Wilson Middle School

Team Responsibility

7th Grade

​

​

​

Open House Presentation October 1, 2024

Presentation Outline

​

​

1. Team Introductions and Information
1. Family Resources
2. A Word from the Students
3. Homework
4. Absences
5. Parent Conferences
6. Curriculum Overviews

​

• Note to Your Student Collections

​

• Q&A

Team Responsibility

• The Bottom Line: We care about the well-being of your children and work daily as a team to foster learning environments and a sense of community that support student growth and success across all areas (including academic, social, emotional, etc).

​

• HOW DO WE DO THIS? Get-to-know-you activities and team building tasks, student and parent surveys, exploring identity and community lessons, creating class contracts, flexible yet focused “What-I-Need” time each day, small-group Response to Intervention sessions, opportunities for enrichment and extension, providing time for social and emotional learning activities, teacher after school availability, etc.

Family Resources

• Family Landing Page (Google Document)
• Team Homework Calendar (Google Document)
• Family Questionnaire (Google Form)
• Teacher Websites (linked in Family Landing Page and Homework Calendar)
• Weekly Newsletter (sent out by Principal Carney each Friday afternoon)

We asked students to record a video response to the following questions…

​

• How is 7th grade different from 6th grade?

​

• What do you want your parents/guardians/adults at home to know about your experience in 7th grade so far?

​

(and… oh, they were honest!)

Straight From The Students…

All About Homework

[from the school side]

This year, printed agenda books are optional. Students are encouraged, but not required, to write their homework in an agenda book or planner.

• The Team Responsibility Digital Homework Calendar serves as a “backup”, to a printed agenda book and is also a great resource to look at when absent.

On average, students will be assigned 20-30 minutes of homework per subject per night and, unless otherwise noted, will be due at the start of the next class period.

• 7th Grade Math has weekly homework that is due on Fridays.
• Accelerated Math students may receive up to 45 minutes of homework per night, including Friday.

Students are encouraged to stay after school with teachers to receive additional support and help with homework assignments. Teachers update the Team Responsibility Homework Calendar with their weekly availability

All About Homework

[on the home front]

Please help your student(s) set a predictable and comfortable daily homework routine… this should include identifying a regular time frame and quiet location to complete assignments.

• Encourage your student(s) to email the teachers with questions or if stuck on a part of the assignment. Remind them that teachers may not email back but that they will check in with the student(s) during homeroom or at the start of the next class.

​

• NPS has also partnered with Paper Tutoring to provide 24-7 assignment assistance.

If your student has been working in a focused and productive manner for 30 minutes and has not yet finished an assignment, please encourage them to stop, mark where they “left off” and email the teacher with an update. Then, pack up the assignment and put it back in the homework folder.

• Homework is meant to be an opportunity for independent practice (not an hours-long headache inducing punishment).

What To Do When Absent

UPON RETURN TO SCHOOL: Students will need to check in with all teachers and should plan on staying after school to complete any needed work as well as review concepts and skills that were missed in class.

• THINK: One day of absence = 4 or 5 missed classes (core content and world language). Multiple after school sessions may be needed.

WHILE ABSENT: If possible and/or they feel up to it, students should email teachers to ask about missed classwork or assignments.

• Additional sources of information to consult when absent include the Team Homework Calendar, Google Classroom, Chapter Pathfinders, etc.

EXPECTATION: Students will be required to make up all needed work and/or content understanding that was missed due to any duration of absence.

Parent Conferences

Available Dates and Times:

• The afternoon of Wednesday, January 15 (which is an early dismissal for students)
• Mornings from 8:00-8:15 and 8:20-8:35 (offered once per six day cycle)
• FYI: We are currently booking conferences into late October, early November

Throughout the school year, Team Responsibility teachers are available for conferences (both virtually and in person).

This is outside of any scheduled IEP or 504 meetings.

​

By the end of this week, Ms. Bixby will send out an email that includes this Open House slideshow as well as a conference request Google Form. You must complete and submit the Google Form if you are interested in meeting with the team.

We will prioritize conferences according to need and subsequently reach out with a proposed date and time.

