7th grade English encompasses all components of language arts. Our class period is sixty seven minutes long. This is not enough time to touch on each area every day. Therefore, our daily schedule will vary. I will post the schedule in more detail as soon as I have had time to assess the class and where their need is greatest.

Our spelling/ vocabulary text comes from Bob Jones University Press. It focuses on building vocabulary skills and comprehension rather then on assigning lists of spelling words to be memorized. Our main emphasis will be on Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. This involves learning about the etymology of the word and vocabulary principles/rules which guide spelling and meaning.

Each lesson will be introduced/taught on Monday with a quiz on Friday. The lesson exercises will be due on Thurs.

Grammar also comes from BJU Press It has all of the standard units found in most grammar texts as well as composition units. I do not teach from the front of the book to the back because some of the last chapters contain subject matter that I want the students to know and be able to use all year. I will also combine different units that I have found fit together well.

Each unit will begin with a pretest to determine who already has a good understanding of the material. Students who score 90% or better on the pretest will be excused from doing a portion of the lesson exercises/homework.

Once the unit is taught and all exercises completed those student who have scored a 90% or better average on the exercises/homework will be excused from doing extra supplemental or reinforcement pages.

When a unit is completed a test will be given. There is a semester exam and a final exam as well.

The composition units may or may not be used depending on how much writing is being done in literature at the time.

Composition will be a part of both the grammar and literature areas of  English. I use the Six Plus One Traits of Writing model. This model teaches students how to better understand and use the concepts of: Ideas/Content, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions.The writing/composition component of English takes many forms and is used in all of the subject areas; it will be graded across the curriculum not just in times of formal composition assignments.

Literature/reading will be a combination of two sources of materials. One source will be BJU readers (anthologies and novels). BJU materials are part of the same curriculum as the vocabulary and grammar texts.The other source will be from Foundations & Frameworks. This is not a curriculum as such, but is a model of and a methodology for the teaching of reading, comprehension, retention, and critical thinking.

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Spell./Vocab.: NO LESSON THIS WEEK

Grammar: Chapter 20 --- beginning soon --- no HW

Literature: Begin reading unit 1 stories --- no due date yet