Grade 7 English Curriculum

Family-facing version of the grade 7 English curriculum

Quarterly Overview of Grade 7 English

The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning.

Grade 7 English Language Arts teachers are expected to plan using Concept-Based Curriculum (CBC). Teachers are provided sample units and assessments for this course; this information reflects those samples.

Each school and teacher teams have autonomy over which CBC units they might use from our pacing guide. Some schools have elected to write their own.

Families are encouraged to communicate with schools and teachers to receive accurate planning and pacing guides.

Honors

English 7 Honors provides students the opportunity to engage in more rigorous and complex content such as exposure to advanced readings, processes, products, and assessments that reflect their understanding of key concepts.
 

Units and Details

Quarter 1 Community and Identity (Narrative)

Students will: 

  • Use roots, affixes, synonyms, and antonyms to expand vocabulary.
  • Use context and sentence structure to determine meanings and differentiate among multiple meanings of words.
  • Describe the elements of narrative structure including setting, character development, plot, theme, and conflict and how they influence each other.
  • Identify cause-and-effect relationships and their impact on plot.
  • Describe the impact of word choice, imagery, and literary devices, including figurative language, in an author’s style.
  • Make inferences and draw conclusions based on the text.
  • Use reading strategies to monitor comprehension throughout the reading process.
  • Make inferences and draw logical conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence.
  • Organize writing structure to fit form or topic.
  • Establish a central idea incorporating evidence, while maintaining an organized structure and a formal style.
  • Compose a thesis statement for persuasive writing that includes a position.
  • Clearly state a position and organize reasons and evidence, using credible sources.
  • Write multi paragraph compositions with elaboration and unity.
  • Use transition words and phrases within and between paragraphs.
  • Collect, organize, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
  • Analyze and evaluate the validity and credibility of resources.

Quarter 2 Challenge (Expository)

Students will: 

  • Use a variety of strategies to listen actively and speak using agreed-upon discussion rules with awareness of verbal and nonverbal cues.
  • Clearly communicate ideas and information orally in an organized and succinct manner.
  • Ask probing questions to seek elaboration and clarification of ideas.
  • Work effectively and respectfully within diverse groups.
  • Share responsibility for collaborative work.
  • Describe how word choice, visual images, and sound convey a viewpoint.
  • Use roots, affixes, synonyms, and antonyms to expand vocabulary.
  • Use context and sentence structure to determine meanings and differentiate among multiple meanings of words.
  • Make inferences and draw conclusions based on the text.
  • Identify an author’s organizational pattern using textual clues, such as transitional words and phrases.
  • Make inferences and draw logical conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence.
  • Identify the source, viewpoint, and purpose of texts.
  • Describe how word choice and language structure convey an author’s viewpoint.
  • Create an objective summary, including main idea and supporting details.
  • Identify cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Analyze ideas within and between selections providing textual evidence.
  • Use reading strategies to monitor comprehension throughout the reading process.
  • Organize writing structure to fit form or topic.
  • Establish a central idea incorporating evidence, while maintaining an organized structure and a formal style.
  • Compose a thesis statement for persuasive writing that includes a position.
  • Clearly state a position and organize reasons and evidence, using credible sources.
  • Write multi paragraph compositions with elaboration and unity.
  • Use transition words and phrases within and between paragraphs.
  • Collect, organize, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
  • Analyze and evaluate the validity and credibility of resources.

Quarter 3 Perception (Persuasive)

Students will: 

  • Participate in collaborative discussions with partners, building on others’ ideas.
  • Make statements to communicate agreement or tactful disagreement with others’ ideas.
  • Use language and style appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose.
  • Select, organize, and create content to complement and extend meaning for a selected topic.
  • Use effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to deliver multimodal presentations.
  • Use language and vocabulary appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose.
  • Paraphrase and summarize a speaker’s key ideas.
  • Describe how word choice, visual images, and sound convey a viewpoint.
  • Use roots, affixes, synonyms, and antonyms to expand vocabulary.
  • Use context and sentence structure to determine meanings and differentiate among multiple meanings of words.
  • Describe the elements of narrative structure including setting, character development, plot, theme, and conflict and how they influence each other.
  • Identify cause-and-effect relationships and their impact on plot.
  • Describe the impact of word choice, imagery, and literary devices, including figurative language, in an author’s style.
  • Make inferences and draw conclusions based on the text.
  • Use reading strategies to monitor comprehension throughout the reading process.
  • Identify an author’s organizational pattern using textual clues, such as transitional words and phrases.
  • Make inferences and draw logical conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence.
  • Identify the source, viewpoint, and purpose of texts.
  • Describe how word choice and language structure convey an author’s viewpoint.
  • Identify cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Analyze ideas within and between selections providing textual evidence.
  • Use reading strategies to monitor comprehension throughout the reading process.
  • Compose a thesis statement for persuasive writing that includes a position.
  • Clearly state a position and organize reasons and evidence, using credible sources.
  • Collect, organize, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
  • Analyze and evaluate the validity and credibility of resources

Quarter 4 Connection and Growth

Students will:

  • Participate in collaborative discussions with partners, building on others’ ideas.
  • Make statements to communicate agreement or tactful disagreement with others’ ideas.
  • Use language and style appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose.
  • Select, organize, and create content to complement and extend meaning for a selected topic.
  • Use effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to deliver multimodal presentations.
  • Use language and vocabulary appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose.
  • Paraphrase and summarize a speaker’s key ideas.
  • Use roots, affixes, synonyms, and antonyms to expand vocabulary.
  • Use context and sentence structure to determine meanings and differentiate among multiple meanings of words.
  • The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, literary nonfiction, poetry, and drama.
  • Make inferences and draw conclusions based on the text.
  • Make inferences and draw logical conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence.
  • Identify the source, viewpoint, and purpose of texts.
  • Describe how word choice and language structure convey an author’s viewpoint.
  • Create an objective summary, including main idea and supporting details.
  • Identify cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Organize writing structure to fit form or topic.
  • Establish a central idea incorporating evidence, while maintaining an organized structure and a formal style.
  • Compose a thesis statement for persuasive writing that includes a position.
  • Clearly state a position and organize reasons and evidence, using credible sources.
  • Write multi paragraph compositions with elaboration and unity.

Virginia Department of Education Resources

Assessments

Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.

  • Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
    • Check for understanding.
    • Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
  • Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for the next steps in instruction.

For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.

In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), seventh grade tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.

Other Middle School Information