Maywood Middle School 

Seventh Grade ELA7 Course Syllabus      

~ Mrs. Tolonen ~ 

Welcome! English Language Arts (ELA) with Mrs. Tolonen is a performance and project-based learning course that follows a hybrid 'workshop' and ‘discovery-learning’ structure reinforcing 21st Century reading, writing, speaking, observational, and listening skills. This class integrates high-quality education standards for every type of learner. You will develop mutually reinforcing skills and exhibit mastery of standards for reading and writing across a range of materials and activities. Assignments and projects involve individual research, independent study, and a variety of collaborative exercises. All students are provided with challenging and enriching opportunities. Class discussions and literature studies may naturally lead to mature, guided conversation (especially in Advanced LA) in a safe, nurturing environment that include, but are not limited to, politics, current world events, loss, religion, inclusion, civil rights, diseases, social injustices, etc. You will be presenting speeches, partaking in debates, completing choice-reading projects, performing readers’ theatre plays, conducting MLA-cited research projects, practicing being a digitally responsible citizen, participating in discussions, integrating Habits of Mind, analyzing poetry, and so much more!  

 

How does Advanced Language Arts (ALA) differ from Language Arts (LA)?  

• https://www.isd411.org/academics/middle-school-curriculum-pathways/english-language-arts/advla 

 

Course Guide: ISD link HERE 

 

Overall Course Objectives:  

Smarter Balance Reading & Writing ~ Grammar ~ Vocabulary ~ The Writing Process ~ Modes of Writing: Narrative, Informative, & Argumentative ~ Independent reading and writing Debate, Public Speaking, & Discussion ~ Elements of Literature ~ Reading Comprehension Strategies Effective Communication Skills · Higher-level thinking skills · Greek and Latin Roots · Student-choice & ‘workshop model’ · Student-choice & ‘discovery-learning’ 

 

Course Outline by Semester or Trimester:    

What are we doing?  Year at-a-Glance
Trimester 1	Trimester 2	Trimester 3
Elements of Lit/ Courage to Be an Individual Reading  Narrative Writing	Non-Fiction Reading  Informational Writing/Es-Sway	Dystopia (LA)  Novel Study: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet (ALA)  Argument Writing  Poetry

 

Required Course Materials and Supplies 

• Charged laptop (labeled) w/ charging cord (labeled) 

• Independent reading book – digital or paper – no graphic novels / manga 

• College-ruled composition notebook – aka Reader’s-Writer’s Notebook (RWN) - no spiral notebook 

• #2 pencils, handheld pencil sharpener*, red pen, & black or blue pen 

• Black fine Sharpie
• The full SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST is HERE.  

*There is NOT a class pencil sharpener to limit disruptions, promote thinking ahead, and foster good organizational habits. 

 

Warm-Up (WU) / Opening of Class: When you arrive to class, notice the displayed ELA7 agenda then read from your book. Most days, WU will include ten minutes of independent reading from a chapter book / novel. After reading, we will briefly discuss the daily agenda that includes Classwork (CW) and homework (HW). This same agenda information is located on ELA daily agendas within your ELA Canvas course and on the whiteboard in the classroom.  

 

Tardy Policy: Once class starts, warm-up (WU) by noticing our displayed class agenda then read from your independent chapter book / novel. You should arrive to class on time. A tardy may be earned if you are not in your seat, quiet, and ‘WUing’ BEFORE the sound of the class start bell. “Do not be TARDY for the Tolonen PARTY.” Several unexcused tardies may earn you a lunch detention.                                    

 

Phones should be powered off and away all day. Phones being habitually used without permission will be secured in the attendance office for you (or your parent) to pick up after school.  

• “Out of sight is right!” “Off and away all day. It is a part of The Maywood Way!” 

 

Laptops: Bring your laptop fully charged to school daily. Have your laptop and charging cord with you. Follow Tech-Expectations. Routinely coming to class without your laptop and/or it charged will result in progressive intervention as described on the next page.  

 

Bandages can be found above the sink in the cupboard. Help yourself to one, if needed.  

 

Tissue is by the door. Please quietly step into the hall to blow your nose. Let Mrs. T. know when these supplies are low.  

 

Door: When you enter and exit, hold the door to close it quietly. Do not let it slam.    

 

Chair & Backpack: Anytime you leave your chair, lift / push it in. Your backpack should also be hung on a desk hook or stored out of the walkway. Not only are these good habits, but they also promote safety by ensuring a clear foot traffic zone. It is highly recommended you leave your backpack in your locker. 

