Alan ClaussenLiza Farnham

Paul Howe

Alan ClaussenMath

Liza FarnhamLanguage Arts

Paul HoweScience

We share the social studies

Alan Claussen11th year at Euclid teaching 7th

grade mathBA and Masters degree from

CCUMarried for 22 years 21 year old daughter at CU20 year old daughter at CSUGrew up near Chicago and lived

in Bradenton Florida for 6 yearsEnjoy most all sports, my wife

says I am too into fantasy football

Liza Farnham5th year at Euclid; 19 years

teaching (this is 20th!)Taught all middle school

grade levels & core subjectsLove to travel; play games;

support nephews, nieces, and godchildren at activities; read; ski; and scuba dive

Paul Howe14th Year at Euclid, 16th in the

districtHave taught science, social

studies math and computersCoach 8th grade girls’

basketball and 7th grade boys’Enjoy the outdoors and

wildlife; fly fishing, hiking, camping, my large family, technology, computers

Support team working with the

Trail Blazer Core are…

Paul Turelli

Sue Lloyd

Rebecca Kennedy

Language Arts, Math, and Science are the first 3 Treks(periods)

Lunch is from 11:00 to 11:30

Social Studies, Trek 4 is 11:30 to 12:22

Exploratory Classes are the last three periods of the day

All work is considered late if it is turned in after the class period in which it’s due.

Late work will receive no credit unless student attends WIN.

Students caught copying work will receive an automatic zero.

HOMEWORK IS GIVEN MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WE TRY NOT TO GIVE HOMEWORK OVER THE WEEKEND UNLESS A STUDENT HAS BEEN ABSENT, IS MISSING WORK, or THERE IS A LONG TERM PROJECT.

Solar System: Sun, Planets, & Moons

Effects of relative motion of the Sun, Earth, & Moon

Beyond our Solar System

Space Exploration

Earth Science

Life Science:Life Science:Cell Organelles

Cell processes & plant processes

Mitosis

Tissues, organs, & systems

Classifications

Microorganisms, Fungi, Plants

Energy & Momentum

Law of Conservation

Acceleration

Speed

Machines

Forces

Gravity

Work & Power

Based on State & National standardsMore depth of key concepts or essential

learnings.A rich problem solving curriculum

Students take notes daily on class work

Refer to class notes to understand the concept covered in the lesson

Students write a summary (2 to 3 sentences) of their learning.

Weekly homework sheet designed to cover the standards for math and assists in mastery of skills

Diagnostic tracking for each conceptQ1 always addition, Q2 always subtraction,

and so on…Students and teacher track results on formEvery 4 weeks, a quiz on the last four weeks to check

masteryNo calculators are to be used. Parents can

provide some help on the homework practice sheets, but don’t give answers!

Ask to view students diagnostic tracking form to see how students are doing on the mastery of key concepts

Reading:

Students will read with increasing independence, understanding, and fluency as they progress through the curriculum

Areas of Focus: Fluency, Questioning and

Comprehension Strategies, Vocabulary, and Literary Analysis, Connecting Texts

Focusing on clearly stating and explaining the topic, writing for varied audiences, writing in several genres and for different purposes, and planning.

Six traits – Before, During, & After writingContent/organizationStyleConventionsVoiceWord choiceSentence fluency

Listening: Everyone needs to listen to acquire information

The listening skills to be taught:

Speaking: Students will speak clearly and fluently in a variety of situations

Students will have different opportunities and purposes for speaking

Before-listening strategies

During listening

After listening strategies

Social

Studie

s

European

History

from

the M

iddle

Ages thro

ugh

WW

II

•Students will be reading, writing, building, simulating, listening to, engaging in the study of European history.

•Students will be working on note taking and nonfiction reading and writing skills.

Middle Middle AgesAges•The Feudal System

•Castles

•Crusades

•Charlemagne

•Magna Carta

RenaissanceRenaissance•Enlightenment

•The Scientific Method

•Exploration

•The Reformation

The Industrial Revolution •Factories

•Child Labor

•Capitalism

•Crop Rotation

Nationalism and Nationalism and ImperialismImperialism

•Italy

•German unification

•African Colonialism

World W

ar I

World W

ar I

& &

The Russian

The Russian

Revolutio

n

RevolutionGermany

TsarsLeninTrench WarfareAxis & AlliesTreaty of Versailles

Treaty of VersaillesThe Nazi PartyPersecutionHolocaust

World War II

Voice mail E mail

Email works well since we check it oftenWe will be using the Infinite Campus for

grading; please be sure to use your parent portal. Hopefully, this year we will be able to send messages to you too.

Homework will be posted on our website

Communication is an essential component of each student’s success this year.

Have you signed up for the Parent Portal yet? Many parents are using the Portal to check their student’s progress including grades, assignments, attendance, and immunization records.

There are many new features in the Parent Portal this year to include mass emails from classroom teachers or administration.

Be sure to update your email address in Infinite Campus if you have not already done so.

We believe, that with the support of family, and the core teachers, your student will excel and thrive this year.

Please keep us informed of any problems, concerns, or issues which you feel may impact your child’s learning.