7TH GRADE READING

MRS. LOW, VISTA HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL

CLASS O VERVIEW: This course focuses on reading comprehension and close reading skills to develop analytical reading
skills with a variety of texts. Skills that will be covered are outlined in the Utah Core Standards. In this course students
should expect to explore and analyze various fictional and non-fictional texts as well as develop their ability to comment
on those texts.

CLASS RULES: Be Respectful

Be Cooperative
Be Responsible

I also support all school and district policies. (alpineschools.org)

UNITS AND CURRICULUM : The curriculum is divided into six units designed to help students master subject learning
objectives. Each unit will last approximately two weeks and will conclude with a Check Day or assessment. Units are as
follows:
1. Inference, Predictions, and Visualization
2. Word Meaning and Context Clues
3. Developing Schema
4. Summarize, Paraphrase, and Quote
5. Self-Monitoring, Clarifying Meaning, Annotation
6. Reflection and Analysis

In order to fulfill curriculum requirements, this class uses many different texts including Wonder, short stories,
informational articles, and multi-media.

MATERIALS: Students will be responsible to have the items listed below every day; without these items, students will not
be able to participate in class.
1. Reading Book: Novels, magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, Kindles, and/or Nooks are acceptable.
2. Pen or Pencil
3. Scissors
4. Glue Stick
5. Single-Subject Composition Book: You will need to provide your own composition book. This will remain in our
classroom. No spiral notebooks allowed.
*If you are unable to provide these materials, please let me know.*

This class will be using interactive notebooks to facilitate learning. The scissors, glue, and notebook are for the
interactive notebooks.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS: Course work will be required inside and outside of class. Any work not finished in class
should be finished at home unless otherwise specified. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the
assigned due date. Many of our assignments throughout the year require access to a computer/Internet. If students do
not have access at home, they are encouraged to use the school computer labs before school, after school, or during
Flight-time.
PARTICIPATION: Students are expected to come to class ready and willing to learn by showing respect, taking ownership,
and being prepared for class. At the beginning of each term, each student will receive 100 points for participation.
Students will lose participation points for any violation of class rules and missing or late work, based on Vista Heights
Middle Schools Citizenship policy. Participation points may also be added for class assignments.

GRADING COMPONENTS :
Professionalism 20%
Final Assessments 30%
Quizzes and Assignments 50%

GRADING SCALE: Grades will be based on the total number of points earned through assignments, quizzes, assessments,
and professionalism. Point values will translate to letter grades as follows:
Academic (%)
100-94 A 75-73 C
93-90 A- 72-70 C-
89-86 B+ 69-67 D+
85-83 B 66-63 D
82-80 B- 62-60 D-
79-76 C+ 60-0 F

LATE WORK: Students may turn in any assignments after the due date up to the last Tuesday of the midterm or term
depending on when the original assignment was due. Late work will be deducted up to 30% of the assignments point
value whether it is turned in the day after the due date or a week after. These points will be subtracted from the
students participation points rather than the assignment score.

ABSENT WORK: In the case of an excused absence, students are responsible for making up all missed work and for any
class notes given during their absence. It is the students responsibility to get missed work from the files located in the
classroom or download the assignment from the class website. Students will need to meet with me before school, after
school, or during Flight-time for help on absent/missing work. If the students absence is excused, they have one week
to complete missed assignments without a late penalty.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Parents and students with questions or concerns may contact me before or after school (7:45-
8:10am or 2:45-3:50pm) or email me. I am also available by appointment.

Email: jlow@alpinedistrict.org
Phone: (801) 610-8770
Class Website: www.lowenglish.com

It is recommended that students and parents have a current email address updated on Skyward. I will regularly use
email to send due date reminders and other necessary information. Please provide an email address that is checked on a
consistent basis in order to promptly receive important information.

TEXT MESSAGES : Parents and students can opt into receiving text message reminders by texting @8f44e to 81010.
Instructions to opt into receiving texts can also be found on the class website.

EXAMPLE WORK: Student work may be used anonymously as examples to teach and train others.
 DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
7TH GRADE READING
MRS. LOW

Keep the disclosure document for future reference. Please return only this section to Mrs. Low no later than Monday,
August 28, 2017. This is an assignment and your student will receive points for returning this portion with a signature. If
you have any questions, please contact me by email or phone.

I have read and understand the items that are on the attached disclosure document.

___________________________________________ ___________________
Student Signature Date

___________________________________________
Print Student Name

___________________________________________ ___________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

___________________________________________
Print Parent/Guardian Name

Please include any comments, questions, or extenuating circumstances your student may have that you wish for me
to know.

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