 

Gum is prohibited in our classroom, especially during speeches, debates, reader’s theater, and read-alouds; this allows for clearer verbal articulation. Also, this no gum policy helps keep our desks, clothes, and classroom carpet clean. 

 

Classroom Values and Expectations: Follow ‘The Maywood Way’. Be safe. Be kind. Be respectful. Do your best. Student input and discussion will determine what ‘The Maywood Way’ looks like in our ELA classroom.   

If a student disrupts the learning of others, the following progressive interventions are used to support the student in changing their behavior. 

• Step 1. The teacher gives a reminder of the expected behavior. 

• Step 2. The teacher will privately, discreetly reteach expected behavior. 

• Step 3. The teacher documents the incident and contacts home to inform parents. 

• Step 4. The incident is problem-solved with an administrator. 

* Some behaviors, as described in the Student Handbook, are so serious that the student is removed immediately from the classroom and referred to an administrator for intervention. 

 

Assignment Tracking Expectations: A planner is encouraged!  

• You are responsible for keeping your paper and/or digital planner updated. 

• Monitor your Canvas grade book ‘To Do’ list.  

• Be able to navigate our Canvas course. (The Canvas 101 resource module is HERE.) 

• Mrs. Tolonen updates her Canvas site calendar and modules often.  

• Access your ALA / LA Canvas modules for weekly and daily agendas. 

  

Late Work: 

• Late work will be coded LT in the gradebook for habit-tracking purposes.  

• There is no direct point deduction for late work; however, due dates are set for many reasons and should be followed. If you habitually do not complete assignments, or stay current with due dates, it is likely you will fall behind on class projects. 

• Work turned in late will not receive a penalty to the grade but will not be eligible for revision / resubmission / retakes / reattempts. 

• Grading late work is Mrs. T.'s last priority. Please allow her 5 - 7 school days to grade late work. 

 

Make-up & Missing Work: 

• You are responsible to make-up missed work by visiting Mrs. T.’s Canvas course and checking modules for agendas, assignments, etc. 

• Copies of handouts and class notes will be kept in an accessible classroom location and/or via Canvas. It is your responsibility to obtain necessary assignments, handouts, and/or materials that you missed during your absence. Please keep in mind, not all assignments have handouts. 

• It’s strongly recommended you take vacations during our school breaks to avoid feeling overwhelmed with make-up work.  

• All students have access to Mrs. T.’s notes and anchor charts. Taking pictures of Mrs. T.’s notes, journal pages, anchor charts, etc. is highly encouraged, as long as you are being digitally responsible – not posting these pictures online, using them to cheat, etc. 

• “I know I completed the paper assignment and turned it in.” Check the No Name Wall (by the door, above the trash bin). The wall is cleared when grade books closures occur. 

  

Work Guidelines: 

• Assignments should be legibly written, or they will be returned to you. The final (or published) draft should be in black ink or typed in Times 12-14 font, unless otherwise instructed. 

• If you write in highlighter, red pen, colored pencil, etc., you will be asked to redo that assignment. 

• Use complete sentences, unless otherwise instructed.  

• Acceptable photo files vs. unacceptable files: Be sure to submit ‘clear’ files of your work to avoid having to redo / resubmit. 

 

ELA7 Gradebook: 

• Assessments (80%): Eighty percent of the overall grade in ALA will be determined by assessments which include tests, quizzes, projects, learning checks/exit tickets, speeches, etc. 

• Assignments (20%): These may include ‘workshop’ readings and annotations, grammar/spelling/vocabulary exercises, journal notes, etc. 

• Formative (0%): Some assignments will be entered in this category to inform at 0% of your grade. 

• Grading Adjustments: At the end-of-trimester, your grade will be rounded up to the nearest grade, if you are within 1% of the next letter grade. For end-of-trimester report cards, your Canvas grade book percentage is entered into Skyward. 

 

Letter Grade    Range 

A                      93-100 

A-                    90-92.99 

B+                   87-89.99 

B                      83-86.99 

B-                     80-82.99 

C+                    77-79.99 

C                      73-76.99 

C-                     70-72.99 

D+                    67-69.99 

D                      60-66.99 

F                       0 -59.99 

 

Recovery Plans: Mrs. T. wants you to learn the material presented in class. This doesn’t always happen on the first attempt, and that is okay. Most assignments and assessments can be redone and resubmitted for an improved score, if under 93%. The following conditions must be met in order to revise / reattempt items: The initial assignment must be turned in on time. All daily work and assignments for the unit must be completed before a retake / revision on an assessment. The retake score is the final score.  

