Welcome to Ms. Chandler's

home page

What's happening this week?

Students are working diligently on the revisions to their memoirs, and will be turning their final drafts in to me on the dates shown below. Their first focus should be on fixing grammatical, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. After that they should be using the feedback I provided for improvement.
They should be referring to the notes in their writing spirals as they write.
In class we are focusing on spelling rules around prefixes and suffixes, as well as the correct punctuation and paragraphing of dialogue.
In Social Studies we have been exploring the Byzantine Empire, the creation of Eastern Orthodox religion, and the schism between west and east that occurred in Europe around conflicts between the Roman Catholic Church and Byzantine emperors.
The end of the quarter is fast approaching - Nov. 13 - so help your child make sure they have turned in all required assignments, and are ready to go with their final book talk of the quarter.

Upcoming Due Dates:

All students will need to complete their second book talk of the quarter by November 11th.

Spelling due every Tuesday and Thursday. This will be described in class, and students will have plenty of instructions to help them in their practice. As basic information, students will be responsible for creating spelling lists based on words they have trouble spelling on their own.

Students are expected to read thirty minutes per night, every day of the week-including vacations.

3rd and 4th period students will turn in their third essay letter to me by November 20.

Memoir final drafts will be due by November 10.

5th period Language Arts students will turn theirs in on November 13.

Memoir final drafts will be due by November 6th.

Social Studies

In the seventh grade we will spend our time on a variety of cultures and time periods. We begin with the middle ages in Europe, and move through the Renaissance.Then we will explore the birth of Islam. Finally, this semester, we will look at Mayan and Aztec cultures.

Check back here for links to various helpful websites, and to find additional information to the facts we'll be studying in class.

At the History Alive Website, you will find online information about the eras and events we are studying in class, as well as projects that you might be interested in pursuing on your own.

Digital History

PBS- History Detectives - Again, many types of information here. Check the list of eras on the right, and check out the many questions shown.


Language Arts

In teaching Language Arts we use many methods and ideas from Nancie Atwell, a fabulously inspiring teacher and author who runs a private school in Maine. Her books In the Middle, Lessons That Change Writers, and The Reading Zone, as well as others, have very much shaped the way in which I teach writing and reading today.
One of her main beliefs is that we must find ways to make both reading and writing more engaging for students. Part of this comes from letting students read books of their choosing.Students share what they get out of their reading, both with me, and with other students. This happens through book talks, as well as letter/essays that they submit on a regular basis. In addition, I regularly check in with what students are reading during in class silent reading time.

Nancie teaches at the Center for Teaching and Learning, and her students regularly submit book recommendations that students and parents may find helpful.

In writing we study a variety of genres, including memoir, essays, poetry, and short stories. Much of this comes from studying good writing, analyzing it, and using what we learn in our own writing.

Here is some information on some of your favorite authors:

Sarah Dessen

Sonya Sones

Stephenie Meyer

Anthony Horowitz

Sharon Creech
Rick Riordan
Pam Munoz Ryan
Walter Dean Myers

A little about me

This is my eighth year as a teacher, and I have spent all of that time at WMS. I taught 6th grade block for five years, 8th grade block for two years,  and have also taught leadership, health, P.E., and math. This is my first year teaching 7th grade block, although I wonce taught 7th grade Social Studies.

I am also the director of the annual school play, when there is money to fund the position.

I received my BA from The Evergreen State College, and both my K-8 teaching certificate and my Master's Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks Northwest. In 2007 I finished my Professional Certification through Evergreen.

I am also the managing director of The Olympia Family Theater.

If you would like to contact me:
schandler@osd.wednet.edu
(360)596-3112