Welcome back from Spring Break 2013! I know I had a very restful break- something about being in your third trimester of pregnancy prevents you from flying anywhere, so I spent time organizing the house and school work!
Each class is starting something new this week and I can't wait to see what the students do with the topics, themes and activities planned. Please continue to use the website as a place for being organized or working ahead! Also be checking PowerSchool as I am trying to keep grades as up to date as possible (essays and projects take a little more time) and if a student is absent I plug in a "0" with a "missing" symbol next to it. This has been helping students get work in quickly and not being surprised at the end of the term when "ABS" (absent) turns into "0" (zero) and really hurts the final grade.
There are 38 more days of school for students to continue learning, see how much you can accomplish in that amount of time!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Group Work, Spring Break, and Missed Work
This post is covering several events, issues, and concerns that have come up in the classroom lately.
Group work:
In English 11 students are working on a short story group project. Many student hate group work while others find it helpful. I built this project closely to this article called "Productive Group Work in Middle and High School Classrooms" by Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher and Aida Allen.
The article describes five principles that are needed for effective cooperative learning:
Group work:
In English 11 students are working on a short story group project. Many student hate group work while others find it helpful. I built this project closely to this article called "Productive Group Work in Middle and High School Classrooms" by Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher and Aida Allen.
The article describes five principles that are needed for effective cooperative learning:
1. Positive interdependence of group members such that they need to rely on
one another to solve the problem successfully—a sink-or-swim approach.
2. Face-to-face interaction to promote the personal investment group members
have in one another, both academically and as people.
3. Individual and group accountability focused on goals and outcomes, so
members are acknowledged for their individual contributions and their
ability to be collectively responsible for the results.
4. The teaching of interpersonal and small-group skills to foster the social and
academic skills needed to work together.
5. Group processing so members have opportunities to evaluate their products
and determine how they might improve the ways they work together.
Just a note to those who are absent/leaving early for Spring Break:
If you are absent during a group project, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to contact a group member that can catch you up. This is not only an assignment on short stories, it is a test of maturity. In college or the work force you must always stay in contact with your group/team. If there is not contact your peers may use that as a mark on the peer evaluation.
Spring Break:
At the end of school on Friday, March 22nd, students and teachers alike begin the 2013 Spring Break. Notice I typed end of school on FRIDAY - I have lessons going through the end of school on Friday and want all those who are leaving early to realize I still expect projects and essays that are due Friday, to be turned in via email or another student on that day. If you do not turn in progressive assignments you will receive a ZERO. Please see the Language Arts Homework Policy handed out at the beginning of each course.
Missed Work:
This website is very detailed and kept up to date with day-to-day assignments. DO NOT come to me before class and ask if we did anything while you were gone. CHECK THE WEBSITE. This is secondary school, and I teach courses offered to 10th-12th graders. All of which are capable of checking this website and staying up to date. So just a general answer to that question: "Yes, we learned and did assignments built to help students understand concepts discussed in class, check the website for what you missed."
If you are absent during a group project, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to contact a group member that can catch you up. This is not only an assignment on short stories, it is a test of maturity. In college or the work force you must always stay in contact with your group/team. If there is not contact your peers may use that as a mark on the peer evaluation.
Spring Break:
At the end of school on Friday, March 22nd, students and teachers alike begin the 2013 Spring Break. Notice I typed end of school on FRIDAY - I have lessons going through the end of school on Friday and want all those who are leaving early to realize I still expect projects and essays that are due Friday, to be turned in via email or another student on that day. If you do not turn in progressive assignments you will receive a ZERO. Please see the Language Arts Homework Policy handed out at the beginning of each course.
Missed Work:
This website is very detailed and kept up to date with day-to-day assignments. DO NOT come to me before class and ask if we did anything while you were gone. CHECK THE WEBSITE. This is secondary school, and I teach courses offered to 10th-12th graders. All of which are capable of checking this website and staying up to date. So just a general answer to that question: "Yes, we learned and did assignments built to help students understand concepts discussed in class, check the website for what you missed."
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 4:00-7:00 pm. Please feel welcome to attend and conference with any or all of your child’s teachers. Conferences are scheduled to keep the lines of communication open between parents and teachers. The main purpose of the spring conference date is to discuss the third nine week report card and share ideas on how teachers and parents can work together to maximize achievements of the student.
There will be door prizes for the high school parents that attend! Please come and meet with teachers face to face and help us improve your child's learning journey! Thank you and we hope to see you this afternoon.
School will not be in session on Thursday, March 14, 2013. A Professional Development Activity
will take place between 11:30am – 1:00pm for all teachers
