Seventh Grade English!
Mr. Coward       Room D5      Laguna Middle School         Fall 2013      mcoward@slcusd.org    
The Web Site!    
http://school.mrcoward.com 
Everything you need to know in one handy location! Every handout! Every quiz. Every test. ALL the homework. Updated daily. (See page 2.)
GREAT BOOKS!
The Giver, The Outsiders, Charlotte Doyle, more! (See page 2.)
TECHNOLOGY!
Clickers! Online Discussions! Moodle?
KBAR!
It’s fun! It’s every day! It’s the law! 
(See page 2.)
Late Work?
Don't Go There!  One day late = -25%. Two days late = -50%.  After that, don't bother.
Grades!
Do the work and the grade will take care of itself. Keep track on Powerschool!
Homework (including KBAR, vocabulary, reading questions, grammar sheets, etc.) is a large part of the grade. We will be writing several major essays and many shorter ones. Spelling/vocabulary/grammar tests will happen almost every Friday. There will be daily warm ups. We will be completing a research paper during the second semester. The various district assessments will also be considered part of the grade. Grading Scale:  A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%. Check your grade by clicking "What's My Grade?" on the web page or visiting Powerschool. 

Please sign to show that you have read and understand these expectations.
Student Signature: ______________
Parent Signature: _______________
WELCOME!
This is English Seven. My name is Mr. Coward, and I have been teaching seventh grade at Laguna since 1993. This is a literature-based, standards-based class.  I emphasize thinking skills, vocabulary, and writing. We will use technology in a variety of ways, ranging from using CPS “clickers” for our warm ups, quizzes, and tests to writing wikis (web pages) and communicating through online discussion boards. This is also a skills class where practice makes perfect. Homework is a large part of the grade. We will be enjoying many activities this year including things like: MOODLE?! Research paper — YOU pick the topic! Jeopardy! Science fiction! Google Docs?! Lively discussions ― thinking on your feet!  Fun with grammar, spelling, and vocabulary! Video! Live performances! More!

CLASS RULES!
 Luckily, there aren’t that many to remember!

•	Always bring your spiral notebook and something to write with, EVERY DAY, because we will be writing every day. All classwork and KBAR goes in this notebook, and it will be audited for completeness from time to time.
•	Always bring to class whatever book we are reading. (You'll need it, and there's a penalty if you don't bring it.)
•	Always respect the opinions of others and their right to be heard. That means no interruptions or insults. (Also, no “This is boring!” or “That’s Not Fair!” This class is neither boring nor unfair.)
•	ALWAYS DO YOUR HOMEWORK! 
It is a continuation of what we do in class as well as an introduction to tomorrow.  (Also it is the single most important part of your grade!)
•	LISTEN and WATCH and PAY ATTENTION! 
•	

PAGE TWO…       

K.B.A.R.
K.B.A.R . stands for Kick Back and Read. KBAR has several purposes; namely to get you in the habit of reading daily and to improve your reading and thinking.
First:  Get a book; one you like and will look forward to reading. If you get into a book and you don’t like it, get a new one. Ask me for suggestions, ask your sister. Ask the librarian.
Second:  Read Monday through Thursday for at least 20 minutes (in a row) each day.
Third: Fill out your reading chart, and get it signed.
Fourth:  Respond to your reading in your spiral notebook. These responses should be your thoughts, reactions, connections, and questions about what you are reading. The key here is to think about what you read; as long as you are thoughtful, you have much freedom in regard to how you respond. Read the “55 Ways to Respond to a Book” handout for more ideas.
    This notebook will be used for all reading responses and classwork, and should be a reflection of you as a reader and a thinker.  It also figures heavily in your grade: approximately half.
K.B.A.R. RESPONDING:
DO NOT SUMMARIZE! You already know how to do that. I want you to think about what you read. 
For example:
React.  Why do you love/hate this book? Why should someone else read it? What would make it better? What would you have done in the same situations?
Question.  What confuses you? Ask the author or main character 10 in depth questions. Look up words you don’t recognize.
Evaluate.  How does this book compare with other books you’ve read? What makes it better or worse? What do you think is the author’s point?
Predict.  What will happen next? What makes you think so? How does it tie in with what already happened? What “should” happen next? Write a new ending.
Quote or point out. Quote an interesting or important part of the book. Why is this important? Why is it cool? What’s the point? Why is it a key line?
CLASS NOVELS! (Subject to Change.)
The Outsiders  S.E. Hinton 
*Tom Sawyer    Mark Twain 
The Midwife’s Apprentice   Karen Cushman
*The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle  Avi
*The Martian Chronicles  Ray Bradbury
The Giver   Lois Lowry.
The Midwife's Apprentice Karen Cushman
*Maus  Art Spiegelman

Rubric for KBAR Responses
•	Can tell you've read.
•	Specific/uses examples.
•	Shows thinking.
•	Little or no summarization.
•	Effort is obvious.

KBAR FAQ:  
Can I make up missing signatures?  Ummm. No. You can, however, do extra KBAR over the weekend to make up (most of) the missing points. Read Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and get your chart signed, and you can get 15/20 points back. 
Can I get all four of my signatures on Thursday night?  
Ummm. No. The nightly thing is sort of the whole idea behind KBAR. You need to get your chart signed every day after you have read. If you forget, see question #1.
Can I make up missing responses? 
Yes. You can get up to 15 of the 20 points back by showing me your response on the following Monday. 
What if I finish my book in the middle of the week? 
You get one night off to look for a new one. Write, "Looking for book," on the  appropriate line in your chart, and get it signed. By the next night, you should  be reading a new book. 
If I do that, which book should I respond to? 
It doesn't matter. Either one, or both.
Can I do 2 KBARS per day to make up missing ones? 
No. Weekends and holidays are the only times to do make ups.

What to Do If You are Absent: 
Go Online!
1. Do your KBAR! You don’t have to call or ask anyone about this one. Yes, you have to do it if you’re sick.
2. Check the Web Page:   school .mrcoward.com  or   lams.slcusd.org  The web page is updated every day by 7:30 p.m. If you have web access, you should be able to come back to class almost without missing a beat.(If you don't have web access, call your Study Buddy!) The web page is also available on all the computers in the school, so you can get to school a little early and find out what you’ve missed. Then come to me if/when you have any questions! Pretty much everything we do is available on the web page; from spelling tests to writing ideas to your grade. In fact, when you miss a test, you can just go online and take it at home, have Mom sign it to say you did it on your own, and you’re good to go when you return!  Check it out!