Online learning is going to have to change — read the email I sent for a more specific explanation as to why.
Due to the current uncertainties surrounding online learning, we have been directed to focus on “enriching” skills that have already been taught as opposed to introducing new content.
For this reason, the literature circle unit we started last week needs to be put on hold.
I know this is frustrating, but our administration is figuring out this unprecedented situation as they go, and then we have to wait and find out from them what is expected. It’s a bit of a mess, but at least for the next few weeks, we now have a solid direction to go.
You can feel free to continue reading your literature circle book. It can only help you for when we go back to literature circles.
Before you ask: no, these “enrichment” activities don’t impact your grade. However, they are relatively short, interesting ways to pass the time that will also help strengthen your skills for when we are given the green light that this time can count.
Eventually, we will return to the literature circle unit. In the meantime, the other 9th grade LA teachers and I have come up with a new weekly routine.
This routine is as follows:
Monday – Mentor sentences practice with previously taught sentence structures via a Google Form in which you will write specific types of sentences about pictures that we provide.
Tuesday – Creative or reflective journal entry responding to one prompt you can select from a list that we provide.
Wednesday – Short reading with a couple of multiple choice questions focusing on a specific skill.
Thursday – Journal entry responding to Wednesday’s reading.
Friday – Multiple choice questions focusing on a DIFFERENT skill using the same reading from Wednesday.
This will give us the chance to build up some of the skills we’ve focused on, and we can use the information we gathered from last week’s trial run of the literature circles to make it better and easier to understand for when we inevitably go back to it.
I will keep the current info in the FAQ, but I will add to it still as more questions arise regarding this new direction.
We will still hold office hours on Friday. I’ll let you know if we add other times for that as well.
I hope this finds you well. I miss you guys. I’d much rather be at school to hear your insights and joke around with you. While I’m doing just fine here in self-quarantine, I could always count on you all for a good laugh, good conversation, and to make the days go by quickly.
My roommate got a scary video game called Little Nightmares, and watching her play that after it gets dark has become one of my favorite new things to do most days. I’ve also finished reading two books so far, and counting…makes me wonder how much you all have been reading…hmm?
Anyway. I’ll be posting the mentor sentences assignment on Google Classroom shortly. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or if you just want to check in!
UPDATE 12:12 PM – I’ve created a new page where I will keep some positive extra readings and activities that I find and enjoy. If you want to look through them, they will be there, but they are not required.
I hope you are all doing alright. There is still work up on Google Classroom with a scheduled due date of tonight before midnight. This is the discussion — make sure you read the example discussion before you post or reply to your group members.
Mrs. A and I held office hours on Google Meet from noon to 1 pm. It went pretty well for the few of you that popped in, and it was good to see you!
I hope your first week of this has been okay. Let me know if you need anything.
UPDATE 4:43 PM: I updated the FAQ with a few of the questions I’ve received about discussions. I’ll be updating it more as time goes on, I’m sure.
Good morning, all!
Today I will be posting the discussion assignment that will be due tomorrow. This will require you to post the best/most important part of your role for this week and share it with your group. Then, you must reply to each of your peers’ posts. Here is an example that I’d like for you all to look over before I post it.
That should be up by this afternoon if you want to get that done. The posts will be due tomorrow (Friday 3/20). Keep in mind that, since part of the assignment is responding to your peers, you have to keep checking back to see if your group members have posted.
I didn’t get around to trying out the Google Meet, the video conferencing app, yesterday, but I will try tomorrow (Friday 3/20) at noon. Mrs. A will be in on it too! Then, starting next week, I’ll be holding “office hours” for specific books. In the meantime, continue emailing questions and commenting on Google Classroom, but remember to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page before you do! I don’t want to respond to repeat questions if I can avoid it. That will save everyone time.
Thanks!
P.S. I hope you are all doing well 🙂 Maybe try out the Netflix Party Chrome extension to watch Netflix with friends at a distance! I plan to try that out very soon.
I just finished typing up a FAQ page to answer common questions I get about online learning and this literature circle unit. I will update it with other common or important questions that I receive. You can check it out here.
At this point, I will require you to read through the FAQ first before you ask any questions. It’s hard to field so many emails and Google Classroom comments, so please only ask questions that aren’t featured on that page.
If you didn’t check your school emails yet, Mr. Martin just announced that they will be allowing students IN NEED of technology to check out Chromebooks from the school from 3-6 pm.
Today is Wednesday, so that means your role sheets are due by midnight tonight! Don’t forget!
I hope you’re keeping up on your reading. If you’re confused about any part of it, let me know. I will start holding office hours for specific books next week; however, I will try out the feature at some point this afternoon if you have any general questions that you need answered. I will post a link to a Google Meet on all Google Classroom pages. Stay tuned for that.
Keep in mind, Mrs. A and I are splitting up the four books:
Mrs. A is taking the lead on:
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Ms. Fetter is taking the lead on:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
So, if you have specific questions about your novel, you should direct them to the right person.
On another note, I just watched the movie Shazam! last night and really liked it. It was funny and an interesting superhero story. So, if you’re looking for something to watch, I recommend that one.
I stopped into the school to grab a few things that I needed and likely won’t be back there again until this is all over, so that was a bit surreal. It’s weird not seeing you all there. Anyway, stay safe, stay healthy, and let me know if you need anything!
At this point, you should’ve found that I posted PDF files of your literature circle books on Google Classroom. I made different assignments for each group; that way you only see the book you are assigned. In the description of the assignment, you’ll find your reading assignments for the week. Here they are again for easy access:
Week 1 Reading Assignment
Animal Farm
Ch. 1-2
Fahrenheit 451
Pg. 1-39
Lord of the Flies
Ch. 1-2
Uglies
New Pretty Town – Last Trick
Also, today, I posted assignments for the role you are responsible for fulfilling for this week. These role sheets are due tomorrow Wednesday March 18th before midnight.
I hope you are finding ways to keep yourselves entertained and happy regardless of this time of isolation. Yesterday, I went for a walk around downtown Detroit (while maintaining distance from others, of course) and it feels so great to get outside. Make sure to do that on occasion, as staying in the house too much can be bad for your mental health at any time, let alone in times like this.
Check Google Classroom and the blog every day, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you just want to check in. Stay safe and healthy!
