Welcome to Curriculum Night!

1. Welcome toCurriculum Night!

2. Meet your Team 8B Teachers: • Renee White, Reading/GA History • Christi Bounds, Language Arts/ GA History • Kim Jeffries, Science/GA History • David Heiser, Math/GA History

3. Mrs. White’s Reading Corner! If you ever wish to contact me, email is the best way! renee.white@cherokee.k12.ga.us

4. Our Textbook • Prentice Hall: LITERATURE – Language and Literacy cost: $79.47 • Various novel studies throughout the year

5. 8th Grade Course Map Throughout the year • Focus on Informational and Literary Texts • Argumentative and Informational/Explanatory Writing • Using technology to be career and college ready • Routine writing: taking notes, summaries, journals, short responses • Active Reading Strategies • Vocabulary Development and Word Analysis • Speaking and Listening Skills • Test Taking Strategies First and Third Quarters • Focus on Informational Texts and Argumentative Writing Second and Fourth Quarters • Focus on Literary Texts and Informative/Explanatory Writing

6. A Day in the Life… • We begin with agendas and a warm up • After that, a lesson with our current selection will begin • If any time remains at the end of class, students are expected to read from their RC book in all classes • Media Center day- Monday

7. Reading Homework • Read 30 minutes each weeknight or spread it out for a total of 120 minutes per week/Advanced=150 mins. • Reading Counts Quarterly Goal counted as one quiz grade and one test grade each 9 weeks. Reading Contract is sent home to be signed each quarter with due dates. • Finish incomplete work or missed work • Study for tests and quizzes!!

8. Millionaire Reader Book Club • Keep track of your reading in your agenda and on the wall chart. • Earn rewards! • Every 6 books • Highest class RC points party • Millionaire participation parties) • See page 23 in your agenda for the list of categories and rewards. We have a new Book Club List that gives you more freedom!

9. Notebook Check • Warm-ups include journal entries, lesson introductions and reviews, or CRCT practice and are graded in a notebook check along with other daily work that was not handed in. (Notebook checks will take place 1-2 times per quarter according to amount of work)

10. Book Fair • September 9th -13th (8:00 A.M.-4 P.M.) • Parent Night – held on Wednesday, Sept. 11th from 4-6 PM; includes a 10% discount • Proceeds help buy new books for our Media Center

11. Dr. BoundsLanguage Arts “Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own”- CS Lewis

12. What are we going to learn this year? • First Semester • Writing • Expository Writing • Research/Technical Writing • “Science/Social Studies Fair” • Response to Literature The Raven • Persuasive Writing/Oratorical Contest • Mock Writing Test • Grammar Focus • Modifiers • Vivid Verbs • Parts of Speech • Fragments/Run-ons • Sentence Types • Complements • Second Semester • Writing • Preparation for 8th Grade Writing Test • Memoir Book/Narrative • Writing/Poetry • CRCT Preparation • To Kill a Mockingbird • Grammar Focus • Clauses/Phrases (In-depth study) • Sentence Structure • Pronouns • Verbals

13. A Typical Day in Language Arts • Daily Grammar Practice (DGP) • Grammar Rule or Root Word • Spelling or Vocabulary • Writing Skill (brushstrokes, hooks, thesis statements) • Daily Assignment • There is a quiz every Friday. Weekly quizzes cover warm-ups, rules, vocabulary, spelling, and homework. • Writer’s Workshop every Friday- on-going writing assignments

14. Mrs. JeffriesWhat happens in Science? • Students come into class, retrieve their binder, write in their agenda and begin their daily warm-up. • Discuss warm-up and any questions they may have from homework or the previous day’s lesson. • Move on to daily notes or lab for that day. • Some class time is typically given to finish any assignment for that day. • All of the Power Point Presentations we discuss in class will be available on my website as well as important announcements.

15. Science Binder • Science binders stay in my class to make it easier on the student. • Science binders should have the following four tabs: Warm-Ups, Notes, Class work/Homework and Labs • I check Science binders at the end of each grading period. • I will have a list posted in the classroom and on my website of exactly what is supposed to be in the binder.

16. Science/Social Science Fair • The Creekland Social Science Fair will be held in October. • The Science Fair will be held in November. • More information will be coming home soon about both of these fairs.

17. Team 8AGeorgia History 1st Semester •  Geographic Regions •  Native Americans •  The 13 Colonies •  Revolutionary War •  Creating A New Nation •  Government •  The Constitution •  Westward Expansion •  Important Georgians 2nd Semester • Antebellum Georgia • The Civil War • Reconstruction • The New South • World War I / Progressive Era • World War II • Civil Rights Era • Present Day Georgia

18. Georgia Studies • Students will develop an understanding of our history as a nation; as well as, the impact that Georgia has had on the nation and the people. Georgia’s role economically and geographically will also be emphasized throughout the course.

