Ms. Ferrell's message for
2013 - 2014
CMS Bulldogs
Hello. Who are you?
Message inspired by Dr. Welcher
I am...
Students, you will spend the rest of your life filling in this sentence. You will fill it in with the actions you make every day, with your choices - both big and small. It is about more than what you want to be when you grow up, more than who your family is, more than your grade or class or name. It is about the kind of person you want to be and who you want to be remembered as - because people will remember you - for better or for worse. What legacy will you leave behind this year? Who are you?
You are what you eat. . Students, the things you allow to be part of your life help define who you are - and they can be helpful or harmful. It's like water. On its own, water is good for you, but when you add a lot of sugar and red dye to it, it's not so healthy anymore. If you drink a jug of Koolaid before coming to school every day, your body will feel the effects. The water in it is not bad; it's the other stuff we add to it that doesn't need to be there. The music you listen to, the people you hang around with, and all of the things you add to your life affect the water, affect who you are. Only add ingredients that are good for you.
Eagles can walk, but they weren't meant to. An eagle is not a dog. It doesn't look like a dog or sound like a dog, and it doesn't belong on the ground like a dog. It can choose to hang around with dogs, but it's going to get bitten and beaten up until it doesn't really resemble the eagle it was born to be. You are in my classroom because you are eagles. Keep the company of other eagles, other people who reach to the top and dare to be the best, dare to be who they really are, because you (and they) belong in the sky.
So I say again...
Hello. Who are you?
Message inspired by Dr. Welcher
I am...
Students, you will spend the rest of your life filling in this sentence. You will fill it in with the actions you make every day, with your choices - both big and small. It is about more than what you want to be when you grow up, more than who your family is, more than your grade or class or name. It is about the kind of person you want to be and who you want to be remembered as - because people will remember you - for better or for worse. What legacy will you leave behind this year? Who are you?
You are what you eat. . Students, the things you allow to be part of your life help define who you are - and they can be helpful or harmful. It's like water. On its own, water is good for you, but when you add a lot of sugar and red dye to it, it's not so healthy anymore. If you drink a jug of Koolaid before coming to school every day, your body will feel the effects. The water in it is not bad; it's the other stuff we add to it that doesn't need to be there. The music you listen to, the people you hang around with, and all of the things you add to your life affect the water, affect who you are. Only add ingredients that are good for you.
Eagles can walk, but they weren't meant to. An eagle is not a dog. It doesn't look like a dog or sound like a dog, and it doesn't belong on the ground like a dog. It can choose to hang around with dogs, but it's going to get bitten and beaten up until it doesn't really resemble the eagle it was born to be. You are in my classroom because you are eagles. Keep the company of other eagles, other people who reach to the top and dare to be the best, dare to be who they really are, because you (and they) belong in the sky.
So I say again...
Hello. Who are you?
CMS KEYS for SUCCESS
Stay organized! Keep a seperate notebook or section in your binder for each class. Go through it daily to be sure everything is in its proper place. Do NOT keep loose notebook paper anywhere else.
Listen to your teachers! Always pay attention in class. Your teachers are there to give you instructions and helpful insights that they have learned from years of experience. Listen and take their advice.
Do your work and do it to the best of your ability. Be sure to pratice and do all of your work. Even homework is a vital practice tool to help you stay sharp and succeed. This includes studying too! If you know a test is coming, study at least three days in advance. If you need help with study skills, ask your teachers for advice.
Ask for help when you need it. Even your teachers ask their colleagues for help when they aren't sure about things. There are many ways to get help at CMS. The easiest is to ask your teacher - as often as necessary - until you understand. If you need help, you have to ask for it. Don't wait for your teacher to figure it out. It is your future. Take hold of it!
Make good choices! Everything in life boils down to the choices we make. Those choices say a lot about who you are. Choose what is best for YOU. Pick good friends who encourage you to succeed and choose to do the right thing because it's the right thing. Choose to be active in getting a good education that will be the foundation for your future - whatever that future might be.
Follow these keys to success and you are sure to have a fantastic year here at CMS!
Listen to your teachers! Always pay attention in class. Your teachers are there to give you instructions and helpful insights that they have learned from years of experience. Listen and take their advice.
Do your work and do it to the best of your ability. Be sure to pratice and do all of your work. Even homework is a vital practice tool to help you stay sharp and succeed. This includes studying too! If you know a test is coming, study at least three days in advance. If you need help with study skills, ask your teachers for advice.
