Welcome ParentsWelcome ParentsToTo

88thth Grade Life Science Grade Life Science

Who is Mrs. Walker the Who is Mrs. Walker the teacher?teacher?

Grew up in Corona is a product of CNUSDGrew up in Corona is a product of CNUSD Graduated from Norco HighGraduated from Norco High Attended UCR, RCC and CSUSMAttended UCR, RCC and CSUSM Received BA in Liberal Studies with Received BA in Liberal Studies with

emphasis in Arts and Education from emphasis in Arts and Education from CSUSM in 2003.CSUSM in 2003.

Graduated 2004 from Cal State San Graduated 2004 from Cal State San Marcos with K-8 CredentialMarcos with K-8 Credential

Worked at CHIS from 2004-2010.Worked at CHIS from 2004-2010. Taught Teacher-led homeschool 2010-Taught Teacher-led homeschool 2010-

20112011

More about Mrs. More about Mrs. Walker the Teacher!Walker the Teacher!

Moved to Loveland Colorado in Moved to Loveland Colorado in 20112011

Taught 6Taught 6thth and 8 and 8thth Grade Science in Grade Science in Colorado the past 2 years.Colorado the past 2 years.

Moved back to California 5 weeks Moved back to California 5 weeks ago!ago!

So happy to be back in California So happy to be back in California and at Citrus Hills!and at Citrus Hills!

Who is Mrs. Walker the Who is Mrs. Walker the person?person?

I am married – have been 10 I am married – have been 10 years this October!years this October!

I have an 8 year old daughter and I have an 8 year old daughter and a 5 year old son.a 5 year old son.

I enjoy sports and musicI enjoy sports and music I love to laughI love to laugh I enjoy teaching ScienceI enjoy teaching Science I love to cook! I love to cook!

What to expect this What to expect this year in Physical year in Physical

ScienceScience Semester 1:Semester 1:

– Scientific InquiryScientific Inquiry– Experimental DesignExperimental Design– MatterMatter– Atoms and ElementsAtoms and Elements

Semester 2:Semester 2:– The Periodic TableThe Periodic Table– ChemistryChemistry– Forces and MotionForces and Motion– Space Sciences Space Sciences

StandardsStandards

In 8In 8thth Grade Physical Science this year we will follow the Grade Physical Science this year we will follow the California State Common Core Standards as well at the California State Common Core Standards as well at the National Level Next Generation Science Standards.National Level Next Generation Science Standards.

These standards have been designed to remove the These standards have been designed to remove the “information-in, information-out” mentality and the “information-in, information-out” mentality and the repetition of rote facts. In place of these are deeper repetition of rote facts. In place of these are deeper level, inquiry based standards that increase rigor and level, inquiry based standards that increase rigor and thought processing skills.thought processing skills.

NotebooksNotebooks

Every student in my class keeps an Every student in my class keeps an interactive notebook for science.interactive notebook for science.

These notebooks are great tools for studying These notebooks are great tools for studying and homework help. and homework help.

Your students will be using their creative Your students will be using their creative abilities to create these notebooks. abilities to create these notebooks.

They are required to be in class daily and They are required to be in class daily and kept up to date regularly.kept up to date regularly.

If a student is absent I do “notebook lunches” If a student is absent I do “notebook lunches” for students to make up missing pages.for students to make up missing pages.

HomeworkHomework

All students are required to write down All students are required to write down their homework each and every day.their homework each and every day.

Your students will have 3-5 nights of Your students will have 3-5 nights of homework a week in Science.homework a week in Science.

If your students says they finished it in If your students says they finished it in class or that they do not have any, class or that they do not have any, check their planner – ask them to see check their planner – ask them to see the work and their notebook from class. the work and their notebook from class. I do not accept homework early and I do not accept homework early and many times is glued in their notebooks.many times is glued in their notebooks.

HomeworkHomework

There are currently two ways to There are currently two ways to get homework:get homework:– 1. Students write it down from the 1. Students write it down from the

board in class.board in class.– 2. Sign up for Remind and get 2. Sign up for Remind and get

homework Texts.homework Texts.

