Welcome! to Ms. O’Connor’s Grade 7 English Class 8/26/2019

Agenda/Topics to Be Covered Volunteer Sign Up Journals Important Dates Grading & Reporting Introduction 8/26/2019

Volunteer Sign Up Please see one of the composition journals Possible jobs: 1. Photocopying 2. Filing 3. In-Class Writing Coach (training will be provided) 4. Guest reader (live or audio-taped) 5. Treat Donator 8/26/2019

Important Dates Outdoor Education Conferences: Outdoor Education Field Trip: Aquarium Field Trip: 8/26/2019

Grading & Reporting 8/26/2019

Grading “Goals”: For the entire marking period: 10 – 13 Formative Assessments 3 – 4 Summative Assessments. *As a result, each assessment will become about 5% of the overall grade. 8/26/2019

Homework/Class Work Completion Homework/Class work for completion is 10% of the students’ overall grade. If these assignments are at least attempted, full credit will be awarded. For example, if a homework assignment has 5 questions and the student has answered all 5 questions, the student still will earn 5 points. This is true even if errors exist. Note: If a student does not make a good faith effort, his/her grade can be lowered. 8/26/2019

Formative versus Summative Assessments Both are “Checks for Understanding” Formative Assessments can be retaken. If a Formative Assessment is retaken, the reassessment grade is the final grade, even if the reassessment grade is lower than the initial grade. Why? Because we are measuring mastery. Summative Assessments cannot be retaken. This type of assessment is at the end of a learning sequence. A Summative Assessment will not be given unless a Formative Assessment has been already taken. 8/26/2019

Formative Assessment Retakes? 1. Must come in for extra help. 2. Must schedule a time for the retake. 3. The assessment can be retaken until the learning sequence is over. *Most often, this will be before the Summative Assessment on that topic. 8/26/2019

50% is the … lowest a student can earn on any given assessment For example: If a student gets 3 correct answers out of 10 questions, he/she will earn a 50%. lowest a student can earn on an assignment--as long as it is turned in by the deadline. 8/26/2019

What constitutes a zero? A zero will be earned if an assignment is not turned in. A zero will be earned if a student cheats or attempts to cheat. 8/26/2019

Due Dates & Deadlines A due date is the day when the assignment “should” be turned in. The assignment can potentially earn FULL CREDIT. A deadline is the last day the assignment will be collected for credit. Note: the highest a student can earn if turning the assignment in on the deadline is 90%. Sometimes the due date & the deadline can be the same day. Generally speaking, the deadline is a day or two later than the due date. 8/26/2019

Classroom Behavior Respect self. Respect others. Respect learning. Respect property. 8/26/2019

Extra Credit & Learning Behaviors No extra credit will be given or accepted. This is a Countywide Policy. The county is focusing on the mastery of curriculum. “Middle School Comments” will report on learning behaviors and skills at Interims. See in class participation rubric 8/26/2019

Meet Ms. O’Connor Masters in Education Plus 30 Graduate Credits in “Integrating Technology into the Curriculum” Natural Science Degree, K – 8 Education Certification This month, I will begin my 19th year of teaching. Over the years, I have taught various positions. As a matter in fact, I have experience teaching every grade level ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. Right now, I am a graduate student in UMUC. I am obtaining a second Masters in Instructional Technology. 8/26/2019

Mission for my students I want my students to set goals and to develop responsibility for their own learning. I believe that it is important for middle schoolers to have the opportunity to explore individual areas of interest. I also encourage children to develop an appreciation for diversity. My hope is that my students will appreciate that the application of knowledge is very powerful. I design my lessons to enrich my students reading, writing, and thinking skills. In addition, I hope their souls will be nourished by our kind and respectful classroom community. 8/26/2019

Check out Edline for: For upcoming assignments For reminders To see your child’s grades and progress NOTE: You should have received your Edline Account in the mail. Your child received his/her account today. It is taped into his/her planner. 8/26/2019

Data Sheet The top table gives a range for the Lexile score. Publishers usually write text books at a particular lexile level. Looking at the table you could say, most sixth grade texts are written at the 850-1050 lexile level. Seventh grade texts are usually at the 950-1075 level. And 8th grade texts are written on the 1000-1100 level. If a student is in 7th grade and his lexile range is 975-1025, he is capable of reading 7th grade texts and understanding it. If a 7th grader's lexile range is 650-800, he's probably going to struggle with his 7th grade texts. The bottom charts shows median (middle) scores and mean (average) scores for Fall and Spring administrations of the MAP-R. These are national norms. 8/26/2019

Thank you for coming! I am so excited for an awesome year of learning! Thank you for supporting your child and his/her education. Take a Course Syllabus and/or an Expectation letter on the way to your next class. Questions or comments: Please leave me an index card, call me or email me at your earliest convenience. 8/26/2019