Ask for help when you need it. Even your teachers ask their colleagues for help when they aren't sure about things. There are many ways to get help at CMS. The easiest is to ask your teacher - as often as necessary - until you understand. If you need help, you have to ask for it. Don't wait for your teacher to figure it out. It is your future. Take hold of it!
Make good choices! Everything in life boils down to the choices we make. Those choices say a lot about who you are. Choose what is best for YOU. Pick good friends who encourage you to succeed and choose to do the right thing because it's the right thing. Choose to be active in getting a good education that will be the foundation for your future - whatever that future might be.
Follow these keys to success and you are sure to have a fantastic year here at CMS!
Welcome Bulldogs!
"Many parents who are actively involved in the education of their children at the elementary school level become less involved when their children reach middle school. However, parent involvement in a child's education during the middle school years (ages 10 to 14) is just as important in a child's success at school as it is in earlier grades." --MiddleWeb(http://www.middleweb.com/ParntInvl.html)
Ms. Ferrell's FAQs
What will my child be learning in your class?*
"Instruction in grades 6-8 addresses students’ increasing maturity and the growing sophistication of their abilities, culminating in the development by the end of grade 8 of students who are ready to succeed in high school. Students should be able to comprehend more challenging books and articles, basing all of their analyses, inferences, and claims on explicit and relevant evidence from the texts. Students will expand on their ability to identify central ideas by identifying how those themes are shaped and conveyed by particular details. Their analysis of basic literary elements will extend to identifying connections and complexities within narratives and how individual elements weave together to advance plot and reveal character. The evaluation of the impact of language on tone and meaning will begin to include more sophisticated concepts such as analogy and allusion, subtleties in point of view such as dramatic irony, and a more sophisticated appreciation for connotative diction. These skills will be incorporated into the students’ own narrative and expository writing. Students will become increasingly adept at understanding an author’s biases, the use of complex rhetorical devices including logical fallacies, and tailoring his or her own prose for maximum influence. While continuing with a variety of literary non-fiction, students in grades 6-8 will begin to tackle more technical informational texts as well. Literary selections will include foundational materials from mythology, cultural histories, and religious traditions."
How often do you give homework?
Expect some type of homework for my class every night, even if it’s just asking students to review and polish up their classwork or read a book of their choice. Homework is a way for students to practice what they learned in school, so that they can master the information. With that being said, students should do some work on all of their subjects every night, even if it’s just reviewing their notes or playing an educational game on the computer. If your child says the homework is already done, ask them to show it to you. An excellent way for students to learn is to "teach" you what they are learning in class by explaining their homework! I do not take up homework early, so they should have it with them.
Do you offer any extra credit?
Yes. See the Extra Credit page. Please note that extra credit can help you if you work and struggle. It will not make up for poor work habits.
Is my child on your team?
In elementary school, children were assigned one teacher for their academic classes (language arts, math, science, social studies). In middle school, four teachers work together to teach academics to a larger group of students. Teams are labeled by letter (A, B, C) based on their location on the hallway, not their students' academic abilities. For 7th and 8th grade PC classes, your child will be "off team," because the gifted classes in these grades are taught by teachers who are not assigned to a team but rather to all gifted students. Gifted off team classes may include language arts, science, and social studies.
What classes will my child have this year?
Your child will have seven classes this year, plus homeroom. Every day, your child will have four academic classes: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (in some order).
What do I need to know about field trips?
Since there are many educational opportunities beyond the school building, we hope to offer some academic-based field trips this year. Parent volunteers are always welcome! Please note that any student who has had an office referral or other significant behavior infraction (as determined by the teachers) may not be allowed to attend. Once the money is paid for the trip, it is non-refundable. Also, please note that any students wishing to attend must turn in a signed field trip forms and payment by the deadline.
In the 2013-2014 school year, we will be going to see a play by Shakespeare at The New American Shakespeare Tavern (play title and date TBA).
What are the Common Core Standards?
According to http://www.corestandards.org/, "The Common Core State Standards initiative is a state-led effort to coordinate by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare out children for college and the workforce." These standards were adopted by the state of Georgia and will provide specific guidance to what students should learn each year in school to prepare them for their experiences beyond high school. Georgia began using the Common Core in the 2012-2013 school year. Information can be found here: Common Core Standardsand Georgia DOE.
