Welcome to the Trail Blazers Core

1. Welcome to the Trail Blazers Core Alan Claussen Liza Farnham Paul Howe

2. Teaching Responsibilities • Alan Claussen • Math • Liza Farnham • Language Arts • Paul Howe • Science • We share the social studies

3. Who are we? • Alan Claussen • 11th year at Euclid teaching 7th grade math • BA and Masters degree from CCU • Married for 22 years • 21 year old daughter at CU • 20 year old daughter at CSU • Grew up near Chicago and lived in Bradenton Florida for 6 years • Enjoy most all sports, my wife says I am too into fantasy football

4. Who are we? • Liza Farnham • 5th year at Euclid; 19 years teaching (this is 20th!) • Taught all middle school grade levels & core subjects • Love to travel; play games; support nephews, nieces, and godchildren at activities; read; ski; and scuba dive

5. Who are we? • Paul Howe • 14th Year at Euclid, 16th in the district • Have taught science, social studies math and computers • Coach 8th grade girls’ basketball and 7th grade boys’ • Enjoy the outdoors and wildlife; fly fishing, hiking, camping, my large family, technology, computers

6. Support team working with the Trail Blazer Core are…

7. Administrator • Paul Turelli

8. GT Provider • Sue Lloyd

9. Special Education • Rebecca Kennedy

10. 7TH GRADE SCHEDULE • Language Arts, Math, and Science are the first 3 Treks(periods) • Lunch is from 11:00 to 11:30 • Social Studies, Trek 4 is 11:30 to 12:22 • Exploratory Classes are the last three periods of the day

11. Homework policy • All work is considered late if it is turned in after the class period in which it’s due. • Late work will receive no credit unless student attends WIN. • Students caught copying work will receive an automatic zero. • HOMEWORK IS GIVEN MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WE TRY NOT TO GIVE HOMEWORK OVER THE WEEKEND UNLESS A STUDENT HAS BEEN ABSENT, IS MISSING WORK, or THERE IS A LONG TERM PROJECT.

12. Science The Euclid science curriculum includes three disciplines: Life science, physical science, and earth science. Earth Science • Solar System: Sun, Planets, & Moons • Effects of relative motion of the Sun, Earth, & Moon • Beyond our Solar System Space Exploration

13. Life Science: • Cell Organelles • Cell processes & plant processes • Mitosis • Tissues, organs, & systems • Classifications • Microorganisms, Fungi, Plants

14. Physical Science • Energy & Momentum • Law of Conservation • Acceleration • Speed • Machines • Forces • Gravity • Work & Power

15. Connected Math 2 • Based on State & National standards • More depth of key concepts or essential learnings. • A rich problem solving curriculum

16. Math Structure • Students take notes daily on class work • Refer to class notes to understand the concept covered in the lesson • Students write a summary (2 to 3 sentences) of their learning.

17. Math’s Mateweekly skills practice • Weekly homework sheet designed to cover the standards for math and assists in mastery of skills • Diagnostic tracking for each concept • Q1 always addition, Q2 always subtraction, and so on… • Students and teacher track results on form • Every 4 weeks, a quiz on the last four weeks to check mastery • No calculators are to be used. Parents can provide some help on the homework practice sheets, but don’t give answers! • Ask to view students diagnostic tracking form to see how students are doing on the mastery of key concepts

18. Language Arts Reading: • Students will read with increasing independence, understanding, and fluency as they progress through the curriculum • Areas of Focus: • Fluency, Questioning and Comprehension Strategies, Vocabulary, and Literary Analysis, Connecting Texts

19. Writing • Focusing on clearly stating and explaining the topic, writing for varied audiences, writing in several genres and for different purposes, and planning. • Six traits – Before, During, & After writing • Content/organization • Style • Conventions • Voice • Word choice • Sentence fluency

20. Listening: • Everyone needs to listen to acquire information • The listening skills to be taught: Before-listening strategies During listening After listening strategies • Speaking: • Students will speak clearly and fluently in a variety of situations • Students will have different opportunities and purposes for speaking

21. Social Studies European History from the Middle Ages through WWII

22. Students will be reading, writing, building, simulating, listening to, engaging in the study of European history. • Students will be working on note taking and nonfiction reading and writing skills.

23. We will cover the following topics: Middle Ages • The Feudal System • Castles • Crusades • Charlemagne • Magna Carta Renaissance • Enlightenment • The Scientific Method • Exploration • The Reformation The French Revolution and Napoleon

24. More Cool History... The Industrial Revolution • Factories • Child Labor • Capitalism • Crop Rotation Nationalism and Imperialism • Italy • German unification • African Colonialism The Depression in Europe

25. World War I & The Russian Revolution Germany Tsars Lenin Trench Warfare Axis & Allies Treaty of Versailles

26. World War II • Treaty of Versailles • The Nazi Party • Persecution • Holocaust

27. Communication • Voice mail • E mail • Email works well since we check it often • We will be using the Infinite Campus for grading; please be sure to use your parent portal. Hopefully, this year we will be able to send messages to you too. • Homework will be posted on our website • Communication is an essential component of each student’s success this year.

28. Updating Infinite Campus Emails Have you signed up for the Parent Portal yet? Many parents are using the Portal to check their student’s progress including grades, assignments, attendance, and immunization records. There are many new features in the Parent Portal this year to include mass emails from classroom teachers or administration. Be sure to update your email address in Infinite Campus if you have not already done so.

29. We believe, that with the support of family, and the core teachers, your student will excel and thrive this year. • Please keep us informed of any problems, concerns, or issues which you feel may impact your child’s learning.