Welcome to Mini-School!!

Texas Discoveries

Mrs. Luann Hailey

About Me• 25th year to teach

• Certifications

• 1 husband and 3 kids

– Richard…petroleum engineer– Brian…radiologist (fellowship in IR)– Jennifer…clinical psychologist (doctorate degree)– Melissa…special education teacher (masters in special education)

Recipe for Success!• Homework

• Check my website frequently (assignments, etc)

• Syllabus posted

• Stay organized– 7th grade is a year of transition – 7th graders tend to be forgetful!

My Website• List learning plan for week

– Reading/homework assignments• Check if student is absent—know what missed and what need to

do– Test dates– Other important info

• Power Point lessons/homework posted

• Good books to read about Texas History

• Good websites for Texas History

• Class expectations, etc

• Check it frequently and encourage child to do so also

Focus: GCISD Portrait of a Graduate

• Skilled Problem Solvers

• Effective Communicators

• Collaborative Workers

• Global Citizens

• Self-Regulated Learners

Grading Policy• 35% = homework

• 20% = daily and/or completion grades

• 45% = tests

• Late Work– 20 points off for one day late– Zeros are not fun and they kill a grade…require work to

be done for lowest grade of 50

Texas History Curriculum• Geography (currently doing this)

• Early Texans

• European Contact and Influence • Government (around elections)

• Revolutions

• Republic of Texas

• Statehood

• Civil War and Reconstruction

• Growth and Change (ranching, cattle, oil, World War I, Great Depression, World War II, etc

Modern Day Texas will be mixed in as appropriate

Class Format

• Most work will be done in class…not much homework

• Note-taking

• Discussions…I believe in fact-to-face talking!!

• Projects

• Digital – Chrome Books– Google Drive– Google Classroom

Discoveries Classes

• Collaboration with Mr. Bland– we align the ELA/SS Curriculums as much as possible

• Novels

• Higher level thinking; deeper discussions; more insight

• Writing/essays

• Socratic Seminars

• Speakers

GT Parent Organizations

• SAGE– GT Parent Support Group

– Interested in being a representative?

– More info posted on my website as it becomes available