RemindRemind Students and Parents can join my Students and Parents can join my

Remind two ways…Remind two ways…1. Go to remind.com and click on “parent or 1. Go to remind.com and click on “parent or student” and enter the classroom code.student” and enter the classroom code.

2. Text the classroom code to 810102. Text the classroom code to 81010 Classroom Codes:Classroom Codes:

–Period 1: @sci1walk15Period 1: @sci1walk15–Period 2: @sci2walk15Period 2: @sci2walk15–Period 3: @sci3walk15Period 3: @sci3walk15–Period 5: @sci5walk15Period 5: @sci5walk15–Period 6: @sci6walk15Period 6: @sci6walk15

Class WebpageClass Webpage

I do not currently have a class I do not currently have a class webpage but hope to have one up webpage but hope to have one up soon! I will send home info once soon! I will send home info once it is set up and running.it is set up and running.

Thanks for your patience!Thanks for your patience!

Make Up WorkMake Up Work

Students can get missing work from Students can get missing work from off the wall by the door.off the wall by the door.

They have one day for every day They have one day for every day absent plus one to complete late work.absent plus one to complete late work.

Late work will be reduced 10% every Late work will be reduced 10% every day it is late up to 40% reduction total.day it is late up to 40% reduction total.

Work can not be made up once a Work can not be made up once a quarter is complete. quarter is complete.

Bad Test Score?Bad Test Score?

Depending on the test, I sometimes Depending on the test, I sometimes have alternate assignments for have alternate assignments for students to complete to show students to complete to show competence for failed tests.competence for failed tests.

Only tests scoring lower than 70% Only tests scoring lower than 70% are eligible for make-ups.are eligible for make-ups.

Open notebook or take home tests Open notebook or take home tests will not be allowed a make-up.will not be allowed a make-up.

Pre-A.P.Pre-A.P. My expectations for Pre-A.P. Students:My expectations for Pre-A.P. Students:

– Must maintain a B or higher on all report cards for Must maintain a B or higher on all report cards for science. If a student drops below B then they will be science. If a student drops below B then they will be removed from Pre-A.P. science.removed from Pre-A.P. science.

– Must complete and turn in all assignment given – on Must complete and turn in all assignment given – on time.time.

– Must be able to keep up with the quick pace.Must be able to keep up with the quick pace.– Must be able to work productively independently as Must be able to work productively independently as

well as positively in groups.well as positively in groups.– Must be willing to give forth their best effort – every Must be willing to give forth their best effort – every

day.day. Finally, there is not Finally, there is not extraextra work for Pre-A.P.s work for Pre-A.P.s

students, the work they will have to complete is students, the work they will have to complete is deeper level thinking so it may take longer than deeper level thinking so it may take longer than non-honors work.non-honors work.

Questions??Questions??

With the nature of this evening’s With the nature of this evening’s schedule I will not be able to answer schedule I will not be able to answer questions in person.questions in person.

Please fill out a question or Please fill out a question or comment sheet and put it in the box comment sheet and put it in the box on your way out. I will e-mail you on your way out. I will e-mail you soon a response to your question. soon a response to your question.

OROR

Contact InfoContact Info

E-mail is the best way to get in E-mail is the best way to get in contact with me:contact with me:– My e-mail: My e-mail:

kristin.walker@cnusd.k12.ca.us Or you can call and leave a Or you can call and leave a

message with the school office:message with the school office:– School Phone: 951-736-4600School Phone: 951-736-4600

Thank You!!!Thank You!!!

Thank you so much for coming Thank you so much for coming tonight and I look forward to working tonight and I look forward to working with you to prepare your student for with you to prepare your student for 88thth grade. grade.

Success for SchoolSuccess for School(S.F.S)(S.F.S)

77thth Period Period

WelcomeWelcome

What is Success for What is Success for School?School?

SFS is a class designed to work SFS is a class designed to work with students to set and achieve with students to set and achieve goals, build reading goals, build reading comprehension, improve basic comprehension, improve basic math skills, and learn study math skills, and learn study habits.habits.

Another large component of SFS Another large component of SFS is organization. is organization.

