Mrs. Rossi (ELA)
Meet Ms. Rossi
Hi Everyone!
My name is Ms. Sofia Rossi (she/her/ella) and I am the 8th Grade ELA teacher at VAMS for the 2023-2024 school year (Go Pepperdine!). I am originally from New York and moved to Los Angeles a year ago to teach and begin getting my Master's in Urban Education at LMU. Growing up in an immigrant family, education was always a big part of my life in order to grow my mind, my community, and my opportunities. For that, and a million other reasons, I am incredibly excited to be your student's teacher this year.
This school year will be very rigorous for students, as they are approaching high school and will need to have strong foundational skills that can push them to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. In my classroom, and across the 8th grade team, we are taking the middle school training wheels off for students to practice as much self-directed learning as possible. In my class, there will be a defined structure to the day with clear expectations regularly reviewed with students. This ensures that students develop a strong routine that can prepare them for life beyond middle school.
Lastly, my priority this year is to create a culture that fosters community, belonging, and pushes students to their highest potential. I strongly believe that EVERY student belongs in a rigorous classroom where they can be their authentic selves, be unconditionally loved and supported, and receive praise for all growth (even if it seems small). I also believe that it takes a village to raise a child and I encourage you all at home to reach out to me via email with any questions, concerns, or just to chat! I look forward to meeting you all, and GO LIONS!
¡Hola a todos!
Mi nombre es Srta. Sofia Rossi y soy la maestra de ELA de octavo grado en VAMS para el año escolar 2023-2024 (¡Go Pepperdine!). Soy originario de Nueva York y me mudé a Los Ángeles hace un año para enseñar y comenzar a obtener mi Maestría en Educación Urbana en LMU. Al crecer en una familia inmigrante, la educación siempre fue una gran parte de mi vida para hacer crecer mi mente, mi comunidad y mis oportunidades. Por eso, y por un millón de otras razones, estoy increíblemente emocionada de ser la maestra de su estudiante este año.
Este año escolar será muy riguroso para los estudiantes, ya que se acercan a la escuela secundaria y necesitarán tener habilidades fundamentales sólidas que los impulsen a tener éxito tanto dentro como fuera del salón de clases. En mi salón de clases, y en todo el equipo de 8.º grado, estamos poniendo en marcha las ruedas de entrenamiento de la escuela intermedia para que los estudiantes practiquen la mayor cantidad posible de aprendizaje autodirigido. En mi clase, habrá una estructura definida al día con expectativas claras revisadas regularmente con los estudiantes. Esto asegura que los estudiantes desarrollen una rutina sólida que pueda prepararlos para la vida más allá de la escuela intermedia.
Por último, mi prioridad este año es crear una cultura que fomente la comunidad, la pertenencia y empuje a los estudiantes a su máximo potencial. Creo firmemente que TODOS los estudiantes pertenecen a un aula rigurosa donde pueden ser auténticos, ser amados y apoyados incondicionalmente y recibir elogios por todo crecimiento (incluso si parece pequeño). También creo que se necesita un pueblo para criar a un niño y los animo a todos en casa a comunicarse conmigo por correo electrónico con cualquier pregunta, inquietud o simplemente para conversar. Espero conocerlos a todos y ¡VAMOS LEONES!
How to support your 8th grade student:
Check Summit
Your child is responsible for keeping up with Summit. They have an opportunity every day to check their progress and work towards completing their work. As an additional resource, each parent is given a personal login. You can go to the Summit website and check their account.
Reach out for support
Communication between home and school is critical to assure that your child is happy and working up to his/her/their potential. I will keep in touch with you through phone calls, emails, and notes. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. The easiest way to reach me is through my Valor email.
Encourage students to show you on Friday their Appreciation Pocket Letters they received
At the beginning of every week, students are assigned a random student in their class (students do not tell each other who they got). By Thursday, students write and submit a formal letter sending appreciation and/or recognition they observed of that student that will be delivered to their assigned student. On Friday's, students pick up their appreciation letters in ELA and find out who their secret appreciator was. These notes foster community, a sense of belonging, and teach students how to communicate formally through letters (a skill they will need for the rest of their lives).
Ask your child about what they learned today!
Ask your child about the topics we’re learning about in this unit! Having them explain what they are learning about in ELA will help them understand the world better.
Check Summit every Friday, and make sure your student has submitted feedback for their Checkpoint. There is a checkpoint due EACH Friday.
Unit 1: Summer of the Mariposas