale

There are two main categories that work will be considered: formative and summative. Formative scores are worth 20% of the overall grade and are the practice assignments and activities we do throughout the year. Summative scores are the assignments and projects that are used to test whether students are mastering the Iowa Core Standards. Summative projects/assessments are worth 80% of the student's grade.  All course projects will be evaluated to determine the attainment of identified standards and objectives.  Project/assignment evaluation will be based upon an established rubric, which identifies the targeted standards and objectives.  Successful completion requires a quality demonstration of all competencies.  Projects, tests, and major assignments will be given a score on a 4 point scale to denote the level of achievement of the identified competencies.  Daily or practice work will also be given a score based on the same 4 point scale. Letter grades will be determined based on the 80%/20% weighting of all scored assignments.

The grading scale is as follows:

A 93%= Quality work!  Attention is paid to neatness, detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.

A-90%

B+-87%

B 83%= Good work.  The basic requirements are attained, and some effort to go above and beyond is displayed.

B-80%

C+77%

C 73%= Adequate work.  May be undeveloped and only attains the bare bone minimum of the assignment.

C-70%

D+67%

D 63%= Low quality work.  Work that is turned in, but does not attain the expectation of the standard.

D-60%

F  less than 60%= Unacceptable work.  Work not on time, or not worthy of a passing grade.

I  = In progress.  Work is incomplete.  An important element of the assignment is missing or the work is very low quality.  Needs to be redone.

Letter grades given out at the end of the quarter are based on the progress towards mastery of the standards achieved during the grading period.  Extended learning must be shown in the specific standards covered in the grading period in order to achieve an “A” or a “B.”  Completing the assigned course work within the grading period with progress toward the standards equals a “C” or “D” grade.  Not making progress toward the standards within the grading period equals an “F” grade.  Incomplete or “I” grades will he held only one week after the grading period ends before changing to an “F”, unless dictated through special, approved circumstances. 

Classroom Rules and Expectations

 1.  Students are expected to be in their seats and checking the daily expectations on Edmodo when the class period starts, or they will be tardy.

2.  Students are expected to contribute positively to the learning environment.  Negative comments will not be allowed.  *Thumper Rule.

3.  Other students’ materials and other classes’ materials are off-limits in the classroom!

4.  If a student is absent, he or she is responsible for finding out from the teacher what the make-up assignment is.  Find this out before or after class. During class is a bad time because I will be busy teaching and you should be busy learning.

5.  Students are expected to put forth their best effort in learning and demonstrating the course competencies. 

6.  Students are expected to show respect for the other students and the instructor at all times.

7.  Students may chew gum, but it should not ever be a distraction.

8.  Students need to sit on all four legs of their chairs.

9.  No personal electronic devices in class unless teacher directed or approved. No games.

10.  You need to be dismissed by the teacher to leave the classroom.

11.  Substitute teachers will be treated with respect or the consequence is a minimum double discipline consequences.