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!
I’m thrilled to be here 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, and all sorts of good stuff!
For Social Studies Work – Have your child not only check my website but their Google Classroom.

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.”
Of note, I have built in extended time for ALL students.
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.
Conceptual Threads: Agriculture, Religion, Achievements (connections to today), Social Structure

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. Islam

13. West Africa

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 24th (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 4th

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.
Its all about strategies, coaching and conferring.
Every child can be a writer!

25. Reading Workshop
Reading is taught through a series of mini-lessons, student practice, conferring, read aloud, and discussions.
Sustained independent reading will be a focus this year. Students need to Read, Read, Read!

26. Mini Lessons lead us to deeper thinking

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

28. Writing Workshop
Writing is taught through a series of mini-lessons, student practice, and conferring.
Five Units
Informative (Literary Essay) – Quarter 1
Argument in conjunction with the historical non-fiction reading unit– Quarter 2/3
Realistic Fiction/Narrative in conjunction with the realistic fiction reading unit – Quarter 3/4
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, 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.
Homework will only be assigned Monday- Thursday; this follows the WCI homework policy.
Please feel free to to find out how your child is doing– they still need your help! is the best way to get in touch with me.

31. To contact me… kgiangregorio@walnutcreeksd.org
This is generally the best way to contact me. I may not respond immediately if I’m in class, but I will get back to you asap.
Telephone # , x-8209
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!