Ms. Kersey

About Ms. Kersey! 14 years experience with grades K-8 9 years at H.I.S. Master’s Degree in Education

Heritage PTSA Welcome!! Lisa Reza, President Ann Goni, Membership Joanne Gifford, Membership Christy Shaurette, Fundraising

Classroom Expectations C.A.R.E. Come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn. Act in a responsible manner by being cooperative and not disruptive. Respect all adults, other students, and yourself at all times. Excel in all you do while learning and mastering the required content. No excuses!

Verbal Praise Participation in grade level activities Notes/phone call home Individual rewards Monthly reward

Consequences 1.First verbal warning 2.Second verbal warning/ possible detention assignment 3.Detention Assignments/Contact Parent 4.Alternative Leaning Center (A.L.C)/Contact Parent 5.Referral to Administrator/Contact Parent

District Initiatives Prepare our students to be college and career ready! Curriculum Alignment

District Initiative #1 Implementation of Common Core Standards…..

In California, the State Board of Education joined several states across the U.S. to adopt a new set of academic standards for students called the Common Core State Standards. These anchor standards will help ensure that students are receiving a consistently high quality education, from school to school and state to state.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) K-12 College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards 1.Reading 2.Writing 3.Speaking and Listening 4.Language Each grade level’s standards are building blocks to master the Anchor Standards. Students will be better prepared for college and career.

7 th Grade Language Arts Holt Literature and Language Arts will provide the students with an experience of reading and writing that will fit their individual needs. The program includes: 1.interesting selections to read 2.powerful models to help students learn to write 3.many opportunities to practice new skills 4.specific information regarding state standards with clear expectations 6 Universal Themes: 1.Relationships 2.Heroes 3.Beauty 4.Conflict 5.Change 6.Patterns Unit Overview: Essential Questions, Connected Leaning Opportunities (Skills), and Performance Tasks

Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

7 th Grade Writing Genres Summary of Reading Material Argumentative Essays Response to Literature Narrative Research Report (Science Class) 1.Students will learn how to understand and answer all parts of a writing prompt. 2.Students will learn to write to convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately. 3.Students will use Traits of Good Writing Strategies and Step Up to Writing Color Coding for organization.

7 th Grade Literature Core Literature Books Blackwater by Eve Bunting Night by Elie Wiesel The Contender by Robert Lipsyte While reading the core literature books, students will be learning various reading strategies to help improve reading comprehension. Students are required to come to school with a book of their choice daily. Starting Monday, August 24, 2015

How to find a book here:

7 th Grade Social Studies Medieval and Early Modern Times Glencoe Roman Empire Islam in the Middle Ages Medieval Africa China in the Middle Ages Medieval Japan Medieval Europe The Renaissance The Reformation The Americas The Age of Exploration The Age of Enlightenment *** Learning Targets, Cornell Notes, and Learning Target Flashcards***

Insert Sample of Learning Targets, FC, and CN Here: Glued into Spiral Notebooks at the beginning of every chapter.

District Initiative #2 Engagement and Collaboration…..

Kagan Cooperative Structures Kagan Cooperative structures facilitating the learning of a class where pupils are all actively and simultaneously engaged in learning minimize the opportunity for pupils to become distracted, disruptive and then disaffected by giving them the skills to work with others and to learn independently of the ‘teacher’. Structures teach pupils social skills; interaction with other pupils, turn taking, listening to the views of others and sharing information. helps students become effective communicators

District Initiative #3 Universal Access…..

Universal Access (UA) Time Master Schedule (3 rd Period) the UA period adds an additional instructional period to the school students are grouped based upon state, district, site, and classroom assessments grouped by academic target areas and classes are designed to meet the unique and individual academic needs of students UA class changes will occur through out the school year to provide the best academic support for each student the ultimate goal of UA is to ensure high quality curriculum and instruction so that all students are college and career ready

District Initiative # Technology…..

Chromebooks One for each student. Minimum of two times a week. Google Classroom, Socrative, Junior Scholastic, etc… Learning.com to build keyboarding fluency.

Homework Zeros Are not Permitted (ZAP) Monday-Thursday Students will receive a ZAP for missing or incomplete homework assignment(s). The first three weeks of the school year, ZAPs will be completed during lunch. The fourth week and the remainder of the school year, ZAPs will be completed after school (2:30- 3:00). During the allotted ZAP time, students will complete their missing or incomplete homework assignment(s) for a 50% score. Missing homework will effect grade and citizenship

Place LCD To Do List here: Homework is also on whiteboard and teacher website.

What if my child is absent? To see growth, it is essential that students attend school regularly. Student will receive 2 days for every 1 day they are absent to return missing homework, classwork, quizzes, or tests. It is important to have minimal absences. Absences will effect participation grade and citizenship.

Attendance Reward An end of the year prize will go out to the students who arrive to school on time and have perfect attendance.

Ways of Communication Teacher Website * Weekly Wednesday Folders (beginning Wednesday, Aug. 26 th ) Heritage Binder Reminders (weekly citizenship grade) Z.A.P. Forms Subject Spiral Notebooks ESPRI On-line Grade Book (Students will be responsible for checking grades.) *Weekly Plans included on Website