Posted in Blogs

Remote Learning Announcement

Good morning,

As you may have heard by now, things will be changing. I have linked below the district’s official remote learning plan. I also have attached a Google Slides presentation breaking everything down for you. 

https://dearbornschools.org/services/dearborn-public-schools-continuity-of-learning-plan/

Here is a video from Ms. Alcodray as well, explaining everything: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Kdr-hECZgQcXDqFbPfsBaKkCIkFDws6/view

Essentially, you will receive two grades a week. One for making contact with me twice a week via Google Hangout and email and another for completing the work. We will see how the first few weeks go and then there potentially may be an assessment and assessment grade added in. 

I will be posting the work Monday morning no later than 11 am and you will have until the next Sunday at 11:59 to complete it. 

I will be holding office hours on Monday’s and Friday’s from 11 am-2 pm. This means you may contact me via email to get further clarification on the assignment. You may email after this time, however I cannot guarantee I will respond as soon as you would like. Most likely, you will receive a response the next day at 11 am.

I will be going through the work you have already completed this week to begin giving you credit. I have given feedback for hours 1-3 already and will be giving feedback for 5-6. 

Below, you will find a Google Slides presentation breaking down how the semester will proceed.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J4sDmyb8xYL_dH4ORyjLcb_ORIu8B_Yakc9n87fFTUM/edit#slide=id.p3

Use the Ch. 30 textbook on iLearn to complete the work. This week’s work is can be found on Google Classroom.

Posted in Blogs

March 24, 2020

Today’s entry:

Tell me something positive that has happened to you since we have been away from school. There has been a lot of negativity and fear-inducing news in the last week and a half. Your something positive could be something as simple as you got to spend quality time with your family. Remember, you must be writing 3 sentences minimum. So elaborate on your positive.

Posted in Blogs

Reflection on MDE’s memo from 3/20

Hello Students,

I just wanted to update you on the fast-moving situation regarding our online classes. This afternoon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her “dismay” about the Michigan Department of Education’s statement, releasing her own statement assuring educators and parents that this time could possibly count. The MDE released its original statement because in order for our time to count, the Michigan legislature must change the law; the MDE has no power here. So what does that mean for us? *It is very possible—even likely—that our time online will count. So keep working.* Our state lawmakers do not want to anger parents and educators across the state. So let’s keep our momentum going. 

Posted in Blogs

March 20, 2020

Good morning, everyone.

Before I give directions for the journal, I just wanted to tell you all to make sure you are staying safe. I do not know about all of you but I am beginning to miss school. I am looking forward to coming back!

For your journal:

Start today’s entry under yesterday’s. You will be free writing. This could be about what you did that day, how you are spending your time day to day or your feelings on things shutting down. Make sure, however, that it is at least 3 sentences.

Posted in Blogs

March 19, 2020

Good morning,

As I mentioned before, you are currently living through history. When your children and grandchildren study history they will be learning about how all of the schools in the country shut down due to COVID-19. You have a unique opportunity to create a living history journal. I will periodically be posting prompts, questions, current event articles and videos for you respond to/give your thoughts on. You each will have a personal Google Doc (available on the assignment tab on Google Classroom) that no one else but me will view. You may also write this out on paper but you will need to keep track of the days and write the prompt at the top, if there is one. This will be your chance to write your thoughts, feelings, how you spend your days, etc. It will one day be a primary source. You will be coming back to this specific assignment to journal every day.

Some questions to think about as you write in your journal.
How has life changed for you since the closures of school or social distancing has started? What has stayed the same?
What changes have we seen across the globe? How have other countries been impacted by Covid19? How have they responded?
What social, economic and political changes have we seen? This is a big one- and you could devote a whole week to just considering these.
What connections can you make to other historical events that we have studied. How is this similar? Different?

Directions:
Use European date format to begin your daily entries. Write about your personal reflections of the day and on days when I assign an article please be sure to include your thoughts on the article too.
Keep track of these changes and add to them as the weeks progress. Imagine that you are a historian and that this document will become part of the historical record of this time.

Below are two examples:
19 March 2020 :
Day 1 I spent the morning trying to figure out how to plan out the next few weeks for my students. I drove to the grocery store and when I saw that every spot in the lot was taken, I turned back around. I took my dog for a long walk, cleaned my entire house and watched a few episodes of The Office.

20 March 2020
Day 2 I am practicing social distancing so I ordered a few things off of Amazon. It is beginning to hit me how bad this is since Amazon Prime usually takes two days and my items are not expected to be here until Wednesday. I found out a good friend of mine has had to postpone/cancel her wedding shower due to the venue closing. I am very sad for her since she has been planning her wedding for two years.