1. Lake Zurich Middle School South – Seventh Grade
School Year

2. Seventh Grade Teachers
Chopra
Aaron
Kruse
Heather
Linder
Lisa
Marston
Matt
Milone
Cynthia
Merow
Sara
Spyropoulos
Connie
Robinson
Michelle
Michelle.
Viscioni
Noreen
Jill
Walsh
Nicholas
Esposito
Jenny
Salomon
Kim
Kelly

3. Empower every learner to achieve personal excellence.
Forward95
In the fall of 2016, District 95 embarked upon an important community engagement and strategic planning process that we call “Forward 95”.
Defining initiative to shape our school district for the next three to five years and beyond.
Our Mission:
Empower every learner to
achieve personal excellence.

4. Growth Mindset Effective Effort Achievement (hard work + strategies)
Confidence (attitude)
Effective Effort
(hard work + strategies)
Ability

5. Effective Effort – what is it? It’s not enough to just “try hard.”
Time – a willingness to spend the time needed to finish the job well. More time doesn’t necessarily result in more effort.
Focus – Concentrate only on the work (remove distractions, phone, television, etc.). Find what works for you.
Resourcefulness – knowing when, where to go, whom to ask, and what to use for help when you’re stuck.
Use of feedback – look carefully at responses to your work so you know exactly what to fix or areas you could work on in the future.
Commitment & Persistence – Be determined to finish work and strive to achieve great things, especially when it’s challenging.
Pride – a feeling of happiness you get when you do something good. Take pride in your work.
Creative – be imaginative. Innovate. Be curious. Wonder.
Strategies – The knowledge and skills used to complete tasks successfully and “get smarter.” If one approach isn’t working, keep trying different ways until you find one that works.

6. Seventh-Grade Policies
Achievement
Confidence (attitude)
Effective Effort
(hard work + strategies)
Ability
Behavior
Students expected to be:
Safe – Responsible - Respectful
‘Conduct Notification’ Slips
Warnings (3+ in a quarter = detention)
Assignments
Quality work is expected
Late Assignments
Scores usually reduced for work not completed on time
Multiple late assignments will lead to an intervention (academic detention, study group, etc.)
Digital Access
Home Access (part of eSchool) (SMS)
Web Site (lz95.org/mss) (CMS)
Canvas (lz95.instructure.com) (LMS)
“The cloud ate my homework.”

7. Digital Resources Web Site Home Access Canvas Public Information
Also Google Drive & Docs
File Storage & Creation
On-line, cloud based
Limited Access (LZ domain)
Collaboration
Student
Web Site
Public Information
Announcements
Clubs & Sports
Teacher Pages
Links ( , Home Access, Canvas)
Home Access
Student Information
User names & passwords
Scores & Grades
On-going & Interim Progress
Canvas
Learning System
Digital Classroom
Limited Access

8. Outside of Class Work Reminder App Assume students have work iPads
Achievement
Confidence (attitude)
Effective Effort
(hard work + strategies)
Ability
Reminder App
Filled in everyday, for every subject
Neat & Accurate
Check off work as it is completed 
Assume students have work
About an hour to two each night
Daily assignments, projects, study, read, journal
Students should be reading independently every night
iPads
A learning tool (as opposed to a toy)
Apps (school “approved” are available through the Absolute app)
Charge at home – nightly

9. How to Help… Prove time to work at home Ask what did you learn today?
Set aside time everyday
Distraction-free work area
Grandmother approach (encourage & inquire)
Ask what did you learn today?
Encourage your child to:
prioritize – time management
be organized – Binder, Backpack, iPad
develop good study skills & habits
ask questions in class
use his notes
effective effort – try
participate in class
Breakfast
Sleep -(experts recommend 8+ hours)

10. Think Kindness Challenge
Our goal is to inspire a measurable act of kindness…so let’s start collecting shoes!  Today, encourage your child to start bringing shoes in tomorrow. Shoes will first be donated to those families in need after the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.  Any leftover shoes will be donated to two orphanages in Ghana and Kenya.  Let’ s do what we can to encourage our kids to be brave and bring in as many shoes as we possibly can. 
We only have 9 days left
September 15th is the deadline!
Bring Shoes!
Kindness is ALWAYS beautiful.  Be the reason to put a SMILE on someone’s face! 

11. Springfield Illinois Trip
Overnight trip to Illinois’s Capital
Functions of government
Three branches of government
Abraham Lincoln & Civil War
Sights:
Lincoln’s Home, Law Office, Tomb, Library, Museum; New Salem Village; New and Old State Capitals; and War Monuments
This year October 5 & 6
Leave early Thursday, return late afternoon on Friday
Information was sent home
Payment is due Tomorrow, Sept 7th

12. Math Overview
Objective: To apply the eight mathematical practices that mathematicians do:
Solve problems without giving up
Think about numbers in many ways
Explain my thinking and try to understand others
Show my work in many ways
Use math tools and explain why I use them
Work carefully and check my work.
Use what I know to solve new problems
Solve problems by looking for rules and patterns

13. Math Overview Pre-Algebra Standard
Real Numbers, exponents, linear equations
Pythagorean Theorem
Linear Relationships & Functions
Systems of Functions
Geometric Figures
Statistical Applications
Standard
Rational Numbers
Expressions, Equations & Linear Equations
Ratios & Proportionality
Data & Probability
Geometric Measurement

14. Social Studies Overview
Objective: To understand the events, trends, individuals, and movements that shape the world
Civilizations Review
Government
United States Constitution & Constitution Test
Europe – Middle Ages to Modern Era
The continent of Africa and its diverse nations
Latin America

15. Science Overview
The 7th grade science curriculum consists of units based in the life sciences that is STEM based. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. Science is everywhere in the world around us A curriculum that is STEM-based has real-life situations to help the student learn. Scientific Method, Lab Safety, & Microscopes (General Science) will be embedded into the curriculum.

16. Science Overview Dry Ice Investigations (Physical Science)
Structural, Function and Processing (Cells and Body Systems)
Growth and Development of Organisms
Organization for Matter and Energy Flow of Organisms
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience
Inheritance of Variation of Traits
Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
Natural Selection

17. Language Arts is Writing
Six Traits
Vocabulary
Ideas
Write for authentic purposes
Organization
Voice
Writers Workshop
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Expository
Persuasive Argument
Narrative

18. LITERATURE IS READING….
Creating Skilled Readers
Enduring Understandings
Life requires literacy
Readers construct meaning
Literature reflects who we are (and who we want to be)
Curriculum
Aligned with Common Core
Includes the ideas of Readers Workshop
Structured around central themes, ideas, and skills
Choice
Reading & Thinking Strategies…
Draw Inferences & Make Predictions
Ask Questions
Monitor
Make Connections
Visualize
Determine Importance
Synthesize

19. Thank you for coming tonight.
At this time please follow your child’s Open House Schedule – you will visit the Encore section of the day.