This resource accompanies our Rethink 7th Grade ELA course. It includes ideas for use, ways to support exceptional children, ways to extend learning, digital resources and tools, tips for supporting English Language Learners and students with visual and hearing impairments. There are also ideas for offline learning. 

This parent guide supports parents in helping their child at home with the 7th grade ELA content.

The lesson includes an exploration of the genre of letters to the editor, a review of persuasive writing structure and letter format, and an emphasis on multi-draft writing. The lesson focuses on the character Roy Eberhardt from Carl Hiaasen’s Newbery Honor Book Hoot for its examples. Students can complete the activity for any book that they have read.

Students become novice lexicographers as they explore recent new entries to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), learn the process of writing entries for the OED, and write a new entry themselves. Students will follow up their entry with a persuasive essay and a competition in which the strongest contender for the title of New Word is chosen. Extensions will offer students a chance to evaluate old lists of "new words" and discuss the power dynamics of dictionaries.

Students examine books, selected from the American Library Association Challenged/Banned Books list, and write persuasive pieces expressing their views about what should be done with the books at their school.

Students will view a reality television episode and read a news article related to reality television. Then students will complete a graphic organizer to create an argument for or against children participating in reality television. Students will apply supportive details for writing a persuasive paragraph.

In this lesson the students will be using a variety of skills to analyze fiction and expository texts. This combines the reading of detective fiction with written expository analysis in the form of a Detective’s Handbook. Each student reads a detective mystery, and the class watches and analyzes Murder She Purred to establish a collective example.

Suggestions on how to guide students through the writing process when writing editorials "” from brainstorming a topic to publishing their work "” and all the steps in between.

In this lesson, students use the evidence gathered in the previous lesson to respond to a constructed-response question independently for an End of Unit graded Assessment.

In this lesson, students begin the draft of their essay about Lyddie. The lesson also includes peer critique.

In this lesson, students finish the draft of their essay about Lyddie signing the petition.

In this lesson, students look back at the model essay for some final analysis that will help them bridge the gap from the essay planner to the essay draft; in particular, how to write a conclusion, use transitions, and use a formal style.

In this lesson, students finish the draft of their essay about Eliza Doolittle’s internal changes.

In this lesson, students talk through their body paragraphs with a partner to articulate and solidify their ideas. Help students understand they are not reading from their planner during this time, though they can use it as a reference.

In this lesson, students write the draft of their position paper about a screen time recommendation for the AAP. This lesson is written as a timed, on-demand drafting experience not only to keep management of the drafting process simple for the teacher, but also to give students “solo” experience in writing under timed, on-demand circumstances.

This lesson examines the characteristics of Greek heroes and leads students to recognize references to Greek mythological heroes found in literature and culture today. Students will present analyses of heroes by defending their favorites in a slideshow presentation nominatting them for selection to a Heroes' Hall of Fame.

The focus of this lesson is on the use of hieroglyphs as a form of communication, record keeping, and as a means for preserving and passing down history. Students will learn basic information about the alphabet, common Egyptian words, and how to read hieroglyphic messages. Students will also practice using hieroglyphs to create messages of their own.

Students will read a description of and passages from one of President Kennedy's speeches in 1962. Students will then write a conclusion for the speech. This resource supports English language development for English language learners.

In this lesson, student will look back at the model essay for some final analysis that helps them bridge the gap from their essay planner to their essay draft. The lesson will focus on how to write a conclusion, use transitions, and use a formal style.

In this lesson, students will use the individual experience of Mary McLeod Bethune to analyze choice, its affects on social equality, and impact on their own life experiences.