We show good character when we:
Arrive in class on time, ready to work
Are willing to share our knowledge
Are willing to listen to others-staying quiet when they are speaking
Are prepared-bringing all the materials we need with us when we arrive in class
Use the passing periods for restroom breaks and to get supplies
Arrive in dress code, stay in dress code, leave in dress code
Spit out gum and leave food in our lunch boxes
Keep the classroom neat and tidy
Communicate when we need help
Leave our electronics at home
Stay in our seats during instruction and test times
Choose to not throw things across the room (including trash into trash cans)
Curriculum/Homework/Classwork
Our main curriculum is Saxon Math Course 3. The seventh grade will be working in this book for both years of middle school. I have set third-quarter goals as follows:
Seventh Grade: Lesson 45 by March 11 - Test 9B
Eighth Grade: Lesson 60 by March 11 - Test 13B
Each student is working somewhat at their own pace and are at varying places in the book. They are pretesting as a group, given assignments based on their test results, and then given time (two weeks for 8th grade, three weeks for seventh) to complete their work and turn it in. Students who score a passing grade on the pretest may skip to the next test and continue. Students may move faster then the pace, but not slower. Every post-test date is also the due date for their assignments. The next class period (usually a Monday) will begin the next section with a pre-test. These are differentiated to match the levels of each student's progress.
To help keep everyone on track, I am teaching one lesson a day. Students are expected to take notes in their composition books while I teach. After the lesson time, students are given class time to both read the text book to fill their notes in as well as work on their assignments. Weekly goals and test-date reminders for each grade level are posted on the board every Monday morning and remain there all week.
I am also teaching every day from Buckle Down, which is aligned with the Arizona State Standards and are part of our preparation for AIMS testing in the spring. Regular benchmarks are part of this curriculum and are used to determine where supplementation is needed.
