Letter to My families

 

Welcome to Seventh Grade English and Language Arts

August 15, 2023


Dear Seventh Grade Families,


Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I am pleased to introduce myself and welcome your student to the seventh grade. I am a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a double major in Philosophy and Politics. I have a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and I’m an inactive member of the California Bar. This is my third year at CTMS and before that, I was a Guest Educator in Round Rock ISD where I spent many weeks  at my neighborhood middle school, our very own Chisholm Trail Middle School (CTMS). My family and I have lived in the neighborhood since 2017. I already know many of my students and families and my oldest child is in 6th grade!


In ELA, we will have lessons in reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. I am looking forward to building upon the skills students have and helping students grow through new challenges. ELA is a life skills class that students will use in every class and as successful adults and community members, and I am passionate about preparing them for that future. A positive learning experience is built on a collaborative effort among parents, students, and teachers, and I am honored to be on a team with you and your student.


We have many expectations for our seventh grade students at CTMS. One of the biggest is being responsible for assignments and actions. Your student is responsible for completing and turning in each assignment on time. It is essential that guardians check in on homework and correspondences, and reinforce positive behavior.


In my class, students will have several blocks of independent reading time each week, during which they will read books they have selected from my classroom library or the CTMS Library. Some titles, though considered age-appropriate, may contain sensitive and/or intense topics. Students are responsible to their families to make reading choices appropriate for them. To support my families in making informed decisions, I encourage you to discuss your student’s reading, read with your student, and read reviews on Common Sense Media, a nonprofit website that creates family-centered ratings for media of all kinds. If necessary, I am happy to help students make alternative reading choices. If you are so inclined, please consider donating books you no longer need to our classroom library.


This year we will have four units, beginning with the novel: The Outsiders. Each text is approved for 7th grade by Round Rock ISD. You can review the RRISD Secondary Reading List here. I encourage families to review our texts selected for our whole class. If you have an objection to any text, please contact me so we can discuss your concerns, and if necessary arrange an alternate, independent course of study for your student. After reading The Outsiders, we will watch the film, based on the novel. If you do not want your student to watch the film, please contact me and we will make alternate arrangements.


It is my goal for each of my students to succeed and to foster a love of reading and writing. I am thrilled to work with you and your child over the course of the school year. Please feel free to email or call anytime. Finally, I would love more information from you about your student. Please go complete this Google Form to share what you think will help me be a great teacher for your student. (Google Form link: https://forms.gle/v4wAL3joDsVxKq3G6).


Please have students deliver the following supplies our ELA class by Monday, August 28.

Required Class Supplies: (let me know if you need assistance providing these)

Bring to Class Everyday:


Sincerely,

Ms. Kathryn Cantrell

Seventh Grade English/Language Arts Teacher

Chisholm Trail Middle School

(512) 428-2540 | Kathryn_Cantrell@RoundRockISD.org