Important Updates for Next Week!

Friday, September 18, 2020

Happy Friday!! We had a great week of virtual learning. I have a few important things to tell you about next week:

Here is the schedule/weekly plan for next week:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iw7gABCJlQ370kkrzl4wge8BCXf1vVle_LEPnHiW2tQ/edit?usp=sharing

  1. NWEA testing and DRA reading assessments will be starting in these new few upcoming weeks. 4th grade has decided to do all the testing virtually, unless there is a need to do testing in person on a one-to-one basis. Our plan is to start with NWEA Reading next week Tuesday and Thursday. We will be doing the test from 2:10-3:10 with a break in between. I will keep you updated on how it will look and give you more details as we get closer!
  2. Another important change on our schedule is Writing. In the afternoon, we usually do some whole group writing together and then students work independently. We do this from 1:20-1:55. We are still having writing during this time. However, some of the lessons will be live and some of them are going to be recorded lessons that students watch and complete on their own time. The recorded lessons will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:20-1:55. I will let students know ahead of time what to do (the recorded links will be on my Schoology page in the Benchmark course) So on those days, I may not see students “live” very often until the end of day check in at 3:30.
  3. Since testing is starting, the afternoons are going to look a little different for students. During independent time (1:55-3:40), I am usually there and available on Zoom for students to work and come ask me questions. On days that I am pulling groups or I am doing testing, I will not be available for students on Zoom. They will be doing their list of independent activities on their own and we will still check in at 3:40 at the end of the day as a whole class together.

Next week’s schedule has a mixture of seeing me in the afternoon sometimes and then working independently others times. We are trying to help 4th grade transition so that their “independent time” is more of them completing things on their own. Make sure to refer to the student checklist I send out and have on Schoology for students to ensure they are completing their independent tasks.

The last thing I wanted to tell you is that something has happened to my Zearn account, which is no longer letting me login! I have tried everything and even had the IT department take a look. The students can still access it, but I cannot go look at their progress. Therefore, I had to make a whole new Zearn account. I apologize for this inconvenience- this has never happened before and I have used Zearn for a few years now! So unfortunately, students will have to get new login names and a class code. I will start them where we should be in math, so they are not repeating too many lessons. I will email you their new logins and also send them their logins on Schoology.

I still have not heard word yet of parents being able to access Schoology, so please feel free to message me on Schoology under your child’s account for the time being or send me an email! I will be sending you the student checklist Sunday along with Zearn usernames. Have a great weekend!

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