Curriculum Night 2014 8 th Grade Science Mrs. Zuffante Room 105

Curriculum Night 20148th Grade ScienceMrs. Zuffante Room 105

Mrs. Dawn ZuffanteContact Information• [email protected]• 847-357-6769• Additional information can be found at my classroom website:

frost.sd54.org/dzuffante

Credentials• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology -National College of Education• Master’s Degrees –

– National Louis University – Master of Arts in Teaching– Dominican University – Educational Administration– Benedictine University – Reading and Literacy

• Licenses - Elementary Education, Reading Specialist, and Administrative

– Endorsements in General Science, Social Science, and Language Arts – Coursework in Gifted Education

`95 Culture

95 Math

95 Reading

Science

Curriculum

• The Scientific Method

• Physics and Energy

• Astronomy

• Environmental Science -Human Impacts

Curriculum Topics in Detail • Scientific Method

• Physics and Energy– Forces and motion– Friction– Gravity– Electricity and electromagnetism– Kinetic vs. potential energy

• Astronomy– Planets– Formation of the Earth, moon, sun, stars, asteroids, and

comets– Seasons

• Environmental Science/Human Impacts– Natural resources (renewable vs. nonrenewable)– Energy forms and generation (fossil fuels and alternative

energy)– Human impact on the environment

Balanced Science Instruction

Daily Bell/Word Work – 5-10 min• Content based with connection to

sequence of literacy skills and/or word work

Daily Shared Reading/Content – 15-20 min • Whole group skill and/or strategy

instruction• Teacher Modeling and/or Think

Aloud• Content Objective Instruction• Informational Text Objective

Instruction Daily Writing – 15-20 min• Shared• Independent

Support

Structure of the Course

• Bell Ringers/Learning Log• Homework - http://sd54.org/Frost • Labs• Quizzes• Tests/Common Assessments• Participation (Effort, Cooperation, Being Prepared for Class)

Grading System – Based on pointsExtra credit opportunities are offered throughout

each trimesterTask Points Percentage

Tests (2-3 per trimester) 100 points 20%

Quizzes (6-9 per trimester) 25 points 25%

Homework and Labs Homework – 10 pts. Labs – 50 pts.

50%

Participation 50 points 5%

Grading System – (continued)

• Common Assessments – Cut-off score is 75% – If a student needs to be retaught and retested, a

score of 75% will be received after meeting or exceeding the cut-off score on the test. Reteaching and retesting will most often occur after school.

• Labs– If a student is absent on a lab day, he/she will be

exempt from the assignment but they will still be responsible for learning the information.

• Assignments – All are due on the due date given!

Infinite Campus-Parent Portal

• Please check grades weekly to see how your child is doing and whether they are missing any assignments

• The grade under trimester will calculate into a final grade - this will change continuously as new grades are added

TEXTBOOKS

• A hard copy was given to each student on August 29

• An on-line version is available at this website:– www.my.hrw.com– User Name: dzuffante– Password: x9a8n

• The students received this information on Tuesday, September 2nd on a blue card that should be taped into their assignment notebooks

TEACHER-PARENT COMMUNICATION

• Please feel free to email or call me with questions or concerns or to provide me with information about your child

• I will do my best to respond within 24 hours

Thank YOU!

• Your child and I appreciate your attendance this evening!

• Together, we can make this a wonderful year of discovery and learning!

Frost Strong:Our Best Selves