Seventh Grade Curriculum
English - Language Arts

 

The grade seven language arts curriculum emphasizes systematic, explicit skills instruction in reading and writing. Students read and comprehend a wide variety of grade-level appropriate literature. Students learn the writing process, writing strategies and writing applications with an emphasis on written and oral English language conventions and correct spelling. Some examples of specific concepts and skills which students are to master are provided in the topic areas listed below:


READING:

Word Recognition, Vocabulary and Concept Development

  • use knowledge of Greek, Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes to understand content area vocabulary
  • apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, synonyms, antonyms, and idioms to determine meaning of words and phrases
  • understand and explain the figurative and metaphorical use of words in context

Comprehension

  • read and understand grade-level appropriate text
  • apply comprehension skills and strategies to read a variety of text and genres

Literary Response, Analysis, and Critique

  • analyze text which uses cause and effect patterns
  • analyze the structure and purpose of various informational text
  • draw a conclusion (infer) from evidence in text and give examples to support the inference
  • identify and trace the development of the author’s argument, point of view or perspective in text
  • identify, analyze, and compare recurring themes in text

Fluency

  • read numerous books to build fluency and comprehension
  • read narrative (classic and contemporary) literature and expository text: (magazine, newspapers, on-line information)

WRITING:

Application

  • write research reports, narratives, response to literature, and persuasive compositions
  • write summaries that contain the main ideas of the reading selection and the most significant details
  • create an organizational structure that balances all aspects of the composition and uses effective transitions between sentences and ideas
  • use note-taking, outlining and summarizing strategies to structure composition drafts

Research and Technology

  • give credit for both quoted and paraphrased information in a text by creating a bibliography using a consistent sanctioned format

Capitalization, Punctuation and Grammar

  • identify and use all parts of speech, sentence structuring and mechanics
  • use a semicolon between two independent clauses, use quotation marks, and use commas at the end of dependent clauses
  • capitalize the first word in a quotation, geographical names, and names of magazines, newspapers, and works of art

Spelling

  • apply spelling rules and knowledge of patterns to correctly spell words
  • spell frequently misspelled words correctly (e.g., their, there, they’re, belief, receive)
  • apply spelling skills in written work

LISTENING AND SPEAKING:

  • ask probing questions designed to elicit information, including evidence to support the listener’s claims and conclusions
  • organize information to achieve particular purposes and to appeal to the background and interests of the audience