How can I contact you?
If you have any questions or concerns or if you would like to visit my classroom, schedule a conference, or volunteer, you can contact me at [email protected] or at 770-483-3371. The best times to reach me are _________ by phone or anytime by email.
Again, thank you for taking time to view my webpage and for your interest and involvement in your child's education. Please let me know if this is anything I can do to help your child (and you) have a smooth and successful year. I look so forward to embarking on this educational journey with you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ferrell
Gifted ELA 7th & 8th
Ms. Ferrell's FAQs
What will my child be learning in your class?*
"Instruction in grades 6-8 addresses students’ increasing maturity and the growing sophistication of their abilities, culminating in the development by the end of grade 8 of students who are ready to succeed in high school. Students should be able to comprehend more challenging books and articles, basing all of their analyses, inferences, and claims on explicit and relevant evidence from the texts. Students will expand on their ability to identify central ideas by identifying how those themes are shaped and conveyed by particular details. Their analysis of basic literary elements will extend to identifying connections and complexities within narratives and how individual elements weave together to advance plot and reveal character. The evaluation of the impact of language on tone and meaning will begin to include more sophisticated concepts such as analogy and allusion, subtleties in point of view such as dramatic irony, and a more sophisticated appreciation for connotative diction. These skills will be incorporated into the students’ own narrative and expository writing. Students will become increasingly adept at understanding an author’s biases, the use of complex rhetorical devices including logical fallacies, and tailoring his or her own prose for maximum influence. While continuing with a variety of literary non-fiction, students in grades 6-8 will begin to tackle more technical informational texts as well. Literary selections will include foundational materials from mythology, cultural histories, and religious traditions."
How often do you give homework?
Expect some type of homework for my class every night, even if it’s just asking students to review and polish up their classwork or read a book of their choice. Homework is a way for students to practice what they learned in school, so that they can master the information. With that being said, students should do some work on all of their subjects every night, even if it’s just reviewing their notes or playing an educational game on the computer. If your child says the homework is already done, ask them to show it to you. An excellent way for students to learn is to "teach" you what they are learning in class by explaining their homework! I do not take up homework early, so they should have it with them.
Do you offer any extra credit?
Yes. See the Extra Credit page. Please note that extra credit can help you if you work and struggle. It will not make up for poor work habits.
Is my child on your team?
In elementary school, children were assigned one teacher for their academic classes (language arts, math, science, social studies). In middle school, four teachers work together to teach academics to a larger group of students. Teams are labeled by letter (A, B, C) based on their location on the hallway, not their students' academic abilities. For 7th and 8th grade PC classes, your child will be "off team," because the gifted classes in these grades are taught by teachers who are not assigned to a team but rather to all gifted students. Gifted off team classes may include language arts, science, and social studies.
What classes will my child have this year?
Your child will have seven classes this year, plus homeroom. Every day, your child will have four academic classes: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (in some order).
What do I need to know about field trips?
Since there are many educational opportunities beyond the school building, we hope to offer some academic-based field trips this year. Parent volunteers are always welcome! Please note that any student who has had an office referral or other significant behavior infraction (as determined by the teachers) may not be allowed to attend. Once the money is paid for the trip, it is non-refundable. Also, please note that any students wishing to attend must turn in a signed field trip forms and payment by the deadline.
In the 2013-2014 school year, we will be going to see a play by Shakespeare at The New American Shakespeare Tavern (play title and date TBA).
What are the Common Core Standards?
According to http://www.corestandards.org/, "The Common Core State Standards initiative is a state-led effort to coordinate by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare out children for college and the workforce." These standards were adopted by the state of Georgia and will provide specific guidance to what students should learn each year in school to prepare them for their experiences beyond high school. Georgia began using the Common Core in the 2012-2013 school year. Information can be found here: Common Core Standardsand Georgia DOE.
How can I contact you?
If you have any questions or concerns or if you would like to visit my classroom, schedule a conference, or volunteer, you can contact me at [email protected] or at 770-483-3371. The best times to reach me are _________ by phone or anytime by email.
Again, thank you for taking time to view my webpage and for your interest and involvement in your child's education. Please let me know if this is anything I can do to help your child (and you) have a smooth and successful year. I look so forward to embarking on this educational journey with you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ferrell
Gifted ELA 7th & 8th