Mrs. Rometsch’s Ninth Grade ELA Blog

Goal +1200

At Fordson High School it is the goal that every student graduate with a Lexile reading level of 1200 or higher. The best way to improve reading is to read more. This summer as we reconnect with family and friends, don’t forget to take some time to read. If you don’t already have a library card, now is the perfect time to register for one. If you already have a library card, explore the amazing digital offerings and summer programing through the public library. You may not know it, but the Fordson Library’s catalogue is available online too! You can start adding to your “to be read” stacks now and check out the books when we are back to school at the end of summer. 

Remember our school-wide goal is 1200+ by graduation. Reading at that level prepares everyone for the world after high school!  All careers require a minimum Lexile level of 1200.

In the fall, all Fordson students will take the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) to determine their Lexile level. This is an opportunity to learn about your current reading level and set personal goals to reach 1200+! At Fordson we want every student to be successful and grow as readers each year!

Library Cards

Dearborn Public Library has set up a way for residents of Dearborn/Dearborn Heights to remotely register for temporary Dearborn Public Library cards.  These cards will allow access to all Dearborn Public Library electronic materials. Instructions and highlights of available eResources are available through the following link:  https://dearbornlibrary.org/wordpress/need-a-temporary-library-card/

Plan Your Future Reading – Access the Fordson Library Online

Use this link to find books and availability at the Fordson Library: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/36526

Have you ever struggled to find your next read? 

Story Time Teen is a site with a Book Rec Generator to help match readers with a young adult book they’ll love in 60 seconds or less. It’s like having an entire library at your fingertips. And, best of all, it’s a completely free way to fall in love with reading all over again. The book lists are also curated by teens! Give it a try: https://www.storytimeteen.com/start

Here is a final note from Ms. Alcodray:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yiCOz1XWkQdg7w5LR1olibadZlx8auS-/view

https://forms.gle/DNx3eN8hcRpXsfSs5

Your final assignment for the year is posted on Google Classroom. It is an argument essay that argues for your grade. This is the only assignment you need to work on this week. You have until June 7th by midnight to submit it. Below is a video that explains everything, and which is also available on Google Classroom.

Here is a video that talks you through the assignment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nh2bnPN7_HsEdH5C-yeQSX-Ynjc6Dg7c/view

Remember, if you have missing assignments, those need to be turned in by June 10th by midnight. This is so I can put them in the gradebook on time. 

As always, if you have any questions, please email me or reach out on Remind!

This week, all of the assignments required can be found on Google Classroom:

1. Shakespeare Act 5 Scenes 1-3: 5/18-5/24. This week you are continuing with Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You need to read Act 5 Scene 1-3 and watch the youtube videos depicting Act 5 Scene 1-3. You also have a discussion question to answer.

2. CommonLit. You have a CommonLit called, “Teenage Brain is Malleable and Vulnerable.” You must read it before answering the discussion question this week. 

3. IXL. This week your focus is connecting evidence to claim which is H.5 under writing strategies. You need to complete to mastery, which is 90+ score. I have posted a video on how to find the language arts skills in Google Classroom. 

4. SSR. You are still required to be reading books on your own! You will need to read two books over the next few months and post to FlipGrid. I have posted a video on how to use FlipGrid as well. This is due June 5th.

5. iLearn. The online meeting this week will be held on iLearn. Please watch the video posted to Google Classroom so you know how to get to the meeting! Please try to attend this meeting. I will be explaining all the events of Act 5.

Please watch the “What do I need to do this week?” Video on Google Classroom. The link is here as well: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XPYVu0862hJvzZMAFJfw6WesYFhMAUyB/view. It will explain everything and show you where to find all of the work.

Email me if you have any questions or need support.

If you have items in your hallway or gym locker that you want to pick up, click on this link and fill out the form: https://forms.gle/V8YJweLi19jPGVxk7.
Complete it by this Friday, May 22! 
The scheduled “pick-up” of the items is on June 1st from 10 am-12 pm.

