To my students and their parents/guardians:

Welcome to our 2009 – 2010 school year. I would like to take this opportunity to prepare you for the journey ahead by offering a little insight into what is in store for you in the coming year. Please read through this correspondence, sign the acknowledgement form attached, and return the signed form to me by August 14^th.

My classroom discipline policy is very simple and straightforward. You earn respect by giving respect. This includes my mantra to keep your hands and feet to yourself, as well as to obey the time honored golden rule of do unto others, you know the rest, and never throw objects in the classroom. Simple? Of course. In the event that a rule is broken, the school’s sequence of disciplinary action will be followed.

The English and Reading classes are blocked as one, and in order to utilize the time most effectively we will follow the same schedule consistently. On Monday, ten new vocabulary words will be introduced. Students will define the words and complete the cloze activity (fill in the blanks) that accompanies the list. Homework that night involves identifying additional parts of speech that are directly related to the vocabulary words. After checking homework on Tuesday, the student will complete the next exercise in the workbook. For homework, the student will select a topic and create a word web with phrases related to the topic using the vocabulary words. On Wednesday, we will check all work including homework. Class work for vocabulary is scored based on accuracy as well as participation and will appear as a class participation grade on STI. Vocabulary/spelling tests are given every Thursday.

In addition to regular vocabulary lessons, the class will study grammar in context with concentration on new and advanced concepts. Daily review of grammar will be practiced through our Daily Oral Language group activity. This weekly grade is worth 15 points. Specific grammar topics will be studied throughout the year. Students will be given grammar tests each nine week period worth 100 points each.

The alphabiography project is the crowning jewel of our seventh grade gifted program. Students submit entries (chapters) every Monday beginning August 17^th. The entries, worth 100 points each, are edited, scored, and returned for corrections. Corrected alphas are collected at the end of each nine week period and filed in the students’ folders until the end of the year. The entries are then illustrated and bound. The final project is a memorable keepsake of your seventh grade year.

You will also be studying Reading in my class. This year’s novel selections have changed a bit from last year.  I will notify you as soon as I have clarification as to which novels we will be studying.   

Many of you will also be in my class for Social Studies. Participation in the Social Studies Fair is no longer required. However, you will be required to create projects throughout the year beginning with a map activity which will be introduced in the first week of school. I have mapped out the plans for the Scope and Sequence for our class and will be posting this soon to the webpage.

I hope that you are as excited as I am about the start of our new year together. Please continue reading to the bottom for the list of our class rules and the acknowledgement form.*

*Clicking on "Printable Version" did not yield favorable results. You may want to cut and paste the acknowledgement portion only on a word document and print from there.