Welcome to Grade 7

1. Welcome to Grade 7 “That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.” -William J. H. Boetcker

2. Must haves every day: Pens/pencils Paper – lined and graph Calculator – scientific (can be under $10) Eraser Binder/duo-tang with dividers Markers or pencil crayons for organizing notes Highlighters Geometry set Agenda

3. Fitness Mornings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQnuoSQEfwY

4. Class Routines • Come into class and look at the board for the first activity, agenda and learning goal of the class • Complete the first activity and then quietly read if finished early (5-10 min) • Make sure you get to class on-time because this activity will be taken-up or collected at the end of class and if you are not finished you will complete it at lunch or after school • Lesson, lab, or activity (15-30 min) • If you finish your work early you can pick up challenging questions from the designated area • Exit card – a question or activity you must complete and hand in before you leave class (this may be the initial activity from this class)

5. Routines for tests and assignments • You will have a Math and Science portfolio that will contain all of your work • You must correct all marked work you receive and have it signed by your guardian. • Once signed and corrected they must be placed in your portfolios and recorded. • I will be checking your portfolios sporadically to ensure you are on track. This will be reflected in your learning skills. • Any grades that are below 60% you mustcome in for tutoring until you receive a 60 or above • Science tutoring will be at lunch on __________ • Math tutoring will be at lunch on ___________

6. Administrative Tasks • You will be assigned a locker and must provide your own locks • Tell me your combination, partner, and locker number • You MUST inform me when you change locks because I always need an updated list for emergencies • You will be placed into squads that will be your groups for labs and activities • Go over agenda • School expectations • Pages that need to be signed • How to use it effectively

7. How to use your agenda • This is your get out of class ticket which you are responsible for getting signed with the time and location already written • I will not be writing anything but my initials beside a location and time • Use both the month and date pages to record due dates for tests, projects and extracurricular activities • The month section will help you see how many things you need to organize your time around. If you have three projects due on the same day plus a soccer game the night before you will need to finish them early.

8. Do’s Agenda Don’ts • Use shorthand • Eg. Page = pg. • Homework = Hw • Colour code • Green = science • Use checklists and actually check them when you finish each task • Separate large assignments or tests into manageable chunks and input each chunk’s deadline • Eg. Science lab is separated into research, data collection, rough copy, good copy, editing • Use it for guardians to communicate with teachers and help you stay organized • Use it for out of school activities to time-manage • http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0310722/agenda.html Use detail -detail goes in your notes Put homework on month calendar Use it to pass notes or doodle Just use it in school – you should look at it when you get home and before bed Forget to bring it everyday – no bathroom breaks if it is at home

10. Laying Down the Law • What are the most commonly broken rules of a class/school? • Brainstorm on your own for 2 minutes then, when I say, discuss with your elbow partner • With your partner join another pair and discuss how to effectively enforce these rules • Include consequences • Narrow down or combine your ideas into a maximum of three classroom rules to encourage a safe and engaging learning environment

11. JT7’s Classroom Rules • Be responsible, you are accountable • What does this mean to you? • What does this look like? • What happens is you don’t follow this rule? • RESPECT • Turn this into an acrostic poem that relates to respect and what it looks and feels like • We are here to learn – bring what you need to ensure success

12. JT7’s Classroom Rules Be responsible, you are accountable R- Rude language is not acceptable E - Everyone’s opinion is equally important S - Stop bullying P - Personal space is personal E - Empathy C - Courteous T - Talk in turn We are here to learn – bring what you need to ensure success

14. Learning Skills

15. Learning Skills Unplugged • In your squads you will be given one of the learning skills and you must as a group make a checklist for that skill • Eg. Respect - students will take turns speaking by listening quietly when others are talking until they are finished • When the bell goes your squad will move clockwise to the next skill and add anything you think they have missed or correct/edit their ideas

16. Two-Faced • Once you get back to your original skill you will write a 3-5 minute skit to show what that learning skill looks like when done properly and incorrectly • You will be performing these skits to the class so please be respectful and school appropriate • Make sure you don`t swear or insult anyone