*If the form is not filled out, the lock will be taken off (in the gym lockers) and the items in the locker will be discarded. Thank you!

Please read the entire post.

This week, all of the assignments required can be found on Google Classroom:

1. Shakespeare Act 5 Scenes 1-3: 5/18-5/24. This week you are continuing with Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You need to read Act 5 Scene 1-3 and watch the youtube videos depicting Act 5 Scene 1-3. You do not need to have this read by the iLearn Meeting. We will be working on these scenes for two weeks. You also have a discussion question to answer.

2. CommonLit. You have a CommonLit called, “Adolescence and the Teen Brain.” You must read it before answering the discussion question this week. 

3. IXL. This week your focus is identifying strong textual evidence which is H.New! under writing strategies. You need to complete to mastery, which is 90+ score. I have posted a video on how to find the language arts skills in Google Classroom. 

4. SSR. You are still required to be reading books on your own! You will need to read two books over the next few months and post to FlipGrid. I have posted a video on how to use FlipGrid as well. This is due June 5th.

5. iLearn. The online meeting this week will be held on iLearn. Please watch the video posted to Google Classroom so you know how to get to the meeting! Please try to attend this meeting. I will be explaining all the events of Act 4, which you do not have to read.

Please watch the “What do I need to do this week?” Video on Google Classroom. The link is here as well: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tv0cAxvRpF6BiV6-GCZgKpQp6bS2qTWy/view.

It will explain everything and show you where to find all of the work.

Please email me if you have any questions or need any support.

This week, all of the assignments required can be found on Google Classroom:

1. Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 1: 5/11-5/17. This week you are continuing with Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You need to read Act 3 Scene 1 and watch the youtube videos depicting Act 3 Scene 1 (it is a series of videos). Please have Act 3 Scene 1 read by our iLearn online lesson time. You also have a discussion question to answer.

2. The Hatfield and McCoy Feud Article. Instead of a CommonLit this week, you will be reading an article about the real-life feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. You will then answer the questions in the Google Form for credit.

3. IXL. This week your focus is analyzing informational texts which is E.1, E.3, and E.5 under reading strategies. You need to complete to mastery, which is 90+ score. I have posted a video on how to find the language arts skills in Google Classroom. 

4. SSR. You are still required to be reading books on your own! You will need to read two books over the next few months and post to FlipGrid. I have posted a video on how to use FlipGrid as well. This is due June 5th.

5. iLearn. The online meeting this week will be held on iLearn. Please watch the video posted to Google Classroom so you know how to get to the meeting! It will be a normal video meeting this week. 

Please watch the “What do I need to do this week?” Video on Google Classroom. It will explain everything and show you where to find all of the work.

Let me know if you have any questions or need support.

This week, all of the assignments required can be found on Google Classroom:

1. Shakespeare Act 2 Scene 2: 5/4-5/10. This week you are continuing with Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You need to read Act 2 Scene 2 and watch the youtube videos depicting Act 2 Scene 2. Please have Act 2 Scene 2 read by our iLearn online lesson time. You also have a discussion question to answer.

2. CommonLit. Make sure you complete and answer the questions for the article, “Should we Scoff at the Idea of Love at First Sight?” There is a rubric on Google Classroom for the written response.

3. IXL. This week your focus is literary devices and analyzing literature which is C.4 and D.1 under reading strategies. You need to complete to mastery, which is 90+ score. I have posted a video on how to find the language arts skills in Google Classroom. 

4. SSR. You are still required to be reading books on your own! You will need to read two books over the next few months and post to FlipGrid. I have posted a video on how to use FlipGrid as well. This is due June 5th.

5. iLearn. The online meeting this week will be held on iLearn. Please watch the video posted to Google Classroom so you know how to get to the meeting! It will be a normal video meeting this week. 

Please watch the “What do I need to do this week?” Video on Google Classroom. It will explain everything and show you where to find all of the work.

Email me if you need any support/have questions.

Please read the entire blog post. It is important.

