The PSAT practices have looked at subordinating conjunctions and coordinating conjunctions. The differences between them is important. Review the lists of both types of conjunctions in previous preps before you begin prep 10 in Google Classroom. Remember to continue reading and keeping up logs. Also, once a week students are being invited to participate remotely in classroom activities by classes. Emails announcing the time and the class are being sent the day before the class is to meet. To enter into the classroom, you will need to log in to your school account (Dearborn Public Schools); enter https://meet.google.com in a web browser; and enter the meeting name.
The last PSAT Practices have focused on sentences with subordinate clauses. Today, the focus is on sentences with independent clauses. Go to Google Classroom to complete today’s lesson. Also, do not forget to read and complete the log.
Today, you will review last week’s important lesson on recognizing sentences with subordinate clauses. On Friday, the lesson reviewed sentences with subordinate clauses beginning with a relative pronoun; today, the lesson reviews sentences with subordinate clauses beginning with a subordinating conjunction. If you have not completed Practices 1 through 7, you should begin at the beginning because the lessons build on previous ones. The PSAT Practices are in Google Classroom. Additionally, remember to read and complete the logs.
The Pantry provides healthy, nutritious food for 300 families. They receive 30 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, as well as healthy recipes with nutritional advice. Supplies on Tuesday will be distributed at Hanini Outreach Center, 4045 Maple, Dearborn, Michigan 48126.
There have been many discussions and questions regarding online homework and whether it counts. Not trying to sound like an attorney – or the grumpy teenager you may be stuck at home with for weeks on end – but the answer depends on how you define “count.”
The confusion comes because for many years our district has offered several programs and classes that have actively been using on-line learning as a regular part of the class. So, to now hear that work being done on-line will not count is very unsettling. Most likely, if your child is enrolled in one of these programs or classes that has been doing on-line learning as a regular part of the class, when we return to our regular schedule the assignments done on-line will remain a part of a final grade as they have been in the past. Of course, it is always best to address any specific questions directly with your child’s teacher.
Right now, thousands of students and hundreds of teachers are providing all types of on-line learning opportunities at all grade levels. Much of this distance learning is a new endeavor for both students and teachers. There has been a tremendous effort by our staff who have gone above and beyond to stay connected with their students. The photos, videos, e-mails, and texts have been pouring in sharing this incredible effort and thanking our teachers for all they are doing. However, the question remains, does it count for the state, for the district?
To paraphrase the Magic 8 Ball – “Reply hazy. Try again later.” The Governor has said online learning can “count” as a grade or toward meeting graduation requirements. The Michigan Department of Education issued a statement that said online learning does not currently count toward meeting the instructional time required to avoid extending the school year. At some point, the Michigan Legislature will probably weigh in as well.
I have been talking directly with State Superintendent Rice and he has asked me to be part of a committee of superintendents from across the state. We have met virtually to provide him with direct feedback that will assist him and his team in developing recommendations that are reasonable and practical solutions for all districts in Michigan. He too understands that parents, students, and teachers are waiting for these answers but given the very fluid nature of this situation a final answer may still be a few weeks away.
At this time we don’t know what the outcome will be, but perhaps one solution that could be considered under this extraordinary circumstance would be that online learning would count as long as districts showed some proof that students were learning. In that, or several other scenarios, showing students were learning online could be important for funding and scheduling in the District. Bottom line, if your teacher says it is due, then please complete the work.
Admittedly, the district has been hedging what it says about whether online learning counts because like everyone else, we need to wait and see how long the closure lasts and what direction we will get from the state. There is also a fine balance between what we know is common behavior and some very real legal concerns. On one side of the scale we know if we say it does not “count,” then a lot of our students and parents just won’t do it. After all, we are supposed to eat our vegetables, exercise and floss every day, but does everyone really do that? On the other side of the scale if we say it does count there could be legal ramifications. For those students who may not have access to the internet, a device at home to work on, or who may require specialized services making on-line work a “requirement” could be a violation of their civil rights and a legal issue for schools. The U.S. Department of Education has issued a statement indicating some flexibility in these laws so again, we must wait for final direction.
Rather than asking if all this work will count toward a grade or class time perhaps the more important question to be asking is does all this on-line learning count in helping to make your child a better student? Absolutely yes!
Any learning, reading, growing, exploring and critical thinking helps your child learn and learn how to learn. We know children lose knowledge over the summer break when many do not do anything academic for two months. How much more will students learn by adding another month off – another month when instead of moving forward – they may slide backward? If that happened, would students need to start next year at the same place they started this year? Those are questions we hope we don’t have to ask when school reopens, so we are doing what we can to help students now. We know that parents want the best for their children, and all that parents do to ensure their children learn makes a big difference not only now, but for the future.
And for us, as a Dearborn Public Schools community, any learning counts. It counts whether it is a teacher in a classroom focused on required material or if a student is working more independently at home on enrichment activities. It counts because it impacts the future success of our students, which is the most important measure there is. Hopefully, that is the most important measure for our families as well.
During the mandated shut down, all school playgrounds and athletic fields are closed to the public. If you are found on the property, you will be asked to leave.
Today, you have a PSAT-like question that will challenge your understanding of yesterday’s lesson on subordinating clauses beginning with a relative pronoun. Remember that the PSAT is a timed test and that you will have less than sixty seconds to answer the language questions. Being able to identity the type of sentence you are being tested on and the correct way to write it will greatly improve your chances of coming to the correct answer. Before attempting to answer today’s question, you might review yesterday’s lesson so you have a clear understanding of how to approach this type of question. Also, remember to keep completing the reading logs.
If you are a parent in need of help, please contact the Lowrey Middle School Social Worker at 313-827-7607 or through Google by completing this request form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UpTMpiwf7t-5SVkBm68RLuMQbgc5YlPJrNqjLBUcPhQ/edit
Dearborn Public Schools is offering free pickup lunch and
breakfast for students while school is closed for the mandatory shut down over
the next few weeks.
Families
will be able to stop in and pick up a bag with both breakfast and lunch for
each child in the family. Pickups will run Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon at Fordson, Edsel Ford,
Dearborn high school, McCollough-Unis, Salina Intermediate,
and Woodworth Middle School.
Mondays, students will receive breakfast and lunch for Monday
and Tuesday.
Wednesdays, students will receive breakfast and lunch for
Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Fridays, students will receive breakfast and lunch for Friday
Saturday and Sunday.
Yesterday, the focus was on one aspect of recognizing sentences: how do you know a group of related words with a subject and verb is still not a sentence? It is not a sentence when it begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun and is not connected to an independent clause. Today, the focus is on the latter, the relative pronoun. Go to Google Classroom to complete today’s PSAT prep. If you have not been following this blog, today’s exercise is number six. The exercises are related, so begin with the first. Also, do not forget to read for at least forty minutes and to record your effort in a log.
