Academic LiteracyAcademic Literacy

2014-20152014-2015

The Academic Literacy course is The Academic Literacy course is designed to extend the informational designed to extend the informational reading proficiency of grade 7 reading proficiency of grade 7 students.  By the end of this course, students.  By the end of this course, students will have achieved two students will have achieved two overarching goals:overarching goals:

1.  Be critical consumers of 1.  Be critical consumers of informational textsinformational texts

2.  Write in response to informational 2.  Write in response to informational textstexts

Grading ProtocolGrading Protocol

2014-20152014-2015

Weighted 30%: Weighted 30%: AssessmentsAssessments

•• TestsTests

•• QuizzesQuizzes

•• ProjectsProjects

Weighted 60%: Daily Weighted 60%: Daily Performance TasksPerformance Tasks

•• Work that is done in the classroom Work that is done in the classroom on on a daily basis categorized by the a daily basis categorized by the following: following:

•• Comprehension and demonstration Comprehension and demonstration of of student understanding of conceptstudent understanding of concept

•• Distributive PracticeDistributive Practice

•• Extending/Refining Extending/Refining

•• Writing AssignmentsWriting Assignments

Daily Performance TasksDaily Performance Tasks

•• Formative AssessmentsFormative Assessments

•• Vocabulary EnrichmentVocabulary Enrichment

•• Notebook CheckNotebook Check

Weighted 10%: Preparation Weighted 10%: Preparation for Classfor Class

•• Homework (not to be more than Homework (not to be more than 5%)5%)

•• Class ParticipationClass Participation

•• Class PreparednessClass Preparedness

•• Teachers may use discretion to Teachers may use discretion to separate Class Participation & separate Class Participation &

Homework within this category Homework within this category

Preparation for ClassPreparation for Class

•• Late work policy should be Late work policy should be consistent with the policy below. If consistent with the policy below. If homework/classwork is gone over homework/classwork is gone over in in class, late work does not have class, late work does not have to be to be accepted unless the student accepted unless the student was was absent.absent.

•• No Extra Credit can be earned No Extra Credit can be earned with with classwork.classwork.

Preparedness for ClassPreparedness for Class

•• No Extra Credit can be earned No Extra Credit can be earned with with classwork.classwork.

Teachers should not drop the Teachers should not drop the lowest grade from the gradebook.lowest grade from the gradebook.

•• No extra credit may be givenNo extra credit may be given

•• Absentee late work will follow Absentee late work will follow district guidelines.district guidelines.

Late work Late work •• The earned percentage grade will be The earned percentage grade will be

reduced by 10% for reduced by 10% for one day one day late.late.

•• The earned percentage grade will be The earned percentage grade will be reduced by 20% for reduced by 20% for two days two days late.late.

•• The earned percentage grade will be The earned percentage grade will be reduced by 30% for reduced by 30% for three days three days late.late.

•• After the third late day the grade After the third late day the grade results in a zero.results in a zero.

Beginning of Class Beginning of Class ExpectationsExpectations

- Always enter quietly- Always enter quietly

- Read the “Do Now” posted on - Read the “Do Now” posted on the boardthe board

-Prepare for class (clear your desk -Prepare for class (clear your desk of binders, have your writing of binders, have your writing instrument, SSR book and your instrument, SSR book and your class notebook on your desk class notebook on your desk top)top)

Unit 1 – Metacognitive Unit 1 – Metacognitive StrategiesStrategies

•• Before ReadingBefore Reading

••During Reading During Reading

••After ReadingAfter Reading

••Written ResponseWritten Response

••Research strategiesResearch strategies

Unit 2- Text Structures Unit 2- Text Structures of Informational Textof Informational Text

•• Chronological OrderChronological Order

•• Compare/ContrastCompare/Contrast

•• Cause/EffectCause/Effect

•• Question/AnswerQuestion/Answer

•• Problem/SolutionProblem/Solution

•• DescriptionDescription

Unit Three –Unit Three –Assessment StrategiesAssessment Strategies

Standardized TestsStandardized Tests

•• Strategies for Multiple Strategies for Multiple Choice QuestionsChoice Questions

•• Strategies for Open-Strategies for Open-Ended Ended ResponsesResponses

Unit Four – Unit Four – Understanding Genres of Understanding Genres of

Informational Text Informational Text •• TextbookTextbook

•• Informational articleInformational article

•• BiographyBiography

•• EditorialEditorial

•• Reflective essayReflective essay

•• Connections between textsConnections between texts

Unit Five – Study Unit Five – Study Strategies Strategies

•• Note takingNote taking

•• OutliningOutlining

•• Skimming & Skimming & ScanningScanning

Unit Six – Unit Six – Vocabulary Vocabulary

DevelopmentDevelopmentThis unit work is infused This unit work is infused throughout the entire school throughout the entire school year. year.

•• Affix and RootsAffix and Roots

•• Reference MaterialsReference Materials

•• Multiple Meaning Words Multiple Meaning Words

NovelNovel

We Beat the StreetWe Beat the Street

By The Three By The Three DoctorsDoctors