Rising 7 th Grade Orientation Meeting

1. Rising 7th Grade Orientation Meeting

2. Welcome • It is a new year with lots of changes. • We will all work together this year to make it a positive and successful transition. • Communication, responsibility, and effort are essential elements for your child’s success. • MAJOR DIFFERENCES FROM 6TH GRADE: • Increased number of core classes and longer classes • Increase in amount and type of homework • Adjusting to A Day/ B Day schedule

3. Meet the Teachers • Brad Ezzell – Grammar/ Composition • Colleen Tavolacci - Literature • Mark Root – Social Studies • Katie Clemmons - Science • Lisa Bolton - Spanish • Leah Boas - Math

4. Schedule A Day • Homeroom 8:20-8:45 • 1st Period 8:45-10:05 • Morning Meeting 10:05-10:30 • 2nd Period 10:30-11:50 • 3rd Period 11:50-1:10 • Lunch 1:10-2:10 • Electives 2:10-3:05 B Day • Homeroom 8:20-8:45 • 4th Period 8:45-10:05 • Morning Meeting 10:05-10:30 • 5th Period 10:30-11:50 • 6th Period 11:50-1:10 • Lunch 1:10-2:10 • Electives 2:10-3:05 ** This is this year’s times. Our schedule is still in the works. Tentatively, Mondays & Tuesdays students will not have electives. Instead, they will be grouped for remediation or enrichment of their core classes. Groups will be determined by mastery of objectives and area of most need.

5. Lunch Coverage • 7th grade • lunch 1:10-1:40 • Recess 1:40-2:10 • 8th grade • Recess 1:10-1:40 • Lunch 1:40-2:10 You can sign up for lunch on Mrs. Tavolacci’s or Mr. Ezzell’spage: Log onto Endeavor’s main webpage Go to Mrs. Tavolacci’swebpage Click on calendar Click on the date you want to sign up for Type in your name PLEASE try to join us for at least one lunch per quarter. This helps make coverage equitable for all families and if we do not have coverage, YOUR child may not get to meet with us if needed, we may not get to do other important things during this time, and you will miss out on a great chance to volunteer and come see your middle school child in their natural habit. 

6. Communication/ Conferences • ..\Documents\Teacher_Parent_Communication_Policy_Final_5-11.pdf • Email! We return emails promptly and professionally. Contact us anytime for questions, clarification, or concerns. Please do not rely solely on a student’s account for complete information. • Conference s typically scheduled by request at the end of each quarter, but if a need arises sooner, we would be glad to accommodate within a week of your request. ** Most conferences are a “team approach” meaning more than one core teacher will be present. • Newsletters will be posted quarterly on our website. Please read all the information written in these newsletters as this is the best way to communicate all the WONDERFUL things that are occurring throughout the year.

7. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS • Behavior affects learning. We foster the best learning environment possible for all students. • We encourage and reward positive behavior and expect students to be Prepared with ALL materials, Polite & Respectful to all adults, and Engaged in learning and on task during class • Multiple or excessive class disruptions will result in a recess detention for the day. • Detention will be held before and after school. An informational packet / student contract will go home the first week of school • We want students to make the BEST choices, take responsibility, and learn from their mistakes.

8. ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS • We will have access to parent portal of NCWISE • You can check online to stay informed of progress • Late work policy for homework - students will receive a zero and a Pink Slip but will need to complete it for the sake of practice, knowledge or necessary notes/etc • 8 pts deduction per day for late projects • NOT completing assignments is not an option. Student should complete all assigned work. When missing work becomes a pattern, students will lose recess time to notify parents or eventually receive a detention for noncompliance. • We drop the lowest hw/classwork grade before report cards

9. Service Projects • We will be focusing on several service projects throughout this year involving building awareness of hunger in America or global hunger issues • Active community involvement through volunteer opportunities at the local Raleigh Food Bank at least 1 time per semester. • We will also be incorporating service project issues and activities into a loose curriculum and readings during Morning Meeting. • Hunger in America | Feeding America

10. Attendance/ Make Up Policy • Since we are covering an extensive amount of material EACH DAY, please make all efforts to be present the WHOLE school day, every day! • Each teacher has a designated area or folder for students to get make up work and it is the student’s responsibility to get the work • Websites are updated weekly, but asking a reliable peer or teacher is best.

11. “SMART” Lunch Options / Help • There is A LOT of new material and an additional core class this year. Your child needs to self-advocate and take the initiative in their learning. (Much like they will be expected to do in high school) We are here to help! • Teachers are available every day during lunch/recess for retakes, one-on-one assistance or help, or make up work or tests. Students can ask prior to lunch/recess time and we will be available. • Students should not, however, spontaneously ask an adult to leave during lunch to find a teacher unless prior arrangements have been made. **When your child is not doing well in a core class, one question to ask them would be how many times have they gone to ask for help, tutoring, or to review or retake a test or quiz

12. Morning Meeting • Time to learn about and develop social skills and peer interaction in conjunction with our guidance counselor including topics/lessons / activities on peer relationships, learning styles, bullying, academic behaviors, character traits, and more • Current Events – We will make great use of our PAWS grant supplementary reading materials like Up Front magazines and online resources • Study Hall days and time management and organizational skills reinforcement • Important information, discussion and grade level meeting times