Math with Ms. Bixby

Grade 7 Math

​

1. Integers and Rational Numbers
2. Algebraic Expressions
3. Algebraic Equations
4. Algebraic Inequalities
5. Ratios and Proportions
6. Percents
7. Probability
8. Statistics
9. Angles and Circles
10. Surface Area and Volume

​

Accelerated* Math

(entire seventh grade curriculum and partial eighth grade curriculum*)

​

11. Transformations

12. Angles and Triangles

13. Write and Graph Linear Equations

14. Exponents and Scientific Notation

15. The Real Numbers System and The

Pythagorean Theorem

16. Volume and Similar Solids

Math with Ms. Bixby

• Whole Class, Small Groups, Independent
• Hands On, Modeling and Discovery
• Ticket Tasks (Student Choice)
• Enrichment and Extension Opportunities
• Real World Connections and Projects
• Break Out Challenges
• Quizlet Live, Kahoot, Quizizz, Blooket Games
• Google Classroom
• Edulastic (Digital Assessments)
• Renaissance Progress Monitoring

Math with Ms. Bixby

Weekly Sneak Peek Slideshows

shared with families via email on Monday mornings

​

Slideshow are updated on a weekly basis.

Each sneak peek will include the topics of study, homework assignments, important reminders, teacher contact information and resources for students and families.

It is the perfect place for students to preview what the upcoming week will look like and for families to "see" inside our classroom.

​

Slides will be listed in chronological order

with the most recent week as slide #2.

Math Placement Criteria

(updated September 2024)

Later this week, Ms. Bixby will send out an email to families with additional placement information and criteria. Please take the time to read the message fully and watch Jeanne DeRosa’s explanation video.

Science with Mr. Brennan

• Demonstrate the relationship between force, mass, and motion as applied in Newton’s Laws of Motion.

​

• Demonstrate the Earth’s interaction with other objects in the universe based on gravity and inertia.

​

• Demonstrate the relationship between energy and motion.

​

• Demonstrate the relationship between energy and heat.

​

• Demonstrate that forces like magnetism, gravity and electricity can act on objects that are not in contact.

​

• Construct and interpret data and graphs to describe the relationship between two variables.

​

• Identify and explain evidence that supports a claim.

The Grade 7 Science Curriculum:

Science Processes, Chemistry, Energy and Physics

​

In their units, students explore how matter and energy interact and the laws that apply to all matter on Earth and in the universe.

What is a Middle Schooler?

What is a middle schooler,

I was asked one day.

I knew what he was...

but what should I say?

L&L with Mrs. Doyle

​

||Author Unknown||

L+L with Mrs. Doyle

Grade 7 Language & Literacy

​

Major Units of Study:

​

• Unit One: Character and Community
• Unit Two: Conditions of Setting on Community (free verse)
• Unit Three: Surviving Intolerance (Native Americans)
• Unit Four: Social Justice (Civil Rights)
• Unit Five: Social Justice (modern day)
• Unit Six: Beyond the Text Project

A word about reading…

​

• “I am a reader who…” and our “reading rights”

​

• Making time (every day in WIN, throughout week in class) for students to read their independent books - this encourages and supports them in choice and enjoyment of reading

​

• Research and data support choice and time - we strive to provide both

​

• “Uni-tasking”- allowing developing brains to practice focused attention (and enjoyment!)

World Geography & Global Citizenship II with Mr. Dumont

Course Essential Questions

Who am I?

What is the deal with this world of ours?

What is my place in the world?

Units:

• Introduction to World Geography
• Ancient Greece and Rome
• Central & South America and the Caribbean
• The Holocaust & Human Behavior
• Global Citizenship & Human Rights

​

​

​

World Geography & Global Citizenship II with Mr. Dumont

Other themes...

→ Current Events

• Elections, migration, climate change

→ Civic Dispositions

• Commitment to social justice
• Promotion of the common good
• Individual responsibility
• Open-mindedness
• Critical-mindedness
• Compassion & empathy

​

​

​

World Geography & Global Citizenship II with Mr. Dumont

• Case manage Individualized Education Plans (IEP)

​

• Support students in co-taught L&L, Math and Skills Development

​

• Collaborate with team teachers to provide modifications and accommodations

​

• Progress monitoring related to IEP goals and objectives

​

• Part of evaluation team

​

​

​

​

​

Special Education with Mrs. Brown

We are excited to work together to support

your student’s success this year!

We appreciate the continued partnership from home.

Homeroom Do Now: A Note To Your Student(s)

• Please take a few minutes to write a note to your student(s) using the paper provided. Write whatever you believe will bring a smile to their face and a hug to their heart.

​

• Notes will be collected at the end of the team presentation later in the evening.

• We will share your notes with students tomorrow.