Introduction*I have had over ten years experience teaching middle school humanities in both Washington and California.*This is my third year at Maywood Middle.*I have a daughter going into 8th grade and 6th grade this year in the Issaquah School District.*Our team focus this year will be integration of the newly adopted Common Core Standards.

Welcome to Curriculum Night

Mrs. RedmonLanguage Arts/Reading/History

How to Help Your Child Transition to Middle School

• Communication• Planner • Connect Site- Check for documents handed out,

when absent, homework assignments on calendar

• Skyward Online Grading System- Check your student’s grades once a week on a consistent basis- Teach them to manage their grades and contact me to advocate for themselves

• Consistent Items- Social Studies Study Guides for tests, portfolios, projects, notebook

Course Content: Social Studies-7

• History Alive: The Medieval World and Beyond• Geography integrated throughout the year• Fall of Rome• Europe During Medieval Times: The Rise of Feudalism,

Daily Life, Decline of Feudalism• Islam in Medieval Times: Origins of Islam, world

religions, Crusades• Imperial China• Japan During Medieval Times• History of Washington• Projects/Portfolios/Notebooks• Writing across curriculum

Behavior Expectations

• We Agree on These Three!– 1. Show Respect– 2. Make Good Choices– 3. Solve the Problem

Incentives/RewardsCharger 100Charger Gold

Raffles Positive Words

Student RecognitionLeadership opportunities

How Do I Access Skyward?

• ISD Website www.issaquah.wednet. Edu

• Click on Family Access• Click on Login to Family Access.

How Do I Interpret Skyward?

Pts.Earned

Pts.Possible

% Earned Grade Spec.Code

Missing What does this mean?

* 10 The assignment has been entered in the grade book, but the teacher has not graded it.

0 10 0% F MS The student has a missing assignment.

9 10 90% A- The student turned in the assignment on time and received an A-.

7 10 70% C- LT The student turned in their work late. It was graded and points were deducted for turning it in late.

0 10 0% F ABS The student was absent and needs to make up the work before a grade can be assigned.

* 10 EX The student has been excused from the assignment.

Grading Categories

Social Studies :• Assignments 35%• Assessments 65%• Formative 0%

This category is used to track assignments for portfolios and student growth scores, ie pre-tests

Grading • Activities/assignments will be given point values according to

importance. Final grades will be determined by the percentage of points earned.

• Digital Gradebook (Skyward) is used to calculate grades.• Rubrics/grade sheets are used for all major assignments and are

given out before the assignment is due. Expectations are clear.• Use Family Access to access student grades. Up-dated every 3 weeks.• 3 Homework passes available each trimester-Can not be used on big

projects.• Parent email or phone call if emergency extension is needed.• No late work is accepted unless a homework pass is used or you have

discussed other arrangements with me BEFORE the assignment is due.

• Please have the student talk to me or email me if there are questions about grades or assignments.

• Save major project rubrics/grade sheets in case of a discrepancy.

Other Ways To Help• Designate homework space - (Quiet area, few distractions)• Designate homework time – Discuss your family’s schedule and make a

plan together with your middle schooler. • Set realistic goals – Homework completion, organized binder/backpack,

meeting deadlines, etc. Check Skyward once a week with your student to help manage grades!!!

• Teach time management – Before your child begins an assignment, ask them how long they think it will take. Set a timer and they’ll soon find out how accurate (or inaccurate) their prediction was. You’re not being mean, you’re giving them a better sense of how long things take for them to complete.

• Prohibit multi-tasking – No Facebook, cell phone, television, or gaming while doing homework.

• Give positive reinforcements – This does wonders for perseverance and intrinsic motivation.

• Reinforce why learning is important – It’s all about options. If you fail classes, you’re limiting your options for life; but if you set goals and work to achieve them, you only increase your options and opportunities.

How to Contact Me

• Email- remon-nestlerodec@issaquah.wednet.edu

• Phone- 425-837-6919• Available after school to help

students and meet with parents 2:15-3:30 on Tuesdays or by appointment.

Thank You

• Being here tonight is one of the best things you could do for you child.

• Your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

• Contact me any time, your concerns are my concerns.

Course Content: Language Arts-6

• Review of 6 Writing Traits• McDougal Littell Literature-Reading and Writing• Introduction to essay:

explanatory/argumentative/memoir/narrative/research writing

• Knowledge Checks-Yearlong objectives• Grammar/punctuation practice• Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots: Word Families• The Giver• Utilize Writing Workshop practices• Beginning literary analysis• Reading Logs• Technology integration