Alan Claussen

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

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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 1100 to 1130
• Social Studies, Trek 4 is 1130 to 1222
• Exploratory Classes are the last three periods of
  the day

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Homework policy

• All work is considered late if it is turned in
  after the class period in which its 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
The Euclid science curriculum includes three
disciplines Life science, physical science, and
earth science.
Science
Earth Science

• Solar System Sun, Planets, Moons
• Effects of relative motion of the Sun, Earth,
  Moon
• Beyond our Solar System

Space Exploration
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• Life Science
• Cell Organelles
• Cell processes plant processes
• Mitosis
• Tissues, organs, systems
• Classifications
• Microorganisms, Fungi, Plants

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Physical Science

• Energy Momentum
• Law of Conservation
• Acceleration
• Speed
• Machines
• Forces
• Gravity
• Work Power

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Connected Math 2

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

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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.

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Maths 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 dont give answers!
• Ask to view students diagnostic tracking form to
  see how students are doing on the mastery of key
  concepts

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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

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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

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• 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
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• 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.

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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
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More Cool History...
The Industrial Revolution

• Factories
• Child Labor
• Capitalism
• Crop Rotation

Nationalism and Imperialism

• Italy
• German unification
• African Colonialism

The Depression in Europe
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World War I The Russian
Revolution
Germany Tsars Lenin Trench Warfare Axis
Allies Treaty of Versailles
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World War II

• Treaty of Versailles
• The Nazi Party
• Persecution
• Holocaust

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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
  students success this year.

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Updating Infinite Campus Emails

• Have you signed up for the Parent Portal yet?
  Many parents are using the Portal to check their
  students 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.

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• 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 childs learning.