Lexington Middle School

7th Grade IB Advanced and Regular

Language Arts Syllabus

“Advancing Towards the Future”

Teachers

Mrs. Margaret Kemp                    Phone – (239) 454-6130   ext. 248                                                                                                                                 Fax – (239) 489-3419 ext 249                                                                                       E-Mail –   margaretnk@leeschools.net	Mr. Mark Mosley Phone-(239) 454-6130 ext 288 Fax – (239) 489-3419 ext 249 E – Mail – markam@leeschools.net
The best way to have immediate communication is to email the teacher. School notes is a great tool for parents to catch up on classroom activities!	Mrs. Rivanne Freeman                      Phone – (239) 454-6130 ext. 267                                                  Fax – (239) 489-3419                         E-Mail –   rivanneaf@leeschools.net Homework Hotline Mailbox # 80215 Home Phone – (239) 482-1530

The IB Program- Overview

This program offers the opportunity for your child to learn utilizing an advanced curriculum with an emphasis on global international studies. Our goal is to exit well rounded global thinking students who are ready for our ever-changing future. .Lexington Middle is an advanced concept school. This means higher order strategies and critical thinking skills, based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, taught and assessed in each class.  This provides a challenging opportunity for all students! The IB philosophy and concepts will be integrated in all of the courses for 7^th grade students. Two IB Programs will be offered at Lexington Middle School, the IB Certified Program and the IB Exploratory Program.

The IB Certificated Program will be provided to incoming 7^th grade students who are recommended for advanced courses and are not scheduled for intensive reading /math or repeating any courses based on the A++ plan. The IB Exploratory Program will be provided for all other 7th grade students.  This program will allow individualized student schedules.

Advanced IB Language Arts (IB Certified)

Advanced IB Language Arts is designed for the highly motivated student who is committed to active learning inside and outside of school. This class is for students who are not scheduled for intensive reading or repeating Language Arts based on the A++ plan. The students in this program will be expected to perform at an advanced level.

Regular IB Language Arts (IB Exploratory)

Regular IB Language Arts is designed for your child to have the opportunity to have the IB philosophy and concepts integrated in their curriculum at a pace that is appropriate for you child’s academic level.  

Semester - Academic Plan Goals

Reading Content

Predicting, Prior Knowledge, Prediction, Main Idea and Details, Character’s Motives, Character Development, Setting, Plot Conflict, Graphic Organizer for Plot, Conflicts & Resolution, Inference/Generalization, Inferences and Conclusions, Monitors Own Comprehension, Organization of Text, Graphic Organizer for a Text, Understands Point of View, Point of View, Author’s Purpose, Elements of Author’s Craft, Universal Themes, and  Influence of Author’s Personal Values.

Writing Content

Knows Prewriting Strategies, Uses Prewriting Strategies, Uses Organizational Pattern, Focus on Topic, Punctuation, Capitalization, Parts of Speech, Revision, Spelling, Proofreads, and Uses Technology in Writing.

Vocabulary (Word Study) Content

New Words Learned, Patterns & Rules of English Language, Word Origins, Word Parts, Denotation/Connotation, Context Clues & Word Structure, Context Word Meaning, Slang, and Formal & Informal English.

Listening and Participation Skills

Listening-Alertness, Listening - Eye Contact , Listening -  Body Language, Verbal Directions, Verbal & Nonverbal Cues, Classroom Discussions, Asking Pertinent Questions, Group Discussion, and Expanding Personal Interest.

Language Arts Grading Procedure

The grading procedure will be on a point system. A “checkmark” (√  ) = 25 points, which is a class work/homework assignment. Quizzes, tests, journals, writing activities, projects, etc. will be given a point value ranging from 30 points to 200 points. (See examples below)

1 – Homework paper                      = 22/25 (earned score)

1 – Quiz                                            = 50/50 (earned score)

1 – Test                                          = 80/100 (earned score)

Total Points Earned                     = 152/175, which equals to 87%

District Grading Scale

 A - 100 – 90

 B - 89 –   80

C - 79 –  70

D - 69 – 60

                                                                                                          F - 59 –   0

Class Work/Homework Policy

1. Any class work not completed will be homework and will be due the following day.

2. Any other homework assigned will be given a specified due date.

3. Class work/Homework needs to be complete and checked for full credit towards your grade.

4. I will collect on time papers in class myself.  Do not place completed assignments on my desk or anywhere else in the classroom, unless otherwise told. This will ensure that I received your assignments and that they never get lost.

Late Work Policy

1. One (1) school day late, a 20% deduction in grade will be given.

2. Two (2) school days late or more (within the assigned quarter), a 40% deduction in grade will be given.

*The goal is to inform you immediately, that your child has not completed the given work.

How to avoid “late work”? Ask your child daily to see his or her agenda book for the given assignment. If your child’s work is not complete or he/she does not have any of it; I will note this in their agenda. A stamp will be placed next to the Language Arts assignment. This states that your child did not hand in or complete that assignment. 

Make Up Work Policy

1. A student who is absent and the absence is determined to be an excused absence, as defined by School Board Policy 2.77, is required to make up all course work missed. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain assignments from the appropriate teacher(s) upon returning to class immediately following an absence and not receive an academic penalty unless the work is not made up in a reasonable time.

2. The teacher shall work with the student to allow the student to make up any missed assignments, tests, homework, etc., for excused absences. (Please refer to “absence policy” in the Parent Communication Letter for specific details.)

3. Immediately upon return to school from an absence, the student shall be given the number of school days missed plus one additional day to submit the make-up work for full credit.

* If your child is absent please call the forthcoming homework hotline and/or go online to school notes for your child’s missed work.

* Unfortunately most of the time, we are not able to provide work for students if they are aware of a future absence (example: going out of town for a week). It is most beneficial for the child to be aware of the learning objective first before completing the assigned work. They will be provided with the work when they return.

Responsibility of the Student

1. If a student is absent they are responsible for copying the missed work from the “Master Agenda Book”.

2. All needed work will be found in the designated area for their class. (lesson folder)

3. If an assignment is collected/ returned while the student is absent, it is their responsibility to get it from the “returned work” trays.

4. If a proper heading is not on a paper, points will be deducted (if claimed.) If not claimed it becomes a 0.

5.  We will not ask for your missing work or investigate to find the owners of “no name papers.”

6. You will be notified of your grades every 3 weeks through interims and every 9 weeks through report cards.

Extra Credit Policy

Students are provided adequate time to complete all class work to make sure they are successful therefore we do not offer extra credit work. We might however give students the opportunity to get extra credit on an assignment that has already been assigned.

* Please note that some students may have modifications to this syllabus due to pre-arranged circumstances.