Welcome
 It is a new year with lots of changes.
 We will all work together this year to make it a positive and
successful transition.
 Communication, responsibility, and effort are essential
elements for your child’s success.
 MAJOR DIFFERENCES FROM 6TH GRADE:
 Increased number of core classes and longer classes
 Increase in amount and type of homework
 Adjusting to A Day/ B Day schedule
Meet the Teachers
 Brad Ezzell – Grammar/ Composition
 Colleen Tavolacci - Literature
 Mark Root – Social Studies
 Katie Clemmons - Science
 Lisa Bolton - Spanish
 Leah Boas - Math
Schedule
B Day
A Day
 Homeroom 8:20-8:45
 Homeroom 8:20-8:45
 4th Period 8:45-10:05
 1st Period 8:45-10:05
 Morning Meeting
10:05-  Morning Meeting 10:05
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10:30
2nd Period 10:30-11:50
3rd Period 11:50-1:10
Lunch 1:10-2:10
Electives 2:10-3:05
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10:30
5th Period 10:30-11:50
6th Period 11:50-1:10
Lunch 1:10-2:10
Electives 2:10-3:05
** This is this year’s times. Our schedule is still in the works.
Tentatively, Mondays & Tuesdays students will not have
electives. Instead, they will be grouped for remediation or
enrichment of their core classes. Groups will be determined
by mastery of objectives and area of most need.
Lunch Coverage
 7th grade
 8th grade
 lunch 1:10-1:40
 Recess 1:10-1:40
 Recess 1:40-2:10
 Lunch 1:40-2:10
You can sign up for lunch on Mrs. Tavolacci’s or Mr. Ezzell’s page:
1. Log onto Endeavor’s main webpage
2. Go to Mrs. Tavolacci’s webpage
3. Click on calendar
4. Click on the date you want to sign up for
5. Type in your name
PLEASE try to join us for at least one lunch per quarter. This helps
make coverage equitable for all families and if we do not have
coverage, YOUR child may not get to meet with us if needed, we may
not get to do other important things during this time, and you will
miss out on a great chance to volunteer and come see your middle
school child in their natural habit. 
Communication/ Conferences
 ..\Documents\Teacher_Parent_Communication_Policy_Final_5-11.pdf
 Email! We return emails promptly and professionally. Contact us anytime
for questions, clarification, or concerns. Please do not rely solely on a
student’s account for complete information.
 Conference s typically scheduled by request at the end of each quarter, but if
a need arises sooner, we would be glad to accommodate within a week of
your request. ** Most conferences are a “team approach” meaning more
than one core teacher will be present.
 Newsletters will be posted quarterly on our website. Please read all the
information written in these newsletters as this is the best way to
communicate all the WONDERFUL things that are occurring throughout
the year.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
 Behavior affects learning. We foster the best learning
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environment possible for all students.
We encourage and reward positive behavior and expect
students to be Prepared with ALL materials, Polite &
Respectful to all adults, and Engaged in learning and
on task during class
Multiple or excessive class disruptions will result in a recess
detention for the day.
Detention will be held before and after school. An
informational packet / student contract will go home the
first week of school
We want students to make the BEST choices, take
responsibility, and learn from their mistakes.
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS
 We will have access to parent portal of NCWISE
 You can check online to stay informed of progress
 Late work policy for homework - students will receive a zero
and a Pink Slip but will need to complete it for the sake of
practice, knowledge or necessary notes/etc
 8 pts deduction per day for late projects
 NOT completing assignments is not an option. Student should
complete all assigned work. When missing work becomes a
pattern, students will lose recess time to notify parents or
eventually receive a detention for noncompliance.
 We drop the lowest hw/classwork grade before report cards
Service Projects
 We will be focusing on several service projects
throughout this year involving building awareness of
hunger in America or global hunger issues
 Active community involvement through volunteer
opportunities at the local Raleigh Food Bank at least 1
time per semester.
 We will also be incorporating service project issues
and activities into a loose curriculum and readings
during Morning Meeting.
 Hunger in America | Feeding America
Attendance/ Make Up Policy
 Since we are covering an extensive amount of
material EACH DAY, please make all efforts to be
present the WHOLE school day, every day!
 Each teacher has a designated area or folder for
students to get make up work and it is the
student’s responsibility to get the work
 Websites are updated weekly, but asking a
reliable peer or teacher is best.
“SMART” Lunch Options / Help
 There is A LOT of new material and an additional core class this
year. Your child needs to self-advocate and take the initiative in
their learning. (Much like they will be expected to do in high
school) We are here to help!
 Teachers are available every day during lunch/recess for
retakes, one-on-one assistance or help, or make up work or tests.
Students can ask prior to lunch/recess time and we will be
available.
 Students should not, however, spontaneously ask an adult to leave
during lunch to find a teacher unless prior arrangements have
been made.
