Welcome Parents To 8 th Grade Life Science

Who is Mrs. Walker the teacher? Grew up in Corona is a product of CNUSD Grew up in Corona is a product of CNUSD Graduated from Norco High Graduated from Norco High Attended UCR, RCC and CSUSM Attended UCR, RCC and CSUSM Received BA in Liberal Studies with emphasis in Arts and Education from CSUSM in Received BA in Liberal Studies with emphasis in Arts and Education from CSUSM in Graduated 2004 from Cal State San Marcos with K-8 Credential Graduated 2004 from Cal State San Marcos with K-8 Credential Worked at CHIS from Worked at CHIS from Taught Teacher-led homeschool Taught Teacher-led homeschool

More about Mrs. Walker the Teacher! Moved to Loveland Colorado in 2011 Moved to Loveland Colorado in 2011 Taught 6 th and 8 th Grade Science in Colorado the past 2 years. Taught 6 th and 8 th Grade Science in Colorado the past 2 years. Moved back to California 5 weeks ago! Moved back to California 5 weeks ago! So happy to be back in California and at Citrus Hills! So happy to be back in California and at Citrus Hills!

Who is Mrs. Walker the person? I am married – have been 10 years this October! I am married – have been 10 years this October! I have an 8 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. I have an 8 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. I enjoy sports and music I enjoy sports and music I love to laugh I love to laugh I enjoy teaching Science I enjoy teaching Science I love to cook! I love to cook!

What to expect this year in Physical Science Semester 1: Semester 1: –Scientific Inquiry –Experimental Design –Matter –Atoms and Elements Semester 2: Semester 2: –The Periodic Table –Chemistry –Forces and Motion –Space Sciences

Standards In 8 th Grade Physical Science this year we will follow the California State Common Core Standards as well at the National Level Next Generation Science Standards. These standards have been designed to remove the “information-in, information-out” mentality and the repetition of rote facts. In place of these are deeper level, inquiry based standards that increase rigor and thought processing skills.

Notebooks Every student in my class keeps an interactive notebook for science. Every student in my class keeps an interactive notebook for science. These notebooks are great tools for studying and homework help. These notebooks are great tools for studying and homework help. Your students will be using their creative abilities to create these notebooks. Your students will be using their creative abilities to create these notebooks. They are required to be in class daily and kept up to date regularly. They are required to be in class daily and kept up to date regularly. If a student is absent I do “notebook lunches” for students to make up missing pages. If a student is absent I do “notebook lunches” for students to make up missing pages.

Homework All students are required to write down their homework each and every day. All students are required to write down their homework each and every day. Your students will have 3-5 nights of homework a week in Science. Your students will have 3-5 nights of homework a week in Science. If your students says they finished it in class or that they do not have any, check their planner – ask them to see the work and their notebook from class. I do not accept homework early and many times is glued in their notebooks. If your students says they finished it in class or that they do not have any, check their planner – ask them to see the work and their notebook from class. I do not accept homework early and many times is glued in their notebooks.

Homework There are currently two ways to get homework: There are currently two ways to get homework: –1. Students write it down from the board in class. –2. Sign up for Remind and get homework Texts.

Remind Students and Parents can join my Remind two ways… Students and Parents can join my Remind two ways… 1. Go to remind.com and click on “parent or student” and enter the classroom code. 2. Text the classroom code to Classroom Codes: Classroom Codes: –Period –Period –Period –Period –Period

Class Webpage I do not currently have a class webpage but hope to have one up soon! I will send home info once it is set up and running. I do not currently have a class webpage but hope to have one up soon! I will send home info once it is set up and running. Thanks for your patience! Thanks for your patience!

Make Up Work Students can get missing work from off the wall by the door. Students can get missing work from off the wall by the door. They have one day for every day absent plus one to complete late work. They have one day for every day absent plus one to complete late work. Late work will be reduced 10% every day it is late up to 40% reduction total. Late work will be reduced 10% every day it is late up to 40% reduction total. Work can not be made up once a quarter is complete. Work can not be made up once a quarter is complete.

Bad Test Score? Depending on the test, I sometimes have alternate assignments for students to complete to show competence for failed tests. Depending on the test, I sometimes have alternate assignments for students to complete to show competence for failed tests. Only tests scoring lower than 70% are eligible for make-ups. Only tests scoring lower than 70% are eligible for make-ups. Open notebook or take home tests will not be allowed a make-up. Open notebook or take home tests will not be allowed a make-up.

Pre-A.P. My expectations for Pre-A.P. Students: My expectations for Pre-A.P. Students: –Must maintain a B or higher on all report cards for science. If a student drops below B then they will be removed from Pre- A.P. science. –Must complete and turn in all assignment given – on time. –Must be able to keep up with the quick pace. –Must be able to work productively independently as well as positively in groups. –Must be willing to give forth their best effort – every day. Finally, there is not extra work for Pre-A.P.s students, the work they will have to complete is deeper level thinking so it may take longer than non-honors work. Finally, there is not extra work for Pre-A.P.s students, the work they will have to complete is deeper level thinking so it may take longer than non-honors work.

