7th Grade Memory Verse

Due to there being several quizzes and assignments due on Friday, I am changing the 7th grade Bible Memory verse due date to Tuesday, September 2nd.  The students simply need to have memorized Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) by Tuesday.  This assignment was given on the second day of school, so this should be plenty of time to memorize one verse.  I pray that all are successful in storing God's Word in their hearts and reflecting on His promises! 

Off to a Great Start!

The middle schoolers are off to a great start this year!  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful students.  Class participation has been fantastic, and everyone has been on his/her best behavior!

Don't forget that tomorrow (Thursday) is the spaghetti dinner to support TCS athletics, and the dinner is followed by an Open House where you can get more familiar with classrooms and teachers.  I handed out flyers yesterday, and perhaps they even made it home! :)  

I thought I would share these pictures taken at the start of the first day of school.

 

7th Grade

 

8th Grade

WELCOME!

Welcome to Middle School! 

I am very excited to teach the awesome 7th and 8th graders for another year, and I pray my enthusiasm is contagious! I am passionate about teaching English, and it is also my privilege to teach Bible to the middle schoolers. I am eager to share my knowledge and zeal for such subjects, and the students have MUCH to look forward to for this school year. Junior high is a very integral time in schooling which marks an important era of transition from elementary to high school. These two years a precious and special, and together we will set goals for academic, social and, most importantly, spiritual growth.  

My teaching style is very hands-on, conversational, and interactive. I believe all activities we do in the classroom should have a concrete purpose which gives the learner a reason to desire achievement and understanding within each assignment. I do not give any busy-work in or outside of the classroom.  I maintain high standards for each student, and I expect the students to do their best as I will strive to do mine.  Of course, we will ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength daily!

One point of emphasis in my classroom is organization as it is vital to achieving success in the classroom. You may have noticed I requested a 2-inch binder with five dividers for English --for Writing, Grammar, Literature, Vocabulary, and Analogies. This is not to bog anyone down, but to help each student succeed in being structured. (All the language arts notes, hand-outs, essays, rubrics, homework, tests, etc. will stay in this organized, sectioned binder as I will hole-punch all the papers I give out. Please check these binders regularly.) 

In addition to an organized binder, the students are accountable to keep track of their specific assignments and write them down daily. I give out homework orally, write all the assignments on the homework board, and oftentimes give the students an additional explanatory hand-out for papers and projects. Tests, quizzes, projects, and papers are posted to my website as well. I want each student to be set up for success!  I suggest keeping a daily planner for all subjects.

This year each student will receive the following books from me: Literature Textbook, Vocabulary Workbook, Grammar Textbook and Workbook, Writing Packet, Journal, Bible Textbook, Bible Workbook, and various novels throughout the year. Students are responsible for keeping textbooks covered and in superb condition. 

If there are any questions (from you or your student), I will entertain them at my earliest convenience at kagate@trinitychristian.net; you can also reach me at school at 412-242-8886. And I encourage you to follow my class webpage for updates, assignment explanations, duedates, etc. It is a wonderful resource for students and parents. To get to my website, simply click on my faculty photo on the school's website: trinitychristian.net.  To sign up for updates to the website, simply scroll to the bottom and enter your email.  

Thank you for entrusting me with your awesome students!  I do not take this honor lightly! I’m looking forward to a wonderful year!

Love, In Christ,

Katie Agate

NOTE: PLEASE SCOLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE AND INSERT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS(ES) TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM THIS WEBSITE.

Goodbye, Eighth Grade Sweeties!

I have SO VERY MUCH enjoyed teaching the amazing rising FRESHMAN for the last two years.  I love them all very much and thank them all for being a tremendous blessing to me.  (I will still be downstairs next year if you guys need me! :))

I also thank you AWESOME PARENTS for your abounding support and encouragement!  

Love,
Mrs. Agate

PS- This summer, you need to READ, READ, READ!  Most importantly, read God's Word everyday and draw nearer to your Savior.   Reading a few great novels would be awesome too!  Feel free to email me for any suggestions-- devotions, novels, etc.!  :)

7th Grade Rocks!

The 7th Graders were so terrific today as they presented personalized short stories, which they created, to the adorable kindergarteners. We had a wonderful morning with the little sweeties, and I'm thankful for these awesome students and all their hard work.

I am also especially proud of the 7th grade for earning the title of the 2014 Bible Bowl Champions! Their team was represented by three amazing Biblical scholars: Zach Gould, Jacob Riviere, and Aristotle Theofilis! :)

Don't Forget! :)

A few reminders....

*7th English: Your complete children's books are due tomorrow (Tuesday)!  Some of you have already turned in your books, and they are so wonderful!  I'm really proud.  I will grade your final copies before Friday, and on Friday morning we will go down to Kindergarten and present our books to the sweeties.  We will also bring them donuts.  :)  Look forward to a fun and adorable celebration.

*8th English: The grading of your first drafts of your research paper is going wonderfully well!  I will give them all back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) so that you can make the necessary corrections and additions before you turn in your FINAL copy to turnitin.com by Monday, June 2nd.

*Bible classes: The Annual Bible Bowl is this Wednesday during 8th period in the auditorium!  Congratulations to our competitors!
6th grade: Dean Merritt, Zechary Wu, and Jillian Thomas
7th grade: Jacob Riviere, Aristotle Theofilis, and Zachary Gould (Sarah Handley is the alternate)
8th grade: Waverly VerHill, Lizzie Handley, and Nathan Molicki (Ashton Crawley is the alternate)

*Middle School Awards Ceremony is Thursday during 1st period in the auditorium.

I hope everyone is enjoying his/her long weekend! :)
Let's make the last SIX AND A HALF days of school count! :)
-Mrs. A

The Final Push!

We're almost done! There are 17 school days until summer vacation!  We are still going strong in English and Bible.  Here is a very brief look at what is up in our classroom...

7th English: *Short Story Writing  *Reading the novel Breaking Through *Last Vocabulary Unit

8th English: *Grammar Concepts Total Review  *MLA Paper Writing   *Analogies Unit 5

7th Bible: *Unit 8- THE LAST UNIT in the text!  We will finish the entire curriculum with time to spare!  I'm looking forward to some topical studies in the last two weeks. :)

8th Bible: *Unit 6- Churches Today and Cults; Standing Firm in our Faith

**NOTE: Due to the snow days and new (more time-consuming) grammar curriculum this year, I did not get to one project that I had in store for the 8th grade.  Some of the students were really looking forward to this assignment which is to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement).  The requirements and rubric are already set, and I am allowing students who would still like to participate in this assignment to go ahead and complete it.  I am not making it EXTRA credit, rather, the students who wish to accomplish this task will have an additional grade in PowerSchool.  If a student does not do this assignment, it will show an "exempt" in PowerSchool, and it will not injure their grade.  

**NOTE: For 7th grade, I am sad to say that had to sacrifice my speech writing and presenting project this year due to snow days and such.  I will be implementing this in the 8th grade curriculum, however.  Public speaking is an important skill, and though we have improved our speaking abilities this year, we are not yet masters.  Just wait! :)