**When your child is not doing well in a core class, one
question to ask them would be how many times have they
gone to ask for help, tutoring, or to review or retake a test or
quiz
Morning Meeting
 Time to learn about and develop social skills and peer
interaction in conjunction with our guidance counselor
including topics/lessons / activities on peer relationships,
learning styles, bullying, academic behaviors, character
traits, and more
 Current Events – We will make great use of our PAWS
grant supplementary reading materials like Up Front
magazines and online resources
 Study Hall days and time management and
organizational skills reinforcement
 Important information, discussion and grade level
meeting times
GRAMMAR/ COMPOSITION
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GENERAL OVERVIEW
Vocabulary workbook - Words:
The Power Within – root-based
vocabulary program
DGP – will be tested throughout
the year
Grammar – parts of speech,
sentence patterns, verbals,
phrases and clauses,
punctuation
Writing Genres – journaling
and brainstorming, expository,
persuasive, literary analysis, and
poetry
Writing workshop approach to
teaching writing process with
emphasis on peer editing and
revising skills
THINGS TO KNOW
 Formal paper format expectations
are posted online and consistent all
year
 Your child must have a flash drive at
all times
 Students are expected to hand in a
hard copy of papers at the time it is
due and will not be allowed to
leave/disrupt class to print at school
unless prior arrangements have
been made with a parent
 Students can retake or make
corrections on a failed quiz/test. If a
student makes an 80% or higher on
the retake or corrections, the failing
grade will be raised to a 70%.
LITERATURE
General Expectations
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Class is structured on a “reading workshop
model” ala Lucy Calkins middle grades
adaptation
Reading levels assessed and tracked in a variety of
formal /informal ways : Study Island
benchmarking and weekly assignments, SRI
lexiling, and reading conferencing
Consistent nightly reading of 30 mins as well as
DAILY in class reading is standard to build
stamina, increase lexile, and expose students to
variety of genres and meet qrtly growth and goals
Students will be expected to read approx 3 – 4
novels per quarter both in and out of class
Parents will need to purchase 1 novel per qtr and
be expected to help monitor and select literature
throughout the year.
Units of study
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Elements of Fiction
Science Fiction
Mysteries & Mystery Party 1st qtr
Independent Novel Study/
Reading Workshop on fiction that
follows soc stud: Asia, Africa,
Middle East, Australia
Mini novel projects (hands on,
creative, student choices) and
technology
Intro to paideia or Socratic
Seminar
Whole class novel studies
Nonfiction
Poetry – Annual Poetry Café
SCIENCE
 Units of Study
Donations
/Materials for labs:
 Inquiry Based Learning
pipe cleaners
wind up toys
dixie cups
stop watches
metal coffee cans w/lids
Clorox wipes
 Weather and atmosphere
 Genetics
 Human Body
 Forces of Motion
SOCIAL STUDIES
Areas of Study
Assignments/ Teaching Style
 Eastern Hemisphere – Asia,
Africa, Oceana
 One content paper for state
mandated writing assessment
 DBQ Document Based
Questions
 Hands-on and weekly small
groups activities
 Important People Trading
Cards
 3-2-1’s
MATH
Things to know:
Homework/Assessments
 Each student will be issued a
 It is rare that students do not
textbook
 Typically, we work through
sections from a chapter using
notes/discussion, group work,
homework, quizzes, and a
chapter test
 There is class time set aside to
review hmwk, quizzes, & tests
 More details to come about
online textbook, grading rubric
and online gradebook
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have homework.
Homework is posted online.
Students can make corrections
on a failed quiz/test. The
highest grade a student can earn
is a 70% on the corrections.
Extra credit will not be given.
Students should make an appt.
with Mrs. Boas to get extra help.
SPANISH
 Common Activities
 Things to know
 Flashcards, read-alouds, whiteboards,
story boards, dialogues, skits, short
stories, picture dictionaries, dictations,
listening comprehension, real-life
scenarios/ performance assessment
 Website as important resource (notes,
PowerPoints, study guides, links,
homework
 Topics covered include
 Introductory/ polite expressions,
numbers, colors, subject pronouns,
geography (incl. countries, capitals),
recreation, describing people, school
and classes
 Subject/verb placement, regular and
stem-changing conjugation (present
tense), possessive adjectives, ? formation
 2 pop quizzes per quarter may be given
 Students may retake objectives on tests
and other formative assessments until
mastery is shown
 8th grade continues Spanish 1 curriculum
 Students will exit the program prepared
for Spanish 2 in high school
 Curriculum based on NCSCOS, Wake
County vocabulary lists/ skills
requirements, and National Spanish
Exam
th
7
and
th
8
Grade Electives
 Electives are student selected special interest classes, but should be
treated like any other academic class. The elective classes are aligned
with the 7th and 8th grade standard course of studies and follow the
objectives set by the North Carolina Department of Instruction.
 These classes will include homework, tests, and projects and will
occasionally require outside commitments.
 Grades for these courses will be included on the student’s report card.
 Classes will meet for the last period of the day during three days of the
week.
2010-2011 Elective Options
 Acting Labs: Shakespeare
 Musical Theatre
 Acting Lab: Comedy
Shorts
 Recreational Fitness
 Art Around the World
 Careers in Art
 Chorus
 Classroom Assistant
Service
 Technology
 Three-Dimensional Art
 Two-Dimensional Art
 Scholastic
Empowerment
Elective Procedures
 Students will fill out elective forms and select their first, second, and third choices.
 We will do our best to make sure all students get their first or second choice. Eighth
graders who turn their forms in on time will have first preference followed by seventh
graders who turn their form in on time.
 Elective forms will be sent home with students before the end of the year.
 Switching classes will only be allowed on the first day of the quarter. Students who wish to
switch should contact the teacher of the class they are currently in and the teacher of the class
they would like to switch to. Drop/Add Forms to switch classes will be in Mrs. Whiteside’s
office. The form will need to be signed by both teachers and by the student’s parent.
Students should then place forms in the box outside of Mrs. Whiteside’s office.
 Classes will be announced on the first day of the quarter in the student’s homeroom class.
 Students will select their 3rd and 4th quarter choices at the end of the 2nd quarter. More
information on these electives will be sent home at the end of the 1st semester.