SabbaghELA Posts

What you need to know:

• No LA 4 assignments for the rest of the week from me (you are encouraged to take this opportunity to go back and complete any missing/incomplete assignments from the past four weeks)
• Principal Martin is hoping to unveil the District’s “plan” for remote learning on Friday
• do the work starting April 20th and you should be in good shape to earn credit for semester two
• we don’t have answers yet for all your grading questions (please be patient)

Assignment 4.2 – Remote Learning Survey – on Google Classroom – DUE: Today

Part of me wishes I had written this blog post a week ago, after Governor Whitmer’s announcement that school would not resume for the 2019-2020 school year. 

Truth be told, I was hoping/waiting to hear from Admin/Superintendent Maleyko/Michigan Department of Education about what the next steps were for remote learning… but alas, we are still waiting to hear. 

There are nine weeks remaining in the school year.  We have already gone through three weeks of remote learning.  Mathematically speaking, that’s a quarter of the way through our state-mandated school-time together. 

I have not changed my mind about whether or not the work should count.  My official statement is as follows:  I encourage each student who is able (emotionally, mentally, physically, technologically, etc.) to do so, to complete the enrichment exercises. 

And I hold that position, while at the same time, strongly agreeing with the sentiments expressed in this post:

We must think about equity in our expectations. pic.twitter.com/02ZakWFwLK

— HighFive (@HighFiveK12) April 5, 2020

As I shared with a parent last week, I am aware that many students are unable to complete the enrichment activities for a variety of reasons – and I am compassionate and understanding of that. 

I don’t know about you, but I have really been struggling these past four weeks. R.O. Kwan’s  New York Times op-ed entitled “Trouble Focusing? Not Sleeping?  You May Be Grieving” helps explain why. The whole opinion piece is full of insight into exactly what many of us are going through. 

So – in no particular order – here is an (incomplete) list of school-related things I am grieving:

1. Saying goodbye to seniors. 
   1. Superintendent Honors’ Night
   2. Prom 
   3. Graduation 
   4. Senior Parties 
2. Seeing all my students
   1. Former (11th & 12th graders)
   2. Current (10th graders)
   3. Students who were not my actual students
   4. Past (graduated) 
3. Blackout Poetry after To Kill a Mockingbird  
4. Sharing Favorite Literature 
   1. Night by Elie Wiesel 
   2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare 
   3. The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall
5. Poetry Projects 
   1. Adaptation of The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams 
   2. Adaptation of This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams 
   3. Adaptation of Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon 
6. End-of-Year Reflection 
7. Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony
8. ASAP: Film Studies 
9. Supporting students at their events 
   1. Mama Mia musical
   2. Softball/Baseball Games
   3. Track
   4. Tennis
10. The Last Day of School 

With all that being said, time keeps moving forward.  As sad as I am about grieving the things we will all miss due to this pandemic, there are just two things which truly matter

who you are as a person 

and 

how you engage the world

My advice for all of us going through this pandemic is to view life through the lens of what truly matters.  If you are proud of your comportment in both those areas, then, despite everything, you are on the right track. 

(HUGS) 

Thanks for reading. 

Mx. Sabbagh

Read Jessica Salfia’s poem “First lines of emails I’ve received while quarantining.” and respond to the questions provided on the assignment posted on Google Classroom. DUE: Tuesday

This poem is called “First lines of emails I’ve received while quarantining.” pic.twitter.com/4keCqPaO63

— Jessica Salfia, NBCT (@jessica_salfia) April 11, 2020

April 6th through April 10th is spring break for the Dearborn Public Schools. During this week students will not need to complete any on-line assignments and teachers will not be available. Students and teachers are on break starting Monday April 6th and continuing through Friday April 10.  

This is only for the week of April 6th through the 10th.   
Students will continue their distance learning on Monday, April 13, and teachers will once again be available to deliver on-line and distance learning. 
Once again, all on-line and distance learning will resume on April 13 and continue until the end of the school year.   
Please remember that we must all do our part to stop the spread of the COVID 19 virus. Please stay home, stay safe.

Friday, April 3rd – Writing Stamina Practice – Assignment on Google Classroom – DUE Today

Thursday, April 2nd – TED Talk on Nearpod (link in Google Classroom) – we are also trying something NEW today with Flipgrid (video discussion board) – DUE Today

Wednesday, April 1st – CoVid 19 Meme Analysis DUE today

Tuesday, March 31st – CoVid Meme Analysis – assignment to be completed on Google Slides – posted in Google Classroom. DUE: Wednesday, April 1st

Monday, March 30th – Day One	Maleyko’s All Learning Counts– Reading/Reflection
Tuesday, March 31st – Day Two	Co-Vid Meme Analysis – Google Classroom
Wednesday, April 1st- Day Three	Co-Vid Meme DUE
Thursday, April 2nd – Day Four	TED talk – Nearpod – SSR
Friday, April 3rd – Day Five	Writing Stamina Activity – Free-Write Friday