7th GRADE ENGLISH

Mrs. McCammon is our 7th grade English teacher, and a terrific addition to the junior high staff.

Becky McCammon joined the Linwood Monroe Arts Plus community in the Fall of 2011.  With 12 years of classroom experience- 7 of which was in an arts-based program- Becky is thrilled to be teaching 7^th grade English. 

The theme for 7^th grade English is “Identity”.  Students begin the year studying the novel “Seedfolks” a marvelous book about individual stories coming together to form community. 

Throughout the 7^th grade year, students spend every Tuesday and Thursday reading Just Right books.  These are novels selected by the students that are a perfect “fit” for their reading personality and skills.  Individual teacher support is offered to students to sustain and build reading comprehension and to nurture a love of literature.

Early this year, students were introduced to a wonderful website called Freerice.com.  This vocabulary website has many different levels that allow students to work in their range, but challenges them to new heights.  Additionally, for every right answer the student provides 10 grains of rice are donated to the United World Food Bank. 

Becky is Mother to two gorgeous children: Quinn (5) and Lily (1).  Quinn is a happy kindergartener at the Linwood Campus.  Her partner Luke is an art director at a St. Paul marketing firm.  Luke and Lily attend Early Childhood Family Education classes each week.  We are a Saint Paul Public School family!

Becky’s favorite summer reads were “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaimon and the Hunger Game Series.

In the fall, the classes will be reading the novel "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleishman.  The first project for the book is the creation of an Ofrenda, a Spanish artistic creation that honors someone who is deceased and who was beloved.  Students will combine their artistry and writing talent to creation this piece.  A copy of this project is attached.

All sections of 7th grade English spend every Tuesday and Thursday reading Just Right books.  These books are selected by the students and represent the perfect match for their reading ability.  Each reading day will conclude with students writing in their Reader's Log.  A copy of this log is attached to the bottom of this page.

Questions or comments about class can be directed to Becky at Rebecca.mccammon@spps.org.

8th GRADE ENGLISH

Mrs. Nicole Ramos is our 8th grade English Language Arts teacher, is in her 4th year at LMAP, and her 6th year of teaching with Saint Paul Public Schools! Mrs. Ramos proudly represents the state of Wisconsin, having grown up and graduated from college there. She, like many of our staff, has many close family members who are teachers, and she was influenced by many of her teachers, from elementary school through college.

Mrs. Ramos says, "I love teaching English, and love teaching in middle school in a Pre-K through 8th grade program! Poetry is my favorite type of literature to read and write, but I also enjoy reading cooking magazines, recipe books, and books about traveling. I am proud to be a teacher at LMAP! Our junior high program is small, and very much like a family. We all look out for each other and care for each other. Students and staff members push each other to do better every day!"

In 8th grade English Language Arts, students focus on the theme of 'power' throughout the year. She says, "When we read, write, share and discuss, we always bring our focus back to how power is used and abused in literature, our writing, and in our world."

Here are some of the standards students will work on in 8th grade English:

• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
• Produce clear and coherant writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
• Cite textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
• Apply strategies to resolve disagreements.
• Self select text for personal enjoyment, and other purposes.

To reach Mrs. Ramos, you can call her at 651-293-8690, or email her at nicole.ramos@spps.org.

Check out these links:

Merriam Webster Dictionary

Magnetic Poetry/Kids Poetry

Poets