TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School

7th Grade English

Londa Moen
2015/2016
email: lmoen@treknorth.org
*Email is the best way to get ahold of me and I will try to get back to
you by the end of the day or the next day.
Phone: 444-1888 ext:118
Office: Room 118
Classroom Website: http://TrekEnglish7.weebly.com
Course Objectives: Students will define, demonstrate, apply,
analyze, compose and evaluate literary works through reading, writing,
listening and speaking.
Text Book: The Readers Journey, Prentice Hall (2013)
Materials: 2 composition notebooks (college rule), one spiral college
rule notebook (or loose leaf paper in a binder), one two-pocket folder,
pen or pencil.
Course Expectations:
1.) Come to class prepared ready to engage in learning as soon as
the bell rings: reading journal, pencil, workbook and novel out (all
other materials put away, including any computer or devices).
2.) Be respectful in classroom and small group discussions.
3.) Complete all assignments to the best of your ability; meaning
your work is completed on time and is high quality. If your work
is not done to a high quality standard it will be returned to you to
revise it and hand it in again.
4.) You are in class to learn; therefore, all food and drinks should be
left in your locker.
5.) Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be taken out
when the teacher gives permission. If you do not put the
phone/electronic device away when the teacher requests, the
teacher may take the phone away for the rest of the school day.
(per TrekNorth policy)
6.) Take care of yourself, take care of each other and take care of
this school.
Assignments: Your assignments should be completed on time. If you
think your assignment is going to be late come and talk to me. If you
hand in your assignment late, without prior permission, your
assignment will only be worth half credit. If you are absent and miss
work, it is your responsibly to come collect any work you have missed.

Workbooks are not allowed to go home; therefore, if you need to make

up an assignment in the workbook you will need to come before
school, at lunch, after school or at TNT.

Grades:
Students will be graded on in class and out of class assignments,
reading response logs, writing assignments, participation, formal and
informal assessments.
90-100% A
80-90% B
70-80% C
60-70% D
60% and below F
Whole Class Novels:
We will both be reading individual novels and whole class novels
throughout the year. Individual novels will be explained below. Whole
class novels are ones that either will be read aloud or in small groups.
The following novels are the ones that I will be planning on using for
the 2015/2016 school year:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Selections from No Easy Answers edited by Donald R. Gallo
Individual Novels and Reading Response Journals:
Each student is expected to be reading an individual novel during the
class reading time and on his or her own outside of class time. This
novel will be one that each student will get to choose out of the
classroom library, the TrekNorth novel selection with guidance or bring
one from home which is within the students reading level. The
students will have certain requirements that will go along with each
novel and will be outlined within each students reading response
journal. The reading response journals will be turned in once a week
for grading and will count for a large part of the final grade.
Within the classroom, we have a classroom library in which the
students may pick novels from. I have tried to put high quality choices
into the library that I feel will keep students interests. The books are
aimed at young adult and middle school age readers. Some books
may contain some items that could be considered controversial. If you
are concerned with certain books, I encourage to help your child make
book selections at home that they could bring into class to read for his
or her individual novel assignments. If there are other concerns about

novels or certain novels that you know you do not want your child to
read, I encourage you to send me an email expressing your concern
and we can work something out.
Each student is able to check-out one book at a time from the
classroom library. The student is responsible for the book and is
expected to return the book in the same condition in which it is check
out. If the student fails to return the book, he or she will no longer be
able to check out a novel to bring home, therefore all
reading/assignments will have to be done before school, lunch time,
after school or at TNT.
Devices, such as iPads and Kindles, to read novels are discouraged;
however, if a student can show responsibility with his or her own
device such as a kindle and have an overall grade of 90% or higher, I
may grant permission on a case-by-case basis. Failure to show
responsibility using a device to read novels will result in the privilege
being taken away. Phones are not allowed to be used as a device to
read novels on.

Course Content and Unit Objectives:

Unit 1
Focus Question: What is the best way to find the truth?
Genre Focus: Fiction and Nonfiction
Writing Focus: Autobiography Narrative
Unit 2
Focus Question: Does every conflict have a winner?
Genre Focus: The Novel
Writing Focus: Compare and Contrast Essay
Unit 3
Focus Question: What should we learn?
Genre Focus: Nonfiction
Writing Focus: Persuasive
Unit 4
Focus Question: What is the best way to communicate?
Genre Focus: Prose and Poetry
Writing Focus: Literary Analysis, Poetry
Unit 5
Focus Question: Do others see us more clearly than we see
ourselves?
Genre Focus: Drama

Writing Focus: Literary Analysis

Unit 6
Focus Question: Community or individual: Which is more important?
Genre Focus: Research
Writing Focus: Media Presentation ~ Research Project
Pictures: Occasionally we will take pictures on activities that we do in
the English Classroom. I will post these pictures on the classroom
website. If you would like your childs picture not on the website,
please make a note of it below.

Please carefully read over the syllabus for 7th grade English and return
signed by September 11th.
Student Signature:
_________________________________________________________
Parent Signature:
__________________________________________________________
Email Address:
____________________________________________________________
Comments or Concerns that you would like to address: