Welcome to Back to School

Night!

Welcome to Back to School

Night!Mrs. Karen Wilcox,

7BMrs. Karen Wilcox,

7BPlease take one of each of the packets below. The lined paper is for you to write a letter to

your child, which you can place in their cubbies for them to find tomorrow morning!

Please take one of each of the packets below. The lined paper is for you to write a letter to

your child, which you can place in their cubbies for them to find tomorrow morning!

Mrs. Karen Wilcox

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Ecology with a specialization in Psychology and Social Behavior from UCIrvine

• Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UCIrvine• CLAD Certificate (crosscultural, language, and

academic development) from USD• Certificate of Compliance under NCLB (No Child

Left Behind)• Currently working on obtaining a Reading and

Language Arts Specialist Credential at UCIrvine• 3rd year at Serra• Previously taught at Our Lady Queen of Angels

Catholic School in Newport Beach

Miss Kelly Murphy

• B.A. in Psychology at SDSU• Single Subject English Credential

from SDSU• Serra and SMCHS alum • Currently working towards M.Ed.. 3

classes left!• 4th year teaching at Serra

Curriculum for ELA

• Holt Literature Textbook• Holt Grammar Handbook• Holt Interactive Reader• 7th Grade Novels - Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White - Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool - Red Scarf Girl by Jili Jiang - Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi• Jane Schaffer Writing Program

Writing

• Expository Writing• Narratives• Persuasive Essays• Journals• Letter Writing

The Jane Schaffer format helps with all these types of writing.

Literacy

• Skills-based class which conforms to the Common Core mandate for non-fiction text analysis

• Focus on basic reading skills, note taking, study skills, and test taking strategies

• Integrate with Social Studies and Science

Independent Reading

• Required to read at least 2 independent reading books at appropriate level per trimester

• Complete assessment from menu• Reading responses using Google

Forms• Read at least 15-20 minutes nightly

for homework

Homework

• Your child should have no more than 30-45 minutes of ELA homework per night.

• Homework is an extension of work done in class.

• Read an independent reading book for 20 minutes each night!

Grade Weights

• ELA -Tests/ JS Essays/ Major Projects 40% - Quizzes/ Writing/ Minor Projects 30% - Homework/ Classwork 30%

• Literacy - Tests/ Quizzes 40% - DLAs/Classwork 30% - SCOPE/Interactive Reader 30%

Late/Absent Work Policy

Late Work• 1 day late = 75% credit• 2 days late = 50% credit• More than 2 days late = 0% credit

Absent Work• The middle school absent policy is that the student

is allowed ONE day for each day he/she is absent to make-up work before it is considered late.

• Please discuss any individual concerns with the teacher.

Tips for Success

• Use MyHomework app daily for short and long-term assignments

• Communicate with teachers• Teacher websites – can access through Serra

website• Subscribe to teacher website• Study in small increments for tests and quizzes• Encourage your child to be a self-advocate• READ, READ, READ!

http://vimeo.com/104351817

SOS

• No more ZAP!!• SOS-Created to give the students more support

with areas of need.• Each teacher will have office hours one day a

week at lunch.• Language Arts office hours is on Tues.• Students can come in for help, make-up a test, or

get extra support.

http://vimeo.com/104351817

Contact Information

We are here to help you and your child!Please contact us with any concerns you or

your student may have.

• Mrs. Wilcox – kwilcox@serraschool.org

• Miss Murphy – kmurphy@serraschool.org

We look forward to a terrific 7th grade year!