7th Grade English Language Arts (Period 3)

Instructor

Brett Pinkham

Contact Information

Curriculum

School Phone: 619-263-3009 ext. 4408

Email: [email protected]

• We will be using the FLEX Literacy curriculum which includes small group instruction using a consumable textbook, individualized digital lessons, and group projects. This learning will be supplemented by informational articles and current events / news. 

• Essential Skills We Will Practice Daily: 

• Reading 
• Writing
• Speaking
• Listening 

• Critical Thinking 
• Collaboration
• Courage

Required Materials

• O’Farrell Binder
• O’Farrell Planner (provided)
• Interactive Notebook (provided, but welcome to bring own)
• Pens (Blue, Black, and Red) (provided, but welcome to bring own)
• Highlighters  (provided, but welcome to bring own)
• Colored Pencils/Markers/Crayons/Glue Sticks  (provided, but welcome to bring own)
• Independent Reading Book or Article (This will be needed DAILY)

Grading Scale

A (90-100%)              B (80-89%) C (70-79%)              D (60-69%) F (0-59%)

Grading Policy

• Late work is accepted up to one week after the due date, with a maximum score of 70% possible.  
• Make-up work due to a student’s absence must be completed and submitted within 3 days of student’s return along with a teacher signature on the work.

• If absent, it is your responsibility to follow up with your teacher and get the work that you missed, and check the “while you were out” folders.

Required Independent Reading

Home/Classwork (30%):

• Focused Notes
• Vocabulary and Grammar Work
• Independent Reading
• In class activities
• FLEX daily computer and instructed lessons

Assessment (70%):

• Exit Tickets (End of class mini-assessments)
• RACE’d paragraphs
• Restate, Answer, Cite Evidence, Explain (short paragraph writing)
• Essays/Writing Assignments
• Book Projects
• FLEX projects and assessments

• 20 minutes per night of independent reading at home (book projects will relate to independent reading, thus this homework impacts student grades)

• Students are required to have a independent reading book or article at all times for in class and home reading

Discipline Policy

Rewards

Plagiarism

Policy

All students are expected to follow the FALCON WAY (Focus, Attitude, Leadership, Citizenship, Organization, and Non-Violence). In the event these expectations are not followed the consequences will follow the school’s progressive discipline plan:

• 1st offense: Verbal warning
• 2nd offense: Consequence in classroom
• 3rd offense: Referral and phone call home

Students will also be rewarded for actively showing the FALCON WAY in class:

• Yellow Slips
• Whole Class Points

While students are encouraged to ask others to help them with their writing, any work turned in that is not their own (turning in another’s work as your own, copying a friend’s work before class, using evidence from  a text without citing sources, copying an author’s exact words) will result in a zero, with no option for revision, and a referral to 30 minute Friday Night School.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at (619) 263-3009 x4408 or email me at: [email protected] Please allow for 24hrs response (possibly longer on weekends).