 

Homework type/purpose/volume/frequency: Most assignments can be done in class and Charger Time, except for studying for tests, iReady Reading pathway work, and daily reading minutes. Students who need more time will need to finish their homework at home. 

Reading minutes*: 200 minutes per week (LA) and 250 minutes per week (ALA) 

*Our reading guidelines will be provided at a later date explaining theses expectations. 

 

Academic Dishonesty will earn you an automatic ZERO for the assignment / assessment and ZERO chance to revise / edit that assignment / assessment. This is in accordance with the Academic Integrity section of the Student Handbook. As stated in the Student Handbook: “Academic integrity violations are tracked throughout a student’s career. ...The use of AI to generate schoolwork [violates] the District's Academic Integrity/Honesty Regulation. Academic integrity violations include, but are not limited to: 

• Plagiarizing or submitting any part of another person’s work as representing one’s own scholarship. 

• Distribution/sharing of class assignments or test information in either written or verbal form to another student without teacher permission. 

• Unauthorized Collaboration – working with others without the specific permission of the instructor on assignments that will be submitted for an individual’s grade. This applies to in-class or take-home assignments/homework, projects, tests, or labs. 

• Collusion – supporting the lack of integrity/honesty by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another. Collusion also includes the use or sharing of identical or highly similar passages of one’s own work, or the work of another, unless specifically authorized by the teacher. 

• Cheating – using notes or other materials without a teacher’s permission on tests and assignments. 

• Technology Malpractice – any misuse or abuse of private or public technology in relation to grades or in acquiring an academic advantage, including infractions of the school technology user agreement, language translation websites, cell phone messaging or picture transmission. 

 

Bathroom Break: If a restroom break is truly needed, choose the best time during class to discreetly receive a bathroom lanyard from Mrs. T. Then, sign out on the clipboard. You do not have to ask Mrs. T. to use the restroom, but please make eye contact with her before you exit the room. Take a right, out of the classroom door, to use the 7th grade bathroom - closest to our classroom. When you return, sign in, and quietly return the lanyard.  

 

Passes: Anytime you leave any class, you need a paper pass or a lanyard. A blue pass is needed to see the nurse, librarian, counselor, etc. Sign-out / in on the classroom clipboard.    

 

Mrs. Tolonen’s Office Hours: 

• I am available some days during Charger Time (CT) (w/ a blue pass from me ahead of time), after school, and other times by appointment to assist you. Let me know what works best for you.  

• As time allows, when I am at Maywood 7:30am-3:00pm, I check my Outlook email and Canvas inbox messages. Voicemail is rarely checked.   

• Canvas inbox messages differ from Canvas assignment comments. I do not always see assignment comments. Please talk to me in person, email, or use your Canvas inbox to contact me.   

• Before school is not a good time to meet with me, and I do not regularly check my work email when I am home with my family after 3:00pm.  

  

Seventh grade is going to be awesome. I am lucky to be your ELA teacher! 

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Tolonen 

tolonens@issaquah.wednet.edu 

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Keep this syllabus (pages 1-9) in your ELA7 binder/folder/envelope all year for reference.  

Study this information. There will be open syllabus (open note) quizzes at least once per trimester.  

 

The first syllabus quiz is scheduled for ___________ . 

 

 

                                                                                  

                                                                Page 9 is DUE in the classroom turn-in drawer___________ . 

 

Parent / Guardian ~  

 

In addition to signing your name below, please answer any (or all) of the questions. Complete sentences are not needed. 😊 Use the back of this page, if needed. Your insights make a world of difference in helping me teach your child / teen. Thank you! 

 

I / We have read over and understand the ELA7 course syllabus.  

Student’s Name (printed):_______________________________________________________ 

Student’s Preferred Pronoun(s):___________________________________________________ 

Student’s Signature (in blue or black pen, please):________________________________________ 

Class:  ALA  or  LA (Circle.)            Class Period: _____            Today’s Date:__________________ 

Parent’s / Guardian’s Name (printed):______________________________________________ 

Parent’s / Guardian’s Signature (in blue/black pen, please):_________________________________ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

1. What makes your child / teen happy outside of school? 

 

 

1. What do you see as your child’s / teen’s greatest strengths or skills?  

 

 

1. Do you have any observances or holidays that your family celebrates that might impact your child’s / teen’s learning?  

 

 

1. As your child’s ELA teacher, what do I need to know in order for them to have a good experience in ELA7?