7

th
grade AP ELA Syllabus
Teacher-Patti Wiseman
E-mail- patti.wiseman@vallivue.org
School Number- 208-468-4926 ext. 405
The 7
th
grade Pre-AP English Language Art (ELA) courses are a connected set of intensive and demanding classes
offered by Sage Valley Middle School. Students will prepare to read and reflect at an advanced level on various types of texts:
Narrative, Informational/Explanatory, and Argument which may include novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, articles, audio
and film. The students writing will focus on analyzing and creating texts that demonstrate critical thinking, reflection, and the
ability to apply these elements in their own pieces of writing. There will be grammar practice that ideally will lead to a deeper
understanding of how our language works to assist us as readers, writers, and citizens. Speaking and listening skills are
foundational to students success in this class, achieving the skills necessary to exceed the Idaho Core Standards, and the new
Smarter Balanced Assessment adopted by the state. In addition to mastery of skills in reading and writing, our class will
address the concept of growth through change and conflict. Questions that we will revisit throughout our curriculum will
include: How does change lead to conflict? How does conflict lead to change?
Student Classroom Expectations:
- Grading Scale: A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69, F 59 and below.
- Work should be in on time and complete.
- All late work will lose 10% per day late. After ten days, a zero will be entered into the gradebook.
- If students were unable to finish a class assignment, it will be expected to be done as homework.
- Late Homework Policy: The student writes the date, assignment, reason the assignment wasnt completed and turns the
sheet into me. It will be called a Pink Slip.
- When the work is brought to school, I will staple the late notice to the paper. I will enter the assignment into my
computer gradebook, but I will enter LATE in the comments section.
- After three late assignments, I will notify a parent or guardian to discuss the situation. All parents have access to the
parental portal which is on the internet, even in an app formate for smartphones.
- The signed paper should be turned in with the late homework.
- If you would prefer a text or email for missed work, that can be arranged as well. Let me know, and we will find a
system that works best your family.
- Final drafts must be written in dark ink, printed, or emailed to me.
- We will be attempting to create all documents in Google Drive, so that students can edit assignments on any computer.
- Assignments without names will be placed in the Lost Paper Basket. It will remain a zero until the owner rescues it, puts
a name on it, and turns it into the Late basket.
- You may be asked to resubmit work if corrections are necessary.
- You will be expected to discuss, share, question, and communicate with your classmates in a positive manner. Sage
Valley Middle School has five classroom agreements:
1. Mutual Respect
2. Appreciations/No Put-Downs
3. Attentive Listening
4. Appropriate Task Completion
5. Participation/Right to Pass
- Additional reading at home is expected and highly encouraged. I understand that many students have full schedules.
Students will create individual monthly reading goals, and there will be formative assessments that demonstrate how
the reading has impacted the student. Students will be formulating these projects in class. At times, group work may
be required. To honor students ability to manage a full schedule, I tend to give reading projects that have
predetermined deadlines, so that students can manage time as professionals do.
- Book projects will be assigned each quarter. My goal is to give students several presentation choices.
- As part of being in an advanced class, students that have lower than a 70% will be expected to conference with the
teacher to make a plan to increase the student's future success. This may include a need for after school tutoring in
Success Club or with the instructor before or after school.
- Eligibility to remain in the PreAP ELA program is dependent on the student's grades and work ethic.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to 7
th
grade PreAp Language and Reading. I would like to give you a few tidbits
about me. This is my 19
th
year of teaching, and it is still new and exciting each year. My
husband, Tony, and I have four children. Two have left the nest, and are living in other states.
The youngest two, Shayne and Dani, attend high school at VHS. Go Falcons! Sports keep us busy
all year long. In my free time, there is nothing I enjoy more than books and chocolate. There
are some elements of this year that are new, and I would like to explain them to you briefly.
The next thing Id like to go over is this years curriculum. There will be extra reading
and writing activities that are required outside of class. I have intentionally selected a diverse
set of literature from various genres. If you read or view them and decide that your student is
not ready for this material, please schedule a meeting to come in, so we can arrange a
replacement. We can work together. Please, trust that these selections have been carefully
selected to enhance your childs learning. It is my hope that students will come home excited to
discuss new topics that they discussed in class, so that you are part of that conversation.
Students will be encouraged to discuss ideas and think critically, while listening to others, and
developing conclusions or questions for further study. We are a community of learners, and our
classroom will be dialogic in nature.
PreAp classes are intended to assist students in preparing for the increased workload of
advanced placement classes in the high school. In literature, it is my hope to explore the
concept of growth in relation to conflict and change. Basically, what we read should lead to a
deeper self awareness while engaging in academic discussion while thinking critically about a
wide variety of topics. The Idaho Core Standards have been adopted by our state, and we will
use various strategies in all subjects to be successful. Reading and writing skills will be taught
and practiced in many subject areas. The goal is to give students the tools needed to be 21
st

century students.
Our district uses on on-line grade book called Infinite Campus. Parents have the ability
to check a students grades and attendance. This is available in App format for smartphones as
well. My goal is to post new grades every other week, so students remain current on their
progress. Agendas are required and very useful tools for students to keep track of homework,
projects, tests, and school events. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Your childs overall well-being, academic growth, and achievement remain my top priority. I look
forward to working with your family this school year.
It is going to be a great year!
Mrs. Patti Wiseman Adams

Quarter One Goals
Reading Language Arts
Novels
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
White Fang by Jack London

Grammar: Pre-AP and general language classes
will be doing Daily Grammar Practice. Students
will have a daily assignment.
Films
Spirt Bear by Mark Rendall
White Fang by Walt Disney 1991
Facing the Giants
Writing Focus: Students will be developing
argument writing. Many types of writing will be
explored across genres. Each quarter,
students will take one piece from the quarter
and write an analysis of how they as a writer
went through the writing process to the final
draft. This will include citing evidence from
the piece that demonstrates the work that
was needed to complete the work.
Poems and Short Stories
Seventh Grade by Gary Soto
Eleven by Sandra Cisneros
Duct Tape History

For all 7
th
grade classes, one Common Core Standard that will be specifically emphasized in the first quarter is
citing several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from text.

Please sign below that you have read the syllabus. Also, if possible, include your email address, so I can easily contact you with any praise or
concerns for your student. Thank you.
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specifics on the arrangements as it relates to your student's academic progress please email or call me. Thank you.
Circle your preferred method in which you wish me to contact you regarding your child: phone or email or text
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