Welcome to Language Arts; 7th Grade Homeroom

Ms. Greenhalghwww.missgreenhalgh.wordpress.com

My Goals• Increase confidence

• Positive learning environment

• Interactive learning experience

• Encourage independence and

organization skills

• Homework and assignments are

meant kept to enrich learning,

not stress students and parents!

How to Succeed in Middle School

• Sunday Night Routine:• Check Gradelink.com• Check teacher websites for reminders, announcements,

updates and homework for the week• IXL

• Never leave class confused

• Make YOUR Assignment Book the all your friends want to consult

• Sleep 8 hours, play/ “break a sweat” 30 minutes everyday

• To encourage a happy learning environment…• I always give students at least one week warning for all tests;

Vocabulary quizzes always on Thursdays and Book Report due dates planned for entire year

What’s happening in…

• 6th Grade:• Congratulations, Hogwarts graduates!• House Cup• The Giver: job assignments

• 7th Grade:• Training center: special skills• Cross-curricular social justice studies: the American

work place, education, and fair wages

• 8th Grade:• Cross-curricular social justice studies: racism in

literature and modern prisons

Literature Circles

• Differentiated learning: students in small groups are assigned novels and time frames complementary to their individual learning• Grouped according to a variety of different reasons• i.e.: Fluency work, comprehension skills, etc. (not simply high.

grade-level, below grade-level, and above grade-level)

• Students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace

• Mondays: whole-group meeting

• Tuesday- Thursdays: small group learning• I work with small groups, lessening teacher-student ratio• Opportunity to group students according to their individual

needs

How Much Help Should I Give My Middle School

Child?• Middle School is transition time! • We move away from “family projects” and towards higher

level student independence expected of them in high school and beyond

• According to Archdiocesan standards, students in grades 6-8 should spend 2 hours nightly on homework• If, after this time, your child has put forth their best effort and

is left exasperated, stressed, and exhausted, please stop! You may write me a note.

• Homework and other assignments are meant to enrich, not stress unnecessarily!

• Homework is a weekly packet to allow families to plan around soccer practice, family outings, etc.

Homework Policy

• Weekly Homework Packet: begin together in class, completed independently• Always due Thursdays in time for Literature

Circle group discussion

• “One More Day” Late homework pass• When emergencies happen, students may use

this to extend their deadline by ONE extra day• Excludes long-term assignments• Please check Gradelink.com regularly: report

card should not be a surprise

WOW WORDS

• We LEARN vocabulary to be enrich our understanding and dialogue, so why memorize?

• WOW WORDS start small and add on throughout trimester• 6th Grade: start with 1, then 2, then 3, then 5• 7th Grade: start with 3, then 4, then 5• 8th Grade: start with 5• 5 additional words added each week until end of

Trimester (weekly quizzes are cumulative)

• WOW WORD quiz every Thursday

Book Reports

• To enrich learning in all three Language Arts curriculum areas: Literature, Language and Speaking & Listening

• Three over the course of the entire year: one per trimester.

• All directions, due dates and information listed in guidelines (blue hand out in student’s binder; also available download on my website)

My Website

• www.missgreenhalgh.wordpress.com

• Please visit my website regarding most questions. You will find most information there like:• Book Report guideline handout (due dates,

directions)• Syllabus• Rubrics• Announcements & Updates• Study tips

Classroom Business

• 7th Grade Brunch

• Thank you! Most prepared and generous class with supplies EVER!