St.
Rose School
Language Arts Curriculum Standards
June 2003
Grade
7
Reading
- Word Analysis, Fluency,
and Systematic Vocabulary Development
- Students use their knowledge
of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary
context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and
to understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.
- Reading Comprehension
- Students read and understand
grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential
ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge
of text structure, organization, and prupose. The selections in Recommended
Readings in Literature, Kindergarten Through Grade Eight (California Department
of Education, 1996) illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials
to be read by students. In addition, by grade eight, students read one
million words annually on their own, including a good representation of
grade-level-appropriate narrative and expository text (e.g., classic and
contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, online information). In
grade seven, students make substantial progress toward this goal.
- Literary Response and
Analysis
- Students read and respond
to historically or culturally significant works of literature that reflect
and enhance their studies of history and social science. They clarify
the ideas and connect them to other literary works. The selections in
Recommended Readings in Literature, Kindergarten Through Grade Eight (California
Department of Education, 1996) illustrate the quality and complexity of
the materials to be read by students.
Writing
- Writing Strategies
- Students write clear and coherent
and focused essays. The writing exhibits the students' awareness of the
audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting
evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the
writing process as needed.
- Writing Applications (Genres
and Their Characteristics)
- Students write narrative,
expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 to 700 words
in each genre. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American
English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies outlined
in Writing Standard 4.
Written and Oral English
Language Conventions
- Written and Oral English
Language Conventions
- Students write and speak with
a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level.
Listening and Speaking
- Listening and Speaking
Strategies
- Students deliver focused,
coherent presentations that convey ideas clearly and relate to the background
and interests of the audience. They evaluate the content of oral communication.
- Speaking Applications
- Students deliver well-organized
formal presentations employing traditional rhetorical strategies (e.g.,
narration, exposition, persuasion, description). Student speaking demonstrates
a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery
strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 7.