Rising 7th and 8th Grade Middle School Transition Meeting Endeavor Charter School

Welcome! We are excited to welcome you and your child to the 7th and 8th grade. The 7th and 8th grade years are exciting times full of social and academic changes and opportunities. They are also the years when we begin to see glimpses of the adults your children are becoming. We are so honored to work with your family during such pivotal years!

Meet the 7th and 8th Grade Teachers Susan Nielsson–Language Arts(7th) Tiffany Carson – Math (7th) Brad Ezzell – Language Arts (8th) Leah Boas – Math (8th) Mark Root – Social Studies Katie Clemmons – Science

Susan Nielsson 17 years teaching experience, the last 5 ½ at Endeavor Charter School. I love to read. I have never met a bookstore I didn’t like! Have you met Thriftbooks.com? I am certified in Language Arts 6-9 and Special Education K-12. I am a huge movie buff. I love to sing, sometimes in class (but don’t worry, I am not quitting my day job!) I have 2 children of the 4 legged variety. I will be adopting your children during the school year and making sure they are the best they can be!

Language Arts – 7th Grade Mysteries Science Fiction Independent Novel Study/ Reading Workshop on fiction that follows social studies: Europe during the Renaissance, Child Labor during the Industrial Revolution exploring different poetry formats Mini novel projects (hands on, creative, student choices) Intro to Socratic Seminar

Brad Ezzell 19 years teaching experience, 6 at Endeavor I have taught 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. I have a nearly 3 year old son. I am a huge Star Wars fan and have a collection of action figures (not dolls). I coach the boys’ soccer team each fall. I put a strong emphasis on grammar and literary analysis.

Language Arts – 8th Grade ELA in 8th grade is all about preparing for a strong transition to high school. Dystopian Fiction Historic Fiction Mini novel projects (hands on, creative, student choices) and technology Classics including plays/dramas Poetry Paideia or Socratic Seminar Whole class novel studies Big emphasis on nonfiction

Tiffany Carson 12 years experience teaching, 1st year at Endeavor By far, 7th grade math is my favorite grade to teach! Have almost 3 year old son and almost 8 year old step-son love running, Crossfit, and the Dallas Cowboys

Mathematics – 7th Grade Core & Compacted 7/8 Math Hands-On Interactive lessons Real-World Applications Have very high expectations that I know ALL students can meet I believe that Math is Fun and Engaging! "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein

Leah Boas 11 years experience teaching, 5 years at Endeavor I am originally from Ohio I have a one year old son I like to run, practice yoga and be outside

Mathematics – 8th Grade Common Core I or Math 8. Strong emphasis on problem-solving, real-world application and high level thinking. Collaborative learning environment Hour of Code The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics. - Paul Halmos

Mark Root A little about me... former disc jockey and college athlete teacher for 18 years have lived in North Carolina since 2005 love to fish in my spare time

SOCIAL STUDIES – 7th Grade Areas of Study “Ohh the places, we’ll go and the things we’ll do!” We’ll learn from the time of the Renaissance through present day. That’s about 600 years of history in 18 weeks!!

SOCIAL STUDIES – 8th Grade Areas of Study American Revolution through the Civil War and from World War I through Vietnam. Field trips: Tryon Palace, Mordecai House and Bennett Farm

Katie Clemmons 14 years experience teaching Master’s degree in Science Education and National Board Certified I have (almost) 3 year old twin girls, so I have become an expert at multi-tasking! I love running, yoga, cooking, and being outdoors. I teach science to the 7th graders in the fall and the 8th graders in the spring. We “learn by doing” 2-3 labs per week. Science is discovery based, collaborative, and fun!

SCIENCE - 7th Grade Units of Study: Highlights: Scientific Inquiry How's the Weather Up There? CELLabration Time! It Must be Genetic Bodily Functions Move It! Forces and Motion Hands-on Experiments Field Trip to local museum (Durham or Nature Research Center)

SCIENCE - 8th Grade Units of Study: Highlights: Interactions of Matter Where Does Energy Come From? Diseases/Biotechnology Hydrosphere Populations and Ecosystems Evolution of Lifeforms and Landforms Use of Natural Resources Pond testing Individual experiments Ocean Museum

Morning Meeting (Monday-Thursday) & Clubs (Fridays): Time to learn about and develop: social skills and peer interaction including lessons/activities on peer relationships, bullying, and character traits. Academic Skills such as learning styles, time management and organizational skills. Clubs: Choices have included yoga, Wiffleball, Role- Playing Games, ,, Film Feast & many others.

Lunch Bunch This is a great chance to volunteer and see your middle school child with his/her friends. ☺ 7th grade and 8th grade share recess Recess and Lunch Monday thru Friday 11:55-12:55 PLEASE try to join us for at least three lunches per quarter. There will be a link for the Lunch Sign-Up Genius form on our Website or Endeavor’s homepage. Sign up before the spots fill up!

Highlights of the 7th and 8th grades Students will be permitted to join all sports teams (June 1- June 5 registration for boys’ soccer, girls’ tennis, and cross country) Boosterthon Color Run Service projects Electives for 7 & 8 graders will be at the END of the day Recess is a mix of grades 7 and 8. On Fridays, Students in grades 7 & 8 will get to eat in the MPR - Great social opportunity!

Thank you for coming! We look forward to working with you and your child next year. We are working hard to plan for a wonderful year of growth and success. We appreciate your attendance today and your support in the year to come!