Miller’s Message
A Syllabus for Moore West JH, Seventh-Grade Language Arts, 2016 - 2017

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”
-George Washington Carver
Instructor Information
Mr. Kacey Miller, M.Ed. E.A.
Room 304
School Phone:(405) 735-4620
E-mail:
Conference times:
  1. 7:20 – 7:40 a.m.
  2. 12:40 – 1:15 a.m.
  3. 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
/ Course Expectations
  1. Language Arts is a course that is designed to prepare students for the rigors of future English courses. Students will be challenged to perform, think, and behave at amature level.
  2. Language-arts students must exhibit the following qualities:
  1. An understanding that advanced grades must be earned through superior effort and in-depth thinking
  2. Respectfulness to others and attentiveness in class
  3. A desire to read daily and analyze difficult texts
  4. A willingness to be punctual to class and to arrive with a positive attitude
  5. A belief that homework and other assignments must be completed on time
  1. Language-arts students will not be allowed to display the following qualities:
  1. A feeling that advanced grades should be easy to obtain—without superior effort and in-depth thinking
  2. Disrespectfulness to others, which robs others of their education; inattentiveness in class
  3. A tendency to read infrequently or to read texts at a superficial level
  4. Tardiness to class and negative attitudes

Key Class Procedures
  1. After gathering class materials, using the restroom, and taking care of hydration needs, enter class, sit down, and silently begin the bell-work assignment.
  2. Raise your hand whenever you desire to contribute to class discussions or need to get up from your seat. Wait for the teacher to acknowledge you (call on you) and grant you permission before shouting out answers or rising from your seat.
  3. The sound of the bell is simply a reminder that class is near an end. The teacher will dismiss you after books, desks, and other class materials are back where they belong.
Absences: Whenever you miss a day of instruction, it is your responsibility to obtain any missing assignments. Be sure to make time (before or after class, during lunch, or before or after school) to discuss the assignments with the teacher.
Behavioral Expectations
  1. Respect: Treat others as you want to be treated
  2. Responsibility: Be on time and prepared for class. Take ownership of your actions.
  3. Effort: A person really can control only one thing in his life—how much effort he puts forth. Live a life marked by excellence—not by laziness.
  4. Courtesy: Do not rob your classmates of a proper education by interrupting the lesson.
  • Note: Above all, behave as a reasonable person would act, and refer to the MWJH student handbook for all other expectations.
/ Class-Discipline Policy
First offense: Warning, reminder of expectations
Second offense: One-on-one discussion, possible plan of action
Third offense: Lunch detention
Fourth offense: After-School Detention, Parent contact
Fifth offense: Office Referral
Note: Depending on the severity of the offense, steps may be skipped, and other classroom-management efforts may be employed.
*Also, cell phones must be turned off unless Mr. Miller says otherwise. / Tardy Policy
First tardy – Warning
Second tardy – Warning, reminder of subsequent steps, possible plan of action
Third tardy – Lunch detention
Fourth tardy – After-School Detention, Parent contact
Fifth tardy – Office Referral
Note: Students are expected to be in their seats and prepared for class—not running into the classroom— whenever the bell rings.

Course Description

This course is designed to equip students with the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills that are critical to the development of literate citizens who can communicate effectively. With an emphasis on literature and the analysis thereof, the course will challenge students to explicate texts of various genres—poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, media, mythology, etc. Students will daily interact with and explore the intricacies of American Standard English; will learn to organize ideas and argue theses in formal, written essays, verbal debates, and various other research-oriented and self-expressive modes of articulation; will study test strategies that will prepare them for MPS benchmark and OK reading assessments, and for future ACT, SAT, and EOI exams. In short, this course will help students acquire important life skills and will satisfy Oklahoma Academic Standards:

Grading Scale

Score/Level / Description of Scores
Mastery Level
A = 90-100 % / Complete; accurate; advanced; superior effort; neat; organized; insightful
Practice Level
B = 80-89 % / Mostly complete; mostly accurate; above-average effort; mostly neat, mostly organized
Practice Level
C = 70-79 % / Average in all areas: completeness, accuracy, effort, neatness, and organization
Practice Level
D = 60-69 % / Mediocre to below average in all areas: completeness, accuracy, effort, neatness, and organization
Introductory Level
F = 50-59 % / Mostly incomplete; mostly inaccurate; below-average effort; mostly messy; mostly disorganized; maybe No attempt to complete the assigned tasks
Miller’s Message
Moore West JH, Seventh-Grade Language Arts, 2016 - 2017
Class Rules
  1. Be on time, on task, and prepared to learn
EVERY DAY. #nofreedays
  1. Respect the teacher, the classroom, others
students, and yourself. #benice
  1. Be responsible for your own learning.
#quitcheating #workhard #laziness=failure
  1. Clean up after yourself and your peers.
#nomaidservicehere #notyourdad
  1. Keep all personal electronics PUT AWAY.
#onlywithpermission #notexting #notweeting
#nopictures
  1. Follow all other rules in the MWJH Student
Handbook. #learntoread

7th Grade English/Reading 2016-2017 School Supply List

  • 1 single-subject spiral
  • 2 plastic bradded folders
  • 1 Kleenex box
  • 2 packages of lined paper
  • 1 package of multi-colored highlighters
  • In addition to the above required list —after Labor Day, specific classes will be asked to bring one additional item.
  • A writing utensil will be needed each day,so each student must bring one to class every day. The teacher will determine the type.

Blessings—supplies not required but always appreciated:

1.Dry-erase markers and/or erasers

2.Additional packages of black, blue, or red pens

3.Additional packages of assorted colors of highlighters

4.Regular copy paper, colored copy paper, and/or cardstock