2. Welcome to Back to School Night! Presenting… Jana Palmquist, 7 th Grade Core Teacher https://youtu.be/NW12CS_6nnw

3. Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher

4. My background… I taught in the corporate world as a manager of some kind for 15 years. I taught in the corporate world as a manager of some kind for 15 years. At the age of 37 I went back to school and obtained my teaching credential and masters of education. At the age of 37 I went back to school and obtained my teaching credential and masters of education. I have taught 2 nd, 4 th, and 7 th grades. I have taught 2 nd, 4 th, and 7 th grades. My desire was to teach 7 th grade Core at WCI. My desire was to teach 7 th grade Core at WCI. I am living my dream! I am living my dream!

5. My Website Always (okay, 90+% of the time) completed by Friday for the following week. Contains some worksheets (if generated by me), but most importantly, it contains my agenda for the week that includes homework and work due. You can also find the teaching points for reading and writing workshops, book recommendations, student work, and all sorts of good stuff! For Social Studies Work – Have your child not only check my website but their Google Classroom.

6. My Agenda…. To access my website, please go to http://www.walnutcreeksd.org/wci/site/de fault.asp To access my website, please go to http://www.walnutcreeksd.org/wci/site/de fault.asp http://www.walnutcreeksd.org/wci/site/de fault.asp http://www.walnutcreeksd.org/wci/site/de fault.asp Select my name “Palmquist” Select my name “Palmquist” Look at the left hand column and review all parts of my site. Look at the left hand column and review all parts of my site.

7. Late Work Policy Late work will be accepted in accordance with the WCSD “Homework Policy.” Late work will be accepted in accordance with the WCSD “Homework Policy.” Of note, I have built in extended time for ALL students. Nothing is due the next day. Of note, I have built in extended time for ALL students. Nothing is due the next day. In general, if late work is turned in…your child will receive a failing grade, which is more than a “0.” In general, if late work is turned in…your child will receive a failing grade, which is more than a “0.”

8. Extra Credit Extra credit – No! Bonus points can be earned by turning in exceptional work and sometimes on tests.

9. Social Studies Through the inquiry process, we will study the social, cultural, and technological changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia…a VERY long time ago! Through the inquiry process, we will study the social, cultural, and technological changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia…a VERY long time ago! We will examine the growing economic interaction among civilizations as well as the exchange of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and commodities. We will examine the growing economic interaction among civilizations as well as the exchange of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and commodities. Conceptual Threads: Agriculture, Religion, Achievements (connections to today), Social Structure

10. In an inquiry-based learning environment the teachers' job is not to provide knowledge, but to help students along their process of discovering knowledge. In an inquiry-based learning environment the teachers' job is not to provide knowledge, but to help students along their process of discovering knowledge. We will be studying… We will be studying…

11. Islam

12. West Africa

13. China

14. Feudal Japan

15. Europe – Middle Ages

16. The Renaissance

17. The Reformation

18. The Americas Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas

19. The Age of Exploration

20. Overarching Focus Questions: Quarters 1 & 2: What makes a successful society? Quarters 1 & 2: What makes a successful society? Quarters 3 & 4: How do societies breakdown and rebuild? Quarters 3 & 4: How do societies breakdown and rebuild?

21. Japan Core Activity We’ll need parent volunteers! We’ll need parent volunteers! Date: Thursday, January 21 st (Sign Up Genius can be found in the E-news starting sometime in November/December. Date: Thursday, January 21 st (Sign Up Genius can be found in the E-news starting sometime in November/December.