Changes in SFSChanges in SFS

Be prepared for changes in SFS Be prepared for changes in SFS classes. classes.

In the next two weeks some In the next two weeks some classes may shift because we are classes may shift because we are starting intervention classes for starting intervention classes for students with low scores.students with low scores.

Because of these changes some Because of these changes some students’ SFS classes will be students’ SFS classes will be moved.moved.

ReadingReading

At the beginning of the year we test each At the beginning of the year we test each student using a reading comprehension student using a reading comprehension computer based test called a STAR test.computer based test called a STAR test.– This test tells us the grade equivalent reading level This test tells us the grade equivalent reading level

of each student along with their comfortable of each student along with their comfortable reading level.reading level.

Each trimester the students are retested to Each trimester the students are retested to ensure growth and reading development.ensure growth and reading development.

They will be given reading levels and point They will be given reading levels and point goals by their teacher. These goals are goals by their teacher. These goals are calculated into their overall ASC grade.calculated into their overall ASC grade.

We then use the Accelerated Reader We then use the Accelerated Reader program to track students’ progress.program to track students’ progress.

Study SkillsStudy Skills

During my SFS class students will be During my SFS class students will be taught different study skills to better taught different study skills to better develop their own study habits. develop their own study habits.

We will look at different ways to We will look at different ways to study, times that are best to study, study, times that are best to study, what information is important to what information is important to study, as well as helping each other study, as well as helping each other prepare for tests.prepare for tests.

OrganizationOrganization

Organization is a very important Organization is a very important aspect to middle school success.aspect to middle school success.

I will be working with your I will be working with your student to improve organization student to improve organization skills.skills.

This includes daily planner This includes daily planner checks, random binder and checks, random binder and backpack checks, homework backpack checks, homework folders, and organization time.folders, and organization time.

Study Hall TimeStudy Hall Time

Students will be given some time Students will be given some time during the week to study, get help during the week to study, get help on assignments, or to start on assignments, or to start homework. This will not occur homework. This will not occur every day and work that is every day and work that is completed will not be collected. completed will not be collected.

Please check your child’s planner Please check your child’s planner and homework to ensure their and homework to ensure their homework is complete.homework is complete.

How are They Graded?How are They Graded?

For Mrs. Walker’s SFS class:For Mrs. Walker’s SFS class: Students will be graded based on an Students will be graded based on an

overall point goal. overall point goal. This point goal consists of points for This point goal consists of points for

reading, math quizzes/lessons, reading, math quizzes/lessons, organization, and study skills work.organization, and study skills work.

The percentage of their overall goal The percentage of their overall goal will result in their overall class will result in their overall class grade. grade.

GoalsGoals

Every month the students are given a Every month the students are given a paper on which they record their goal for paper on which they record their goal for overall class grades in each subject area.overall class grades in each subject area.

Every month each student will be given a Every month each student will be given a grade print out to see if he/she met the grade print out to see if he/she met the goal set prior.goal set prior.

The students will then set a new goal for The students will then set a new goal for the next month.the next month.

At the end of each month expect to see At the end of each month expect to see your child’s grade print outs. your child’s grade print outs. These need These need to be signed and returned the next day.to be signed and returned the next day.

Questions or ConcernsQuestions or Concerns

If you have any questions If you have any questions regarding your student’s progress regarding your student’s progress or grade in 7or grade in 7thth period, please do period, please do not hesitate to contact me.not hesitate to contact me.

The best way to contact me is by The best way to contact me is by writing an e-mail. I can quickly writing an e-mail. I can quickly and easily respond.and easily respond.

Contact InfoContact Info

E-mail is the best way to get in E-mail is the best way to get in contact with me:contact with me:– My e-mail: My e-mail:

kristin.walker@cnusd.k12.ca.us Or you can call and leave a Or you can call and leave a

message with the school office:message with the school office:– School Phone: 951-736-4600School Phone: 951-736-4600

Thank You!!!Thank You!!!Thank you so much for coming Thank you so much for coming tonight and I look forward to working tonight and I look forward to working with you to prepare improve your with you to prepare improve your student’s reading, study, student’s reading, study, organization, and mathematics organization, and mathematics skills!skills!