1. Welcome to Back to School Night!
Kristen Giangregorio, 7th Grade Core Teacher
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!

2. My background…
I began my first 3 years of teaching in NYC and St. Louis. I also worked for 6 years at a preschool in San Ramon.
I had my own Interior Design business for two years and have an art and design background.
I missed the classroom and kids…went back to get my credential at SMC!
This is my 13th year teaching, and I’m thrilled to be back for my 3rd year at WCI!

3. 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 book recommendations, reading logs, spelling lists, and all sorts of good stuff!
I highly recommend checking Aeries and my website regularly for updates, assignments, hw, grades, and reminders!

4. My Agenda….
To access my website, please go to
Select my name “Giangregorio, Kristen”
Look at the left hand column and review all parts of my site.
I like to provide information in advance for students so they can begin to learn how to plan their own time and prioritize.

5. From the Wci homepage: Click: Staff Directory, then my name.

6. Click on the weekly agenda you wish to view and you can see:
What we’ll do in class daily
Homework due each day

7. Late Work Policy
Late work will be accepted in accordance with the WCSD “Homework Policy.”
In general, if late work is turned in…your child will receive 60% of the overall grade, which is more than a “0.” But this will negatively affect the overall grade, especially if it becomes frequent.

8. 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!
We will examine the growing economic interaction among civilizations as well as the exchange of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and commodities.

9. Example of our Inquiry Task Sheet

10. Google Classroom

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.
We will be studying…

12. West Africa

13. Arabic Trade/Islam

14. China

15. Feudal Japan

16. Europe – Middle Ages

17. The Renaissance

18. The Reformation

19. The Americas
Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas

20. The Age of Exploration

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

22. Japan Core Activity We’ll need parent volunteers!
Date: Thursday, January 25th (Sign Up Genius can be found in the E-news starting sometime in November/December

23. Byzantine Bazaar We’ll need lots of volunteers!
Date: Tuesday, June 5th

24. English
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.
Vocabulary – Exploration of word families, meaning, and root words: Words derived from our literature book. We work with Academic Vocabulary and regularly practice on MEMBEAN.
Spelling/Word Study: Words are assigned on Wednesdays and are tested on the following Wednesday.

25. Read Aloud Books
The Outsiders
Crispin
                                                            

26. Reading Workshop
Reading is taught through a series of mini-lessons, student practice, conferring, read aloud, and discussions.
Reading Logs are due each week
10% of English Grade
Reading correlates with test scores!
Read, read, read!

27. Mini Lessons lead us to deeper thinking

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

29. Writers Workshop allows us to connect with what our pen puts on the paper.

30. Homework
Homework is limited to reading, writing, Membean practice and SS inquiry 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.
Homework will only be assigned Monday-Thursday; this follows the WCI homework policy.

31. To contact me… kgiangregorio@walnutcreeksd.org
is generally the best way to contact me.
Telephone # , x-8209
Only voic throughout teaching day.
My prep period is 3rd period.

32. Questions?

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