13. GRAMMAR/ COMPOSITION GENERAL OVERVIEW • Vocabulary workbook - Words: The Power Within – root-based vocabulary program • DGP – will be tested throughout the year • Grammar – parts of speech, sentence patterns, verbals, phrases and clauses, punctuation • Writing Genres – journaling and brainstorming, expository, persuasive, literary analysis, and poetry • Writing workshop approach to teaching writing process with emphasis on peer editing and revising skills THINGS TO KNOW • Formal paper format expectations are posted online and consistent all year • Your child must have a flash drive at all times • Students are expected to hand in a hard copy of papers at the time it is due and will not be allowed to leave/disrupt class to print at school unless prior arrangements have been made with a parent • Students can retake or make corrections on a failed quiz/test. If a student makes an 80% or higher on the retake or corrections, the failing grade will be raised to a 70%.

14. LITERATURE General Expectations Units of study • Class is structured on a “reading workshop model” ala Lucy Calkins middle grades adaptation • Reading levels assessed and tracked in a variety of formal /informal ways : Study Island benchmarking and weekly assignments, SRI lexiling, and reading conferencing • Consistent nightly reading of 30 mins as well as DAILY in class reading is standard to build stamina, increase lexile, and expose students to variety of genres and meet qrtly growth and goals • Students will be expected to read approx 3 – 4 novels per quarter both in and out of class • Parents will need to purchase 1 novel per qtr and be expected to help monitor and select literature throughout the year. • Elements of Fiction • Science Fiction • Mysteries & Mystery Party 1st qtr • Independent Novel Study/ Reading Workshop on fiction that follows soc stud: Asia, Africa, Middle East, Australia • Mini novel projects (hands on, creative, student choices) and technology • Intro to paideia or Socratic Seminar • Whole class novel studies • Nonfiction • Poetry – Annual Poetry Café

15. SCIENCE • Units of Study Donations /Materials for labs: • Inquiry Based Learning pipe cleaners wind up toys • Weather and atmosphere dixie cups • Genetics stop watches • Human Body metal coffee cans w/lids • Forces of Motion Clorox wipes

16. SOCIAL STUDIES Areas of Study Assignments/ Teaching Style • Eastern Hemisphere – Asia, Africa, Oceana • One content paper for state mandated writing assessment • DBQ Document Based Questions • Hands-on and weekly small groups activities • Important People Trading Cards • 3-2-1’s

17. MATH Things to know: Homework/Assessments • Each student will be issued a textbook • Typically, we work through sections from a chapter using notes/discussion, group work, homework, quizzes, and a chapter test • There is class time set aside to review hmwk, quizzes, & tests • More details to come about online textbook, grading rubric and online gradebook • It is rare that students do not have homework. • Homework is posted online. • Students can make corrections on a failed quiz/test. The highest grade a student can earn is a 70% on the corrections. • Extra credit will not be given. • Students should make an appt. with Mrs. Boas to get extra help.

18. SPANISH • Common Activities • Flashcards, read-alouds, whiteboards, story boards, dialogues, skits, short stories, picture dictionaries, dictations, listening comprehension, real-life scenarios/ performance assessment • Topics covered include • Introductory/ polite expressions, numbers, colors, subject pronouns, geography (incl. countries, capitals), recreation, describing people, school and classes • Subject/verb placement, regular and stem-changing conjugation (present tense), possessive adjectives, ? formation • Things to know • Website as important resource (notes, PowerPoints, study guides, links, homework • 2 pop quizzes per quarter may be given • Students may retake objectives on tests and other formative assessments until mastery is shown • 8th grade continues Spanish 1 curriculum • Students will exit the program prepared for Spanish 2 in high school • Curriculum based on NCSCOS, Wake County vocabulary lists/ skills requirements, and National Spanish Exam

19. 7th and 8th Grade Electives • Electives are student selected special interest classes, but should be treated like any other academic class. The elective classes are aligned with the 7th and 8th grade standard course of studies and follow the objectives set by the North Carolina Department of Instruction. • These classes will include homework, tests, and projects and will occasionally require outside commitments. • Grades for these courses will be included on the student’s report card. • Classes will meet for the last period of the day during three days of the week.

20. 2010-2011 Elective Options • Musical Theatre • Recreational Fitness • Technology • Three-Dimensional Art • Two-Dimensional Art • Scholastic Empowerment • Acting Labs: Shakespeare • Acting Lab: Comedy Shorts • Art Around the World • Careers in Art • Chorus • Classroom Assistant Service

21. Elective Procedures • Students will fill out elective forms and select their first, second, and third choices. • We will do our best to make sure all students get their first or second choice. Eighth graders who turn their forms in on time will have first preference followed by seventh graders who turn their form in on time. • Elective forms will be sent home with students before the end of the year. • Switching classes will only be allowed on the first day of the quarter. Students who wish to switch should contact the teacher of the class they are currently in and the teacher of the class they would like to switch to. Drop/Add Forms to switch classes will be in Mrs. Whiteside’s office. The form will need to be signed by both teachers and by the student’s parent. Students should then place forms in the box outside of Mrs. Whiteside’s office. • Classes will be announced on the first day of the quarter in the student’s homeroom class. • Students will select their 3rd and 4th quarter choices at the end of the 2nd quarter. More information on these electives will be sent home at the end of the 1st semester.