Hello! My name is Mrs. Dagum, and I am excited to continue teaching Middle School Science, Math, and Religion at St. Frances Cabrini School. This is my third year at Cabrini, and I am grateful to be part of a community that is committed to academic excellence, Catholic values, and helping students grow in a safe, supportive, and faith-filled environment.
I have been teaching since 1999 and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from California State University, Northridge, as well as a Master’s degree in Teaching (Elementary Education) from Western Governors University. Throughout my teaching career, I have enjoyed creating engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and meaningful learning experiences that encourage students to explore, question, and discover.
My passion is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and I bring real-world experience in these areas into the classroom. I love helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills while encouraging them to be curious, ask questions, and see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. My goal is to help every student recognize their strengths and feel confident in their ability to succeed.
My Philosophy
I believe every student is a unique gift from God with the ability to learn, grow, and make a positive impact in the world. My goal is to create a Christ-centered classroom where students feel respected, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential. I believe learning should be engaging, meaningful, and connected to real-life experiences while challenging students to think critically and creatively.
As an educator, I strive to nurture the whole child by supporting students academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. Through faith, collaboration, and a love of discovery, I hope to inspire students to become confident learners, compassionate individuals, and responsible members of their community.
I am looking forward to another wonderful year at St. Frances Cabrini filled with growth, exploration, and success. Knights Unite!
Religion:
• Primary Resources: Alive in Christ, God’s Plan in Scripture, and Catholic Youth Bible
• Texts:
• Faith First: Jesus in the New Testament
• Faith First: Church and Sacraments
• Catholic Youth Bible
• Areas of Study:
• Six Tasks of Catechesis
• Prayer and Worship
• Education in Virtue
• Scripture and Tradition
• Service Projects
• Liturgical Participation
Literature and Vocab:
• Primary Resources: Prentice-Hall Literature short stories & plays; Novel-study: A Long Walk to Water, Call of the Wild, “Romeo and Juliet”; various nonfiction stories & articles • Units of Study: Fiction, Nonfiction, short story, plays.
Language Arts (Writing and Grammar):
• Primary Resources: Write Source
• Units of Study (Writing): Descriptive, Narrative (Memoir), Research, Argument, How-to, Speeches
• Units of Study (Grammar): Figures of Speech, Sentences, Punctuation, Parts of Speech
Math:
• Primary Resources:
• 5th: Text - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Math Expressions Grade 5 (Common Core)
• 5th/6th Compressed: Text – Big Ideas Learning, Big Ideas Math Green (Common Core)
• 6th/7th Compressed: Text – Big Ideas Learning, Big Ideas Math Advanced 1 (Common Core)
• Prealgebra: Text – Big Ideas Learning, Big Ideas Math Advanced 2 (Common Core)
• Algebra: Text – Holt McDougal, Algebra 1 (Common Core)
• Geometry: Text – Holt McDougal, Geometry (Common Core)
• Secondary Resources:
• IXL Online – Math teachers correlate the use of IXL to their specific curriculum.
Social Studies:
• Texts:
• Prentice Hall: Medieval Times to Today
• Gibbs and Smith: The Washington Journey
• Areas of Study:
• World History from the Fall of Rome through the Renaissance
• Washington State History
• Current events
• Research Projects
• Learning Fair
Science:
• Primary Resource: Text – Prentice Hall: Science Explorer
• Area of Study:
• Earth Science:
• The theory of plate tectonics
• The causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanoes
• Life Science:
• Identify organisms based on existing classification systems
• Bacteria
• Protists
• Fungi
• Plants
• Animals
Assessment:
A progress report and report card are issued three times during the year at the middle and end of each quarter, respectively, to inform parents of their child’s progress. In addition, weekly grades are available on the Parents Portal.
Technology:
Our seventh graders are 1:1 with technology, and each student has their own Google Chromebook. Throughout each school week, they use it to conduct research, practice note-taking skills, and create presentations that allow them to combine their writing and oral presentation skills with a creative technology component. We reinforce digital citizenship through student collaboration on projects, and they use Google Classroom to allow for effective communication on mini-projects and class assignments.
Enrichment: Students attend weekly enrichment classes for library, music, PE, and Art.
Standardized Testing
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade participate in NWEA MAP Growth assessments three times each school year. MAP Growth is a nationally recognized, computer-adaptive assessment that measures each student’s academic achievement and growth in reading, mathematics, and language usage. The results provide valuable information that helps teachers personalize instruction, monitor student progress, and ensure every child is challenged and supported throughout the year. Families receive detailed reports after each testing period to better understand their child’s progress and academic growth over time. Additional information about MAP Growth and how to interpret student reports can be found on the NWEA website.
