The Incredibles Team

1. The Incredibles Team 

2. Incredibles Team Teachers • Megan Tolen: Social Studies and Team Leader • Kim Winzentsen: Math and Pre-Algebra • Josh Yoder: Science • Ben Jones: Language Arts • Lloyd Winebarger: Student    Teacher in Social Studies

3. Incredibles Team Rules • Come to class prepared with the required supplies (Charged Laptop!) •   Be in your seat and on task when the bell rings  •   All electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, and headphones) should be put away unless otherwise instructed •   Contribute positively and respectfully to classroom discussion and activities (Classroom Norms) •  Follow all rules found in the AMSN handbook (No bookbags in the classroom, clear water bottles are okay, no tank tops)

4. Incredibles Consequences • There is a 3 strikes policy for minor misbehaviors such as being off task, shouting out in class, coming to class unprepared, being disrespectful, etc. • Upon the third strike in a core class, a student will receive a detention.   • Strikes erase at the end of each day. • Earning strikes may result in a loss of participation points. • Students are rewarded for receiving no strikes.   • *Major offenses will be met with appropriate consequences.

5. ExCEL • ExCEL: Excellence, Consistency, Empathy, and Leadership • Students have ExCEL every Wednesday morning except for one hour delay days. • Students will have the same ExCEL teacher for the next two school years. • Students will be doing a variety of things in ExCEL • Lion's Quest Skills for Adolescences Curriculum which helps students develop life and citizenship skills in a safe environment.  Students will learn how to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, show empathy for others,  establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.   • Organizational skills, study skills, team building, technology skills, math skills, and more!

6. Social Studies • No longer on the state's new standardized test ILEARN • Online textbook for home, hard copy in the classroom • Students should keep all social studies papers in their folder until the end of the semester • Grading • 60% tests and quizzes  • 25% assignments and participation  • 15% semester exam • Some large projects and the folder check count for a quiz grade • Test retakes are allowed, but the maximum score for a retake is 80%.

7. Social Studies Curriculum • 7th grade social studies focuses on the geography, history, economies, governments, and cultures of Asia, Africa, and the Southwest Pacific region including Australia. • Quarter 1: Map skills and basic world geography • Quarter 2: Governments, economic systems and trade, Ancient civilizations, and world religions • Quarter 3: Middle East and Africa • Quarter 4: Asia and Australia

8. Important Team Policies • Students are allowed to turn in 2 late assignments per class per semester for full credit. Students must turn the assignment in the next school day. • Parents will be contacted on a student's third tardy to a specific class.  Students will receive a detention upon their fourth tardy to a specific class.  

9. Important School Rules and Policies  • The student handbook can be found on the school’s website under the parents tab. • Students should wear their IDs at all times. • Students are not allowed to carry backpacks into the classrooms. • Students are issued an agenda to help keep track of assignments. • Students are issued 10 hall passes per quarter in their agendas. • Students are not allowed to have their cell phones out during the school day except at their lockers during passing periods.

10. 7th Grade Science • Incredibles Science students will explore the world around them through scientific/critical thinking, reading, activities, labs, and projects.   • Majority group work with individual components • Science should be a verb.  Each week, we should be doing 2-3 activities • Daily or semi-daily checks for understanding • Topics to be covered (in brief) • Science and Engineering Process (How we think, solve problems and develop solutions) • Physical Science – Forces, Energy, Matter. Laws of motion • Earth Science – Structure, Dynamic Changes, Natural Resources • Life Science – Cell theory, parts of a cell, Intro to Chemistry, Human Body Systems • Students will be encouraged to struggle, fail, and push beyond to succeed

11. Positive Behavior • There is a positive behavior system in place at AMSN. • Students can earn stickers that can be redeemed at the Avon North Store in the cafeteria.   • Students keep their stickers in their agendas.  • Students can receive stickers for upholding the norms of AMSN and/or for going above and beyond. 

12. School Safety • The staff of AMSN has worked hard to create a safe learning environment for our students.   • ALICE is the school corporation's safety program.   • Staff has been trained in ALICE and later this month students will participate in important discussions about ALICE.   • Some precautions our building takes are locking all exterior doors, having all interior doors set to lock in case of an emergency, and a new system in the main office that scans visitors' IDs who wish to enter the building during the school day.  

13. Math and Pre-Algebra • Online textbook and online tool IXL. • Students will create an interactive notebook in class that contains all notes and homework. Students will have a folder as well. • Calculators are required! • Weekly checkpoint quizzes (with possible retakes) • Grading Pre-Algebra 7: • 55% tests and quizzes  • 30% assignments and participation  • 15% semester exam • Grading Math 7: • 50% tests and quizzes  • 35% assignments and participation  • 15% semester exam

14. Math and Pre-Algebra • Various topics covered: Rational Numbers, Percents, Proportions, Equations, etc. Math will be… • Students will be working in collaborative groups to discover math is a conceptual way. • Student Centered • Productive Struggle-mistakes are important! • Learn the “why” and “how”

15. Six Standards of Pedagogy • Group collaboration that focuses on: • Students will create joint products with other students. • Students will learn through conversation.  • Students will take a critical stance and make an impact in the community. • Students will display their knowledge of a subject in various ways. • Students will participate in challenging activities. • There will be days that "student talk" far exceeds "teacher talk." • Reteaching is taught in small groups with the teacher.

16. Language Arts • Students in high ability and LA 7 read a wide variety of literary genres including the following: realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy,  science fiction, dystopian, mystery, paranormal, non-fiction, biography, memoir, poetry, and graphic novel • Students write various genres of writing including the following: poetry, short story, argument, persuasive, expository, description, drama, memoir, etc.   • Students will participate in a piloting program called AMPLIFY. • Students study roots and stems every week. • Students study vocabulary every week. • Students participate stations and group activities. • Language Arts grades are based on total points and are not weighted.

17. AMPLIFY • Amplify ELA is a blended curriculum designed specifically for grades 6-8. • The heart of every lesson is the text.  • With Amplify ELA, students learn to attach any complex text and make observations, grapple with interesting ideas, and find relevance for themselves.  • This resource provides rigorous coursework on a variety of levels that challenges students to think deeply.  • Why Students Love Amplify ELA:  • Amplify ELA empowers students to become critical thinkers, developing ideas and opinions on many real-world, relevant texts and topics.  • Students are engaged with a variety of multi-sensory experiences to demonstrate learning.  • Amplify ELA provides frequent checkpoints to show student learning progress.  • Unique, online programming supports lessons in a 21st century learning format.

18. Any General Questions??? • If you have specific questions or concerns about your individual child, please contact the teachers via email so that we can be sure to properly address your concerns.