Oglethorpe Charter School

7th Grade ELA & Writing

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio!

Welcome to 7th Grade ELA & Writing with Mrs. Downs. In Writer’s Studio, students develop the skills they need to communicate clearly, think critically, and grow as confident writers.

Throughout the year, students will work with narrative, informational, and argumentative writing while building grammar, vocabulary, spelling, research, revision, and editing skills.

Our classroom motto: Think deeply. Write bravely. Revise often.

What We’re Learning Now

Quarter 2: Informational Writing
This quarter, students are learning how to research, organize, and explain information clearly. Our writing will connect with topics from science and social studies, and students will practice using credible sources, evidence, citations, and revision.

Current Writer’s Studio Focus: Informational Writing — Science
Grammar Focus: Pronoun Case
Students are learning how a pronoun’s job in a sentence determines whether it should be subjective, objective, or possessive.

Daily Grammar: Students complete a short spiral review during each class meeting.
Word Study / Spelling: We are finishing Vowel Team & Diphthong Syllables and will next begin R-Controlled Syllables.

Current Learning Goal:
I can identify the elements of effective informational writing and use them in my own research-based writing.

Families can help by asking:
“What are you researching or writing about in Writer’s Studio?”

This section is updated as our learning cycles change.

Class Resources & Make-Up Work

Absent from Class?

If a student misses class, they should check Google Classroom for the lesson and materials they missed.

Students should:

Find the lesson that matches the current Writer’s Studio cycle.
Watch the posted lesson video or review the class materials.
Complete as much of the missed work as possible.
Bring questions to Mrs. Downs when they return to school.

Being absent does not mean students are expected to figure everything out alone. The online materials are there to help students get started, and Mrs. Downs can provide support when they return.

Google Classroom

Our Writer’s Studio Google Classroom is the main place for digital writing resources, lesson videos, make-up materials, and other class information.

Students should check Google Classroom after an absence or whenever they need to review a writing lesson.

Class Materials

Students should bring their ELA binder to class each day.

The binder contains ongoing grammar, spelling, and Writer’s Studio materials. Current Word Study materials are used for spelling practice and homework.

Need Help?

Students are encouraged to ask questions when they need support.

If a student is confused about an assignment, has missed several days, or needs extra help catching up, they should speak with Mrs. Downs so we can make a plan.

Posts

Writer’s Studio Update | Cycles 25–29

October 12–23

Quarter 2 is underway! We are beginning our informational writing work with a science connection. Students will learn the skills in our Writer’s Studio lessons while applying those skills to an authentic science-related writing piece.

Writing:
Students are learning the structure of informational writing and beginning the research and planning process. We will focus on organizing ideas, using credible sources, explaining evidence, and writing clearly for an audience.

Grammar:
Our current grammar mini-unit is Pronoun Case. Students are learning when to use subjective, objective, and possessive pronouns correctly. We also continue our short Daily Grammar spiral review each class period.

Word Study / Spelling:
We are finishing Vowel Team & Diphthong Syllables and will begin R-Controlled Syllables next.

Ask Your Student:
What makes an informational source credible?

A Note About Absences:
Writing lesson materials are posted in Google Classroom when available. Students who miss class should review the posted lesson and begin the missed work before returning whenever possible.

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Name: Mrs. Sunshine Downs
Position: 7th ELA
Email: Send email