Provincial Curriculum for Grade 7 Language Arts
In Grade 7, students will
- compare and summarize points of view by respectfully discussing their thoughts with others, and reflect on their language learning
For example: predicting; expressing opinions; reaching conclusions; listening actively; appreciating others' ideas; disagreeing politely; paraphrasing and asking relevant questions to clarify ideas; correcting misconceptions; providing feedback; identifying strengths and areas for growth; and following through
- use a variety of appropriate strategies to help them understand and respond to what they read, see, and hear
For example: reflecting on and assessing meaning; skimming; scanning; close reading; stating main ideas and supporting ideas in own words; understanding the purpose of bold print and footnotes in information books; and understanding the meaning of specialized vocabulary
- compare different ways in which writers use language
For example: experiencing different kinds of reading materials such as journals, letters, and novels
- do research in a variety of ways and learn to choose appropriate information sources when seeking answers to their questions
- identify and use a variety of ways to communicate ideas for different audiences and purposes through written, oral, and visual presentations
For example: participating in role-play, language games, and simulations; creating posters; preparing PowerPoint presentations; and writing character sketches, legends, scripts, advertisements, speeches, short stories, and cartoon sequences
- use a variety of skills and strategies to revise and edit their work
For example: creating a variety of interesting sentences; using figurative language such as similes; eliminating repetition; and applying rules for spelling, capitalizing, and punctuating
- learn to reach consensus when working in groups, and evaluate their own contributions and the group's effectiveness
For example: analyzing and evaluating different viewpoints and information; and sharing perspectives and conclusions
For more information on provincial curriculum, please visit: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/parents/grade7.html#ela
Writer's Workshop
Writer's Workshop works on one basic principle: "To become a better writer, you must write."
Your job during Writer's Workshop is to find topics and purposes for your writing that matter to you, your life, who you are, and whom you want to become. All of your writing will come from you! With guidance, you will make decisions about what's working, and what needs more work in pieces of your writing. During the year, you will experiment with new topics, purposes, audiences, genres, forms, and techniques.
Each week, you will produce about five pages of rough draft, and will bringtwo pieces of writing to completion every six weeks. Good writers build quality upon a foundation of quantity.
Sometime during this year you will produce a finished piece of writing in each of the following genres:
three to five poems or songs
a memoir
a chilodren's story
a short story
a book review
an essay
a profile
You will also have the opportunity to voice your opinions through quick writes, reflections, and opinions pieces which will most often be founded on reading and discussions held in class.
My goal is to help you to become an independent writer and a critical thinker.
"The qualities of good writing are complex and nuanced. But they can be named, and I'm convinced they can be taught. Of all the arts, writing should be among the most democratic: all one needs is paper and a pen - and, I would suggest, a teacher or two along the way who workes to make the intangible tangible, so every student might know the joy of writing well." -Nancy Atwell
Reader's Workshop
Reader's Workshop works on a similar principal: "To become a better reader, you must read."
Your job during reader's workshop will be to get into the 'reading zone' by finding and reading books that you truly love. We will do a lot of thinking about what makes good literature, and you will have the opportunity to express your opinions about the book you read in a reading journal.
Your reading journal is a place for you, me, and your friends to consider books, reading, authors, and writing. You’ll think about books in informal letter-essays directed to me and friends, and we’ll write back to you about your ideas and observations. Our letter-essays and responses will become a record of the reading, thinking, learning, and teaching we accomplished together.
I can’t wait for us to begin reading and thinking about literature together in this serious-but-friendly way. I can’t wait for your first letter-essays and a year of chances to learn from you, learn with you, and help you learn more about the power and pleasures of books.
Grade 8 Provincial Reading & Writing Assessments
Please consult http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/assess/brochures/my_assess_eng.pdf for the provincial assessment brochure.
Resources
Atwell, Nancie. A Poem a Day. 2006.
Atwell, Nancie. Lessons That Change Writers. 2002.
Atwell, Nancie. The Reading Zone. 2007.