Embedded Files
Class overview:
We will be exploring phenomena of this amazing world we live in through scientific investigations and research using a variety of technology, engineering solutions to challenges, and real world applications of, and connections to, mathematics, as well as STEM-connected career possibilities!
7th grade Units:
Chemical Reactions and Matter
Chemical Reactions and Energy
Metabolic Reactions
Matter Cycling and Photosynthesis
Ecosystems Dynamics and Human Impact
Valuing learners for a phenomenal future
Valuing learners for a phenomenal future
Our middle school science curriculum empowers students to ask questions, design investigations, and solutions, and figure out the interesting and puzzling world. Science empowers students to be the knowers and doers of science. We will develop a classroom in which the ideas we hear from each other help to move our thinking forward as we develop our abilities to think, read, write and argue as scientists and engineers.
● Phenomenon Based - Centered around exploring phenomena (events that need explaining) or solving problems
● Driven by Student Questions - Storyline based on students’ questions and ideas
● Grounded in Evidence - Incremental building and revision of ideas based on evidence
● Collaborative - WE, the class and the teacher, figure out ideas together
● Equitable - Builds a classroom culture that values ideas and learning of all
⭐Expectations: Be curious, respect yourself and others,
give your best effort in everything we do, participate in
class discussions and activities, and have fun!
⭐Participation can look different for everyone! There are
many ways to be part of the learning!
⭐Materials Needed: A positive attitude, class binder, Chromebook, and writing utensils.
Class Routines: Routines help us demonstrate learning.
1) Entry Task: For the first few minutes of class, everyone will respond to a warm up question or task to prepare for the day.
2) Learning Goal/Target: Posted each lesson, guides where we are going.
3) Lab/Activity Day: Action we will take to answer questions, gather data, and discuss ideas.
4) Progress Tracker: After we have gathered evidence, we will record what we learn and what connections we made to our phenomenon or driving question.
5) Exit Task: A quick check-in before leaving class to help monitor understanding and plan next steps.
Teamwork builds flexible brains
Teamwork builds flexible brains
We learn best when we:
1) Respect each other, the materials, and the environment
2) Use positive language
3) Work together, solve problems, and ask questions
4) Follow community agreements, including CMS phone policy and Chromebooks put away when not being used as a tool
How's my student doing?
How's my student doing?
I use Google Classroom to communicate feedback on daily work/practice and assessments. This is where you should go to see how your student is doing in this class. Skyward is a static reporting system whereas Google is iterative and a better indicator of how your student is doing in class.
CMS Grade reporting
CMS Grade reporting
In an effort to increase communication around student learning and progress, CMS is adjusting grade reports.
When you check your student’s grades, you will now see an overall course grade in a traditional A-F format. For specific information on how that grade was calculated you will need to click the course grade. You will see that all assignments and assessments are tied to a specific grade level standard. Our hope is this will provide better communication regarding the standard the student will need to work on to improve their overall course grade.
It is our vision that our students will be able to articulate the standards they are to meet and can keep track of their progress on a routine basis. Our staff has committed to updating grades weekly.
Respectfully, The CMS Teachers
STEM Class Grading:
Student learning will be reported using the guide below, based on performances on state standard assessments, and daily work and practice, using the A-F format described above.
85% of the student grade will be based on state standard assessments.
15% of the student grade will be based on daily work and practice (completed through Google Classroom, and student binders).
Behavior will be graded as E-exceptional, S-satisfactory, or U-unsatisfactory.
(Behavior will be reported separately and will not be factored into the final class grade, this is why you will see 0% next to the Behavior category.)
About me
I have been teaching for many years but this is my second year at CMS. This community has been very welcoming and I enjoy the challenge of teaching new things and seeing how students learn. Hablo Español.
If you have any questions, please contact me either on ClassTag, by email at cbenita@cashmere.wednet.edu, or call at 509-782-2001.
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