This week, all of the assignments required can be found in Google Classroom:

1. Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 5: 4/27-5/03. This week you are continuing with Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You need to read Act 1 Scene 5, watch the youtube playlist depicting Act 1 Scene 5. Please have Act 1 Scene 5 read by our Google Hangout time. You also have a CommonLit and an IXL to complete.

2. IXL. This week your focus is Audience, Purpose and Tone which is B1, B2, and B4 under reading strategies. You need to complete to mastery, which is 90+ score. I have posted a video on how to find the language arts skills in Google Classroom. 

3. SSR. You are still required to be reading books on your own! You will need to read two books over the next few months and post to FlipGrid. I have posted a video on how to use FlipGrid as well. 

4. Google Meet. We cannot use Google Hangouts for the remainder of the year. This week, I will post the PPT, at our specified time, and you will work through it individually at that time. The PPT will only be available to respond to during our Google Meet time. That is how you will get your credit for attending. It is interactive like last weeks’ so it will tell me if you participate.

5. iLearn. We have to make the switch to iLearn (only for online meetings), so I have provided you with an access code and a video on how to sign up for my iLearn class. Please have this done by the end of the week so that we can get started with our online classes again on May 4th. There is a “How-to” video on Google Classroom that will show you how. 

Please watch the “What do I need to do this week?” Video on Google Classroom. It will explain everything and show you where to find all of the work.

Email me know if you have any questions or need support.

April 24, 2020

Greetings,

Since our school buildings closed on Friday, March 13th there have been thousands of positive interactions between students and teachers via phone, e-mail, and on-line. This is why I am so deeply troubled and concerned about a few individuals who have taken advantage of our new school environment, made poor choices, and become disruptive to the learning process.   

These disruptions occurred at the middle school level while teachers were trying to provide instruction to students during a Google Meeting. Unfortunately, these disruptions crossed a line and became threatening and obscene. It has also been discovered that, in some cases, students willingly gave their user information and password to these individuals allowing them to gain access to the meetings.  Students are responsible to protect the confidentiality of their district issued accounts and passwords. It is a direct violation of district guidelines and protocol to share passwords with anyone and we will not tolerate those violations as we ensure the security of our network in order to protect our students.  

The behaviors that these students exhibited are not acceptable at any time but especially now, as we all deal with a worldwide crisis, the district will not permit this type of disruption to learning.  It is our responsibility to protect instruction and we will be enforcing every disciplinary action allowed by our Student Code of Conduct. For those individuals who violated the law, we will involve the Dearborn Police to issue tickets, and if needed, take further and more serious legal action.  

Although teachers and students have been safely using Google Meetings, I asked our Instructional Technology Department to temporarily suspend all student access to Google Meeting on the District network. We are also working to have staff use a platform for on-line meetings that has been used in the District for several years and is specifically developed for use in the classroom.  The software gives teachers more control over a meeting including ending if someone attempts to gain access without permission.   

I proudly started my career as a teacher and, like many of you, my wife and I are also adjusting to working at home and supporting the learning needs of one middle school and one high school aged child.  The actions that took place this week disrespects the efforts that all of you are doing to support your child’s education. As Superintendent, and as a father, I am sorry this occurred and apologize to the students who were the victims of these behaviors. 

Just as my wife and I have taken an active role in our own children’s learning and on-line activities, I ask all parents to use this experience as an opportunity to talk with your child about proper behaviors while on-line including protecting your personal information such as usernames and passwords.

Since March 16th, I have heard many encouraging stories of student learning taking place at all grade levels.  This past week has been a shift for all of us as we transitioned to the new learning plan. Of course there has been a learning curve for everyone involved including staff, students, and parents. We understand this transition to “Continue the Learning” is going to create frustrations and questions. Please know that our teachers, principals, and administrators are here to help all of our families during the weeks ahead.  Our continued goal is to be supportive during this very difficult time.  Remember, we are all in this together and together we will become an even stronger Dearborn community.   

Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives.

Regards,   

Glenn Maleyko, Ph.D.

Superintendent