Questions?? With the nature of this evening’s schedule I will not be able to answer questions in person. With the nature of this evening’s schedule I will not be able to answer questions in person. Please fill out a question or comment sheet and put it in the box on your way out. I will you soon a response to your question. Please fill out a question or comment sheet and put it in the box on your way out. I will you soon a response to your question.OR

Contact Info is the best way to get in contact with me: is the best way to get in contact with me: –My Or you can call and leave a message with the school office: Or you can call and leave a message with the school office: –School Phone:

Thank You!!! Thank you so much for coming tonight and I look forward to working with you to prepare your student for 8 th grade.

Success for School (S.F.S) 7 th Period Welcome

What is Success for School? SFS is a class designed to work with students to set and achieve goals, build reading comprehension, improve basic math skills, and learn study habits. SFS is a class designed to work with students to set and achieve goals, build reading comprehension, improve basic math skills, and learn study habits. Another large component of SFS is organization. Another large component of SFS is organization.

Changes in SFS Be prepared for changes in SFS classes. Be prepared for changes in SFS classes. In the next two weeks some classes may shift because we are starting intervention classes for students with low scores. In the next two weeks some classes may shift because we are starting intervention classes for students with low scores. Because of these changes some students’ SFS classes will be moved. Because of these changes some students’ SFS classes will be moved.

Reading At the beginning of the year we test each student using a reading comprehension computer based test called a STAR test. At the beginning of the year we test each student using a reading comprehension computer based test called a STAR test. –This test tells us the grade equivalent reading level of each student along with their comfortable reading level. Each trimester the students are retested to ensure growth and reading development. Each trimester the students are retested to ensure growth and reading development. They will be given reading levels and point goals by their teacher. These goals are calculated into their overall ASC grade. They will be given reading levels and point goals by their teacher. These goals are calculated into their overall ASC grade. We then use the Accelerated Reader program to track students’ progress. We then use the Accelerated Reader program to track students’ progress.

Study Skills During my SFS class students will be taught different study skills to better develop their own study habits. During my SFS class students will be taught different study skills to better develop their own study habits. We will look at different ways to study, times that are best to study, what information is important to study, as well as helping each other prepare for tests. We will look at different ways to study, times that are best to study, what information is important to study, as well as helping each other prepare for tests.

Organization Organization is a very important aspect to middle school success. Organization is a very important aspect to middle school success. I will be working with your student to improve organization skills. I will be working with your student to improve organization skills. This includes daily planner checks, random binder and backpack checks, homework folders, and organization time. This includes daily planner checks, random binder and backpack checks, homework folders, and organization time.

Study Hall Time Students will be given some time during the week to study, get help on assignments, or to start homework. This will not occur every day and work that is completed will not be collected. Students will be given some time during the week to study, get help on assignments, or to start homework. This will not occur every day and work that is completed will not be collected. Please check your child’s planner and homework to ensure their homework is complete. Please check your child’s planner and homework to ensure their homework is complete.

How are They Graded? For Mrs. Walker’s SFS class: Students will be graded based on an overall point goal. Students will be graded based on an overall point goal. This point goal consists of points for reading, math quizzes/lessons, organization, and study skills work. This point goal consists of points for reading, math quizzes/lessons, organization, and study skills work. The percentage of their overall goal will result in their overall class grade. The percentage of their overall goal will result in their overall class grade.

Goals Every month the students are given a paper on which they record their goal for overall class grades in each subject area. Every month the students are given a paper on which they record their goal for overall class grades in each subject area. Every month each student will be given a grade print out to see if he/she met the goal set prior. Every month each student will be given a grade print out to see if he/she met the goal set prior. The students will then set a new goal for the next month. The students will then set a new goal for the next month. At the end of each month expect to see your child’s grade print outs. These need to be signed and returned the next day. At the end of each month expect to see your child’s grade print outs. These need to be signed and returned the next day.

Questions or Concerns If you have any questions regarding your student’s progress or grade in 7 th period, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have any questions regarding your student’s progress or grade in 7 th period, please do not hesitate to contact me. The best way to contact me is by writing an . I can quickly and easily respond. The best way to contact me is by writing an . I can quickly and easily respond.

Contact Info is the best way to get in contact with me: is the best way to get in contact with me: –My Or you can call and leave a message with the school office: Or you can call and leave a message with the school office: –School Phone:

Thank You!!! Thank you so much for coming tonight and I look forward to working with you to prepare improve your student’s reading, study, organization, and mathematics skills!