19. Georgia Cookie ProjectThanks for all your support!

20. Math • ALL MATH CLASSES • Lessons vary – warm-up/notes/practice/technology • Homework • Homework average 4 nights per week • Homework help: GO. HRW.com or check out links on Mrs. Aiken’s website • Think Through Math – www.thinkthroughmath.com replaces Successmaker; USER: network login; p/w: lunch number • USA Test Prep – www.usatestprep.com login same as above • All work to be graded MUST BE IN PENCIL. • Weighted grading (tests = 50% of grade, quizzes/tasks = 30% of grade, pop-quizzes = 10% of grade; H/W, C/W & other = 10% of grade) • Standards: Common Core - http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/ps/Eight/CCGPS%20MATH%208%20YCM%202013.pdf • Extra help – Mr. Heiser available M-F at 7:50 – need pass!

21. Typical Day • Warm up 1-4 questions on Smartboard interactive activity • Correct previous nights homework • Review key points from previous nights homework introduce new lesson • Guided practice for homework assignment

22. Technology and Environment • Smartboard interactive warm-ups • Quizdom activities • TI-83 integration

24. Where can I find the yearly course map for each of my child’s classes? • http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Pages/Welcome.aspx

25. Hang Time Study Hall and Connections Academy • Literacy – 30 minutes daily for reading, Think Through Math and making up missed quizzes, and/or tests. • Friday Hang Time during Literacy • Turning in all assignments on time means attending Hang Time during Friday Literacy. • Missing even ONE assignment means that you must remain in study hall and complete the missing assignment • GO • Special opportunity for students to remediate failing grades, student must qualify with teacher recommendations.

26. Field Trips

27. NEW FIELD TRIP RULES THIS YEAR • If any of the following occur, the student will not be able to participate in school field trips: • 5 or more unexcused absences • 2 or more administrative referrals in a 9 week period • 2 or more failed subjects in a 9 week period

28. Tentative Fall Field Trip • World of Coke • Oakland Cemetery • CNN Center • Varsity for Lunch • Luxury Coach transportation • Approximate Student Cost $60.00

29. April 30-May 2, 2014 • 7:00am Depart Creekland • 12:15pm 1:15pm Arrive in the Savannah area for lunch at the Oglethorpe Mall; everyone will receive $7.00. • 12:15pm 2:15pm Arrive at Old Ft. Jackson for a "student militia" program. • 2:45pm 4:30pm Gather in Johnson Square for a guided walking tour of the Savannah Historic • District. • 4:30pm 5:30pm Check into the Inn at Ellis Square (912) 236-4440. • 6:15pm 9:30pm Arrive at Grayson Stadium to watch a Savannah Sand Gnats baseball game. • A picnic dinner will be arranged in the park prior to the game. • 10:00pm Return to the hotel.

30. Thursday, May 1, 2014 • 7:15am Depart the hotel. • 7:45am 8:30am Breakfast will be served at Barnes Family Restaurant. • 9:00am 11:00am Visit the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum for a guided tour of the exhibits. • 12:00pm 12:45pm Arrive at the pier at Tybee Beach where a pizza picnic will be served. • 12:45pm 2:45pm Gather at the Tybee Marine Science Center. Students will participate in activities in • the Marine Laboratory and a guided beach exploration. • 3:15pm 4:45pm Guided tour of the Railroad Roundhouse Museum in downtown Savannah. • 5:15pm 6:00pm Return to the Hotel to prepare for the evening activity. • 6:30pm 8:45pm Arrive at the Starcastle Entertainment Center for a roller skating and pizza party. • 9:15pm Return to the hotel.

31. Friday, May 2, 2014 • 7:15am Checkout and depart the hotel. • 7:45am 8:30am A full breakfast will be served at Golden Corral. • 9:15am 10:30am Arrive at the Lazaretto Creek Marina for a “dolphin sighting” boat ride along the waterways by Fort Pulaski, the Cockspur Light and into the ocean inlet at Tybee Island. • 11:00am 12:30pm Time will be available for souvenir shopping on River Street followed by boxed • lunches served at the Waving Girl. • 12:30pm Depart the Savannah area. • 6:15pm Return to Creekland Middle School.

32. Estimated Cost • Student estimated cost $330 (based on student participation) • Parent estimated cost $360

33. Yearbooks • Yearbooks are purchased online through Josten’s www.Jostens.com • Yearbooks are distributed the last week of school.

34. Keys to Communication • Webpage access • E-mail teachers with questions and concerns • Creekland Website • View Parent Portal for grades

35. Questions (time permitting) • Please feel free to ask me any general class questions at this time. Since our time is so very limited, please contact the front office to schedule a conference if you feel the need to discuss your child in a specific nature.

36. Thank You For Coming!