Dear Incoming 7th Grade Students (and Parents),
Welcome to your first year as a secondary student! This year brings many changes and different school experiences. Your 7th grade core teachers are here to help you navigate this new world. Here are a few pointers:
You can expect lots of new experiences and various ups and downs during 7th grade. But between your four core teachers, we have over 60 years of experience teaching 7th grade! We’re here to help and guide you on how to navigate the 7th grade waters. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Here’s to a great year,
Ms. Bishop, Ms. Harkcom, Ms. Popa, and Ms. Yang
Welcome to your first year as a secondary student! This year brings many changes and different school experiences. Your 7th grade core teachers are here to help you navigate this new world. Here are a few pointers:
- 7th grade is a preparation year for all of your future schooling. You will learn how to change classes every period and understand and execute the expectations and protocols for each of your eight different teachers. This can be overwhelming at first, but be patient with yourself. Any time you are struggling or confused, please ask your teachers. It might be intimidating to talk one on one with your teacher, but we promise you, it’s really not so scary!
- Classes are bigger than you’re used to, and you get less time with each teacher. Periods are 88 minutes long, meeting every other day, generally 35 students per class. If averaged out, teachers get less than 2.5 minutes per student per period every other day! Given this, developing a relationship with your teachers takes more time than it does in 6th grade. We urge you, if you ever feel lost, you are your best advocate! Teachers are here to help, but you need to be proactive in asking for specific aid or guidance.
- 7th grade is a time when critical thinking and your workload takes a giant leap. To quote a former 7th grade student, “A’s are a lot harder to get in 7th grade, but they mean more when you do get them.” Not only do you need to learn more information, but you are also expected to express your own analysis and ideas. Your brain will be stretched and expanded in many new ways. There will also be periods of heavier amounts of work than others throughout the school year. Therefore, time management becomes just as crucial as academic achievement. You must plan and pay attention to schedule and deadlines to be successful. This will be hard work, but it pays off!
- In addition to your changing academic world, your social, emotional, and physical worlds will also change. You might find yourself feeling moody without knowing why. Social relationships and dynamics will begin to have more ups and downs, sometimes on a daily basis! You’ll desire more independence from your parents, but might not know how to use it quite yet. This is because your body and mind will be going through puberty. Again, your teachers are here to help, so if you seek us out, we’ll do just that.
You can expect lots of new experiences and various ups and downs during 7th grade. But between your four core teachers, we have over 60 years of experience teaching 7th grade! We’re here to help and guide you on how to navigate the 7th grade waters. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Here’s to a great year,
Ms. Bishop, Ms. Harkcom, Ms. Popa, and Ms. Yang