22. Byzantine Bazaar We’ll need lots of volunteers! We’ll need lots of volunteers! Date: Tuesday, June 7th Date: Tuesday, June 7th

23. English I teach English (reading & writing) in a workshop methodology (goes hand-in- hand with Common Core). I teach English (reading & writing) in a workshop methodology (goes hand-in- hand with Common Core). Grammar: Reinforced through warm-up assignments, mini- lessons, and writing. Grammar: Reinforced through warm-up assignments, mini- lessons, and writing. Vocabulary – Exploration of word families, meaning, and root words: Words derived from our literature book. We will also study vocabulary through school wide academic vocabulary, and from the Social Studies curriculum. Vocabulary – Exploration of word families, meaning, and root words: Words derived from our literature book. We will also study vocabulary through school wide academic vocabulary, and from the Social Studies curriculum. Spelling/Word Study: Words are assigned on Wednesdays and are tested on the following Wednesday. Spelling/Word Study: Words are assigned on Wednesdays and are tested on the following Wednesday.

24. Read Aloud Books The Outsiders The Outsiders Crispin Crispin

25. Reading Workshop Reading is taught through a series of mini- lessons, student practice, conferring, read aloud, and discussions. Reading is taught through a series of mini- lessons, student practice, conferring, read aloud, and discussions. Accelerated Reading or Reading Log (student choice) Accelerated Reading or Reading Log (student choice) 10% of English Grade 10% of English Grade Reading correlates with test scores! Reading correlates with test scores! Read, read, read! Read, read, read!

26. Read Aloud Short Stories “What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?” by Avi “What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?” by Avi “The White Umbrella” by Gish Jen “The White Umbrella” by Gish Jen “Zebra” by Chaim Potok “Zebra” by Chaim Potok “An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer “An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer “Thank you, M’am” by Langston Hughes “Thank you, M’am” by Langston Hughes “War of the Wall” by Toni Cade Bambara “War of the Wall” by Toni Cade Bambara Science Fiction Unit: Science Fiction Unit: “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” by Rod Serling “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” by Rod Serling “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” by Ray Bradbury “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” by Ray Bradbury Non-fiction: Non-fiction: Names/Nombres by Julia Alvarez Names/Nombres by Julia Alvarez Excerpt from I Never Had It Made as told to Alfred Duckett Excerpt from I Never Had It Made as told to Alfred Duckett Excerpt from Boy by Roald Dahl Excerpt from Boy by Roald Dahl The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt

27. Writing Workshop Writing is taught through a series of mini- lessons, student practice, and conferring. Writing is taught through a series of mini- lessons, student practice, and conferring. Five Units Five Units Informative (Literary Essay) – Quarter 1 Informative (Literary Essay) – Quarter 1 Argument – Quarter 2/3 Argument – Quarter 2/3 Narrative – Quarter 3/4 Narrative – Quarter 3/4 Pandemic Text Set (Informational Text)– Quarter 4 & Science Fiction Text Set Pandemic Text Set (Informational Text)– Quarter 4 & Science Fiction Text Set Students will also write several on-demand pieces throughout the school year, in English and Social Studies. Students will also write several on-demand pieces throughout the school year, in English and Social Studies.

28. Homework Homework is limited to reading, writing, and SS worksheets. Homework is limited to reading, writing, and SS worksheets. A lot of work is completed in class or, at least, started in class. Any class work, not completed in class becomes that student’s homework. A lot of work is completed in class or, at least, started in class. Any class work, not completed in class becomes that student’s homework. Please feel free to email me on a weekly basis to find out how your child is doing in regard to turning in their homework – they still need your help! There are a lot of magic backpacks! Please feel free to email me on a weekly basis to find out how your child is doing in regard to turning in their homework – they still need your help! There are a lot of magic backpacks!

29. To contact me… jpalmquist@wcsd.k12.ca.us – This is generally the best way to contact me. jpalmquist@wcsd.k12.ca.us – This is generally the best way to contact me. jpalmquist@wcsd.k12.ca.us Telephone # 944-6840, x-8210 Telephone # 944-6840, x-8210 My prep period is 3rd period. My prep period is 3rd period.

30. Questions?

31. Thank you for coming! I look forward to getting to know you and your child! Have a great evening!