1. Welcome to Back to School Night! Presenting… Katie Kniss, 7 th Grade Core Teacher https://youtu.be/NW12CS_6nnw

2. Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try and do nothing and succeed. - Lloyd Jones

3. My background… This is my third year teaching at WCI, but I also attended WCI. This is my third year teaching at WCI, but I also attended WCI. Received my BA in Liberal Studies from Biola University and received my teaching credential. Received my BA in Liberal Studies from Biola University and received my teaching credential. I am enthusiastic about teaching and helping students be successful! I am enthusiastic about teaching and helping students be successful! This is my dream! This is my dream!

4. 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.

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. Of note, I have built in extended time for ALL students. In general, if late work is turned in…your child will receive 60% credit In general, if late work is turned in…your child will receive 60% credit

8. Extra Credit Extra credit – not given regularly Bonus points can be earned by turning in exceptional work and sometimes on assessments.

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. Sample Inquiry Task Sheet

11. 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.

12. We will be studying… Western Roman Empire Western Roman Empire Islam Islam West Africa West Africa China China Feudal Japan Feudal Japan Europe – The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, and The Reformation Europe – The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, and The Reformation The Age of Exploration The Age of Exploration The Americas The Americas

13. 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?

14. Japan Core Activity We’ll need parent volunteers! We’ll need parent volunteers! Date: Thursday, January 26 th (Sign Up Genius can be found in the E-news starting sometime in November/December) Date: Thursday, January 26 th (Sign Up Genius can be found in the E-news starting sometime in November/December)

15. Byzantine Bazaar We’ll need lots of volunteers! We’ll need lots of volunteers! Date: Tuesday, June 6th Date: Tuesday, June 6th

16. 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. 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. 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, from the Social Studies curriculum, our class will utilize a new website called “Membean”. 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, from the Social Studies curriculum, our class will utilize a new website called “Membean”.

17. New this year to my class! Forty-five minutes per week New this year to my class! Forty-five minutes per week (preferably three times for fifteen minutes) What is Membean? A fully automated, differentiated, and multimodal vocabulary (web-based) learning system that will effectively address your child at her or his own level of vocabulary expertise and learning style. What is Membean? A fully automated, differentiated, and multimodal vocabulary (web-based) learning system that will effectively address your child at her or his own level of vocabulary expertise and learning style. Initial calibration determines your child's current vocabulary knowledge, Membean takes over by introducing words, asking many questions about them, and recording your child's progress; displayed on a student dashboard. Initial calibration determines your child's current vocabulary knowledge, Membean takes over by introducing words, asking many questions about them, and recording your child's progress; displayed on a student dashboard. I will also have access to a teacher dashboard, from which I will be able to keep track of your child's progress, administer personalized assessments, and access settings to further enhance the specific learning requirements of your child. I will also have access to a teacher dashboard, from which I will be able to keep track of your child's progress, administer personalized assessments, and access settings to further enhance the specific learning requirements of your child.

18. If you'd like to try Membean for yourself to get an idea of what your child will be doing, please visit http://membean.com/products/personal/plans and sign up for our free three-day plan. If you'd like to try Membean for yourself to get an idea of what your child will be doing, please visit http://membean.com/products/personal/plans and sign up for our free three-day plan. http://membean.com/products/personal/plans Common questions answered at http://support.membean.com. Common questions answered at http://support.membean.com. http://support.membean.com Please watch the videos at http://membean.com Please watch the videos at http://membean.com http://membean.com

19. Read Aloud Books The Outsiders The Outsiders Crispin Crispin

20. 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!

21. 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

22. 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. Three Main Units Three Main Units Informative (Literary Essay) – Quarter 1 Informative (Literary Essay) – Quarter 1 Argument – Quarter 2/3 Argument – Quarter 2/3 Narrative – Quarter ¾ Narrative – Quarter ¾ 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.

23. 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!

24. To contact me… kkniss@wcsd.k12.ca.us – This is generally the best way to contact me. kkniss@wcsd.k12.ca.us – This is generally the best way to contact me. kkniss@wcsd.k12.ca.us Telephone # 944-6840, x-8208 Telephone # 944-6840, x-8208 My prep period is 3rd period. My prep period is 3rd period.