by Kathryn Fetter | Mar 23, 2020 | Blogs
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.
by Kathryn Fetter | Mar 20, 2020 | Blogs
Good afternoon, all.
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.
by Kathryn Fetter | Mar 19, 2020 | Blogs
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.
by Kathryn Fetter | Mar 18, 2020 | Blogs
Good morning everyone!
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!
by Kathryn Fetter | Mar 16, 2020 | Blogs
Good morning, all:
I know this is all very strange, but we’ll carry on and everything is going to be okay. It’s weird not being at school today with you all. I’d much rather be. But, here we are, and we’re going to try to make the most of it.
I was very excited about this next unit, as I may have expressed recently. I’m a bit sad that things won’t exactly get to play out as I had envisioned, but I’m going to do my best to facilitate your learning from here as best I can. Here’s a general overview of what these next few weeks will look like:
Each student has been placed in a literature circle group that will be reading the same novel. While we weren’t able to distribute books before Governor Whitmer closed the schools, luckily, we have PDFs available for some books that we can give you access to without having to change things too much.
I will be creating Google Classroom assignments each week specific to YOUR literature circle group that will provide you with how many pages to read for that week as well as the role sheets you need to complete and turn in for mastery scores. Additional assignments will be posted each Friday in which students will have to respond to discussion prompts about their reading that week.
Assignments Due Each Week:
- Your reading, according to the reading schedule I provide for your book.
- Your literature circle role sheet will be due on WEDNESDAYS, which you will be assigned each week according to my schedule.
- You must respond to a discussion prompt every FRIDAY and reply to each of your peers’ answers agreeing or disagreeing with meaningful supporting evidence and reasoning.
Resources Available to Assist:
- Mrs. A and I will be available via email throughout the week. We will both be checking it frequently. Feel free to email with questions or concerns.
- I will post every weekday on this blog to update you on what progress you should be making as well as any other pertinent information. I will also post any ideas for things to do during this time of social distancing, as I know it can be a bit difficult and might be a bit daunting.
- I will also be giving opportunities for you to sign up to video conference with me via Google Hangouts about your literature circle books. I will hold different sessions for different books. I haven’t quite hammered out the details on how this is going to work, but I’ll mess with it and let you know ASAP. These books can be complex and it can be so helpful to get to talk and ask questions about what you’re reading. I hope you’ll take advantage of this resource, and I’d be happy to see you and help out!
- Any additional helpful materials I will post in my daily posts. I’ll keep a running list here on this post, though, so that they’re easy to find.
I will be posting your first round of materials shortly. Please be patient as I figure it all out, and when I do post, I will ask for you to comment on that post to acknowledge that you’ve seen it and can access it.
Final Notes
If you’re anything like I was when I was your age, you’re probably just wanting to plop yourself down in front of the TV and play video games 24/7 during this time. Video games are fine, and I hope you enjoy. However, in addition to making time for your course work, make sure you take care of yourself in other ways too: exercise, eat healthy, communicate with friends (maybe video chat rather than in person), READ, READ, READ, and keep yourselves safe.
We’ll make it work, and everything will be fine. Feel free to reach out if you need. 🙂
TL;DR – We’re still doing lit circles. Check Google Classroom frequently and comment to let me know you’ve received the first round of materials. Reach out if you have questions; we’re still here to help. Stay safe and healthy!
