7th Grade FLEX Language Arts

This course is geared towards the 7th grade student but both 6th and 8th graders are welcome.

NOTE: This is a Flexible Schedule Course. There are no live meetings. All lessons are posted in the classroom and discussions are carried out through classroom posts. This is the equivalent of a Language Arts course that meets twice a week. Students are welcome to turn their work in to me for correction, guidance, and response, and are encouraged to do so.

This session's focus: 
Reading of two novels: Refugee by Alan Gratz and A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Persuasive Essay (pre-selected topics)
Character Analysis (Book Report)
Descriptive Writing Exercises

During this session, our literature study will be based on the books Refugee by Alan Gratz and A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Students will also learn to write a persuasive essay and a character analysis essay. Heavy focus will be paid to the pre-writing process. 

This includes:
Putting together an outline packet
Setting up and organizing your outline
Understanding the purpose of each of the 5 paragraphs
Selecting your overall subject
Finding age appropriate resources to use for your research
Selecting your 3 topics to focus on
How to research and take notes on the 3 topics
The elements of an introduction and a conclusion
How to write a strong thesis statement
How to write a topic sentence for your body paragraphs
How to make sure your paragraph stays in line with your topic sentence
How to write a clincher/ closing sentence
How to edit your paper

For our literature study, we will read the books  Refugee by Alan Gratz and A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle.  Students will have weekly Reading Response Packets posted in the classroom and will be assigned reflective prompts based on the reading. At the end of each novel, students will complete a project based on the book and post their projects in the classroom.

Students will be encouraged to turn in essays for me to correct and give feedback on.

Many students begin as reluctant writers and I really find that with enough scaffolding and guidance during the prewriting process, this calms. Having step by step instructions and guidance can really take the stress out of writing.

What to expect:

On Sunday evening of each week, I will post the following week's work. 
This will include:

*Writing assignment as a video lesson OR written lesson plan for the week with pdf slides 
* Reading Response Packets
* Critical thinking Questions posted in the classroom regarding the reading
*Possible Nearpod Activity
* A creative writing prompt for the week 
* A book project assigned at the end of each book

Students are welcome to:
*Complete weekly reading
* Complete the comprehension questions 
* Complete the reading response journal prompts and share in the class when inspired (and respond to two other student shares)
* Answer any questions in the classroom regarding essay structure
* Answer the reading response critical thinking questions and reply to another student's response
* Complete Nearpod Activity when available
* Complete the weekly creative writing prompt and share with the class when inspired. Also, please respond supportively when other students share.
* Post a picture or video of the end of the session book project and comment on 2 other students' projects
* Post questions as needed in the classroom for me to answer 

As this is a FLEX course, students are welcome to be as involved as they wish. They are welcome to take full advantage of the interactive experience in the classroom, or work more independently.

Week 1
The purpose of a persuasive essay
Overview of the structure of a persuasive essay
Selecting our subjects (a few to choose)
How to find resources and what types of resources to use 
(Homework- bring 2-3 research resources to class the following week)
Introducing the book: Refugee
Discussing the genre and author via classroom
"Before We Read" activity
Intro to the main elements of literature (so students can identify them as we read)
Intro to types of characters

Week 2
Creating our outline packet
Discussing our subject selections and sharing resources
Understanding why we outline topic paragraphs before the introduction and conclusion
Selecting our two supporting reasons to focus on
Learning to take notes on one topic at a time
Literature study
Comprehension Questions first 1/4 of Refugee
Descriptive writing prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading

Week 3
Learning about the 3 major elements of an introduction and conclusion
Writing an exciting attention grabber
Writing a solid thesis sentence
Outlining introductions & conclusions 
Literature study
Comprehension Questions for Refugee
Descriptive Writing Prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading

Week 4
Learning how to write effective topic sentences 
Learning how to make sure your paragraphs don't stray from the topic 
Writing a clincher/ closing sentence that mirrors the topic and closes the paragraph 
Topic sentence exercises to strengthen the skill of writing topic sentences
Homework: Write the report!!!  
Literature study
Comprehension Questions for Refugee
Descriptive Writing Prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading
Homework: Book Project

Week 5:
Edit our papers
Look for common errors
Work on sentence structure
Add transitional words and phrases
Literature Study
Complete a Story Pyramid for each character noting the exposition, conflict, obstacles and enemies, climax, denouement, and resolution)

Week 6
Begin our character analysis essay
Selecting which character from Refugee you want to focus on
Discussing the structure of the report and the quality to focus on
Begin our new book : A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Pre-reading activity: Meet the author and the inspiration
Creative writing prompt

Week 7
Finding evidence: Select moments in the story that serve as examples of the quality you are focusing on
Three pieces of evidence are needed- one for each topic paragraph
Literature study
Comprehension Questions for A Wrinkle In Time 
Descriptive Writing Prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading

Week 8
How to write a CCQC paragraph (Claim, Context, Quote, Commentary)
Adding our evidence (quote) into our outline. 
Completing the topic paragraph outlines
Literature study
Comprehension Questions for A Wrinkle In Time
Descriptive Writing Prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading

Week 9
Working on the Introduction and Conclusion
Literature study
Comprehension Questions for A Wrinkle In Time
Descriptive Writing Prompt
Interactive classroom discussion questions based on reading

Week 10
Write essays and work on editing papers
Edit our papers
Look for common errors
Work on sentence structure
Add transitional words and phrases
Literature Study
Complete a Story Pyramid noting the exposition, conflict, obstacles and enemies, climax, denouement, and resolution