Distance Learning: How do I find my work?

Distance Learning: What to Expect Week One

Hello, everyone!

As disappointed as I am that we will not be returning to school this school year, I feel so fortunate  that I still get to connect, learn, and converse with my ELA students from the safety of our own homes using our Chromebooks and other devices. Monday, April 6 marks the official beginning of our first week of distance learning. For the last two weeks,  I have planned some engaging lessons and activities that both meet our remaining learning standards and also use the tech tools that students are familiar with using during class.

While I know that this is new for all of us, I thought it would be helpful for you to have a checklist for our first week. All assignments can be found in the Week of April 6-10, 2020 module in Google Classroom.  When students open up their Google Classroom, they need to make sure that they are logged into their TCS Google account (@tuscaloosacityschools), click on our class, and then click on “Classwork” at the top of the page. 

All assignments will be available to students Monday morning at 8:00 AM. All assignments are labeled with a due date.  Work completed through Classroom will automatically be submitted to me. 

Week of April 6-10, 2020  Distance Learning Assignments

• Cause and Effect Diagnostic Assessment (pre-test)
• Cause and Effect Practice 1
• What questions can I answer for you about Cause and Effect?
• MyOn Informational Text Graphic Organizer

In addition to those assignments above, I also have included some additional practice:

Week of April 6-10, 2020 Additional Practice

• Quizziz Cause and Effect

In Google Classroom, I will be posting a daily read aloud in the “Stream” portion of the class. Students may listen to each chapter and make comments on their thoughts, connections, and predictions.

Week of April 6-10, 2020 Read Aloud

Read Aloud - Count Me In Chapters 1-5

Furthermore, students will be able to connect with me on a daily basis. I will be available via email Monday-Friday from 1:00-2:00PM. The email address that I will be checking is jramsay@tusc.k12.al.us.  Additionally, I will have a GoogleMeet session each Tuesday from 10:55-11:25 AM for Q&A Cafe where students can ask their questions and get assistance in real time.  These GoogleMeet links will be published in Google Classroom on the “Stream” section about 10:30 AM each Tuesday. A third way that students can get assistance is by dropping a question for me directly into a comment on the Google Doc or Google Slide assignments. I will be checking this regularly.

Students, I urge you not to procrastinate on your assignments! Work a little each day so that you are fully prepared to complete your work by the due dates and times. I will be checking in with you daily to see your progress! I miss each of you very much. Stay safe and healthy!

Love,

Mrs. Ramsay, NBCT

Distance Learning: Overview of Expectations and Procedures

January 2020 Important Dates

January:
1/7 One Word Project begins

1/8 Library (bring books and charged Chromebook) 

1/10 Report Cards

1/10 Mathopoly

1/10 Club Day

1/13 One Word Presentations due (rubric)

1/14 Book Tasting

1/17 Vocabulary Quiz (dis prefix)

1/17 House Day

1/17 Pep Rally

1/20 No School- MLK Day
1/23 Last day for retakes on "Dis" vocabulary quiz

1/24 Figurative Language Assessment
1/24 Write On: "Graph" and "Gram" Vocabulary Quiz

1/24 Flipgrid Book Chat Due (rubric)

1/24 Club Day
1/27 Figurative Language foldable (with examples from book group) text due
1/31 Safe School Assembly with Attorney General

Please check back regularly as this will be updated and new dates and events arise.

Reminder: Students need to be reading every night. The goal is for every student to read at least 40 books this school year.

Updated 1/20/2020

Important Dates for November 2019

November 1- Creepy Science
November 1- Book Fair begins
November 4- Visit Book Fair
November 7- Context Clues Assessment
November 8- Clubs
November 8- Reading R&R- bring a beach towel
November 11- Veterans' Day- schools closed
November 12- Begin argumentative writing project
November 15- CSI: Hogwarts
November 15- Clubs
November 18- Chromebooks deliver to students whose parents have attended Chromebook Camp
November 21- Immigration Day
November 22- Argumentative writing project due: Urban Legend Smackdown
November 25-29- Thanksgiving Holiday

This month, we will conclude our participation in The Global Read Aloud with the book Front Desk. We will be doing a variety of activities to connect with other classes to discuss this book.

Two reminders:

1. We have free reading at the beginning of class every Tuesday and Friday. Students should arrive with a book in hand as these are designated reading times. They are encouraged to come to class every day with a book.
2. We are participating in the 40 Book Challenge. Students have reading passports in their comp book to document their completed reads.

Updated 11/13/19

Hideaway Hall of Fame 2019

Yesterday, we ankled our way down to The Blind Pig where we are learning about innovators and inventors of the 1920s and beyond. We analyzed biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs at The Blind Pig to learn about great innovators and change-makers, building on our learning in our social studies class with Ms. Williams. 

The Hideaway Hall of Fame was the bee’s knees. If we figured out the secret password, we even got a swig of giggle juice.

Thanks to all of you for your generous donations that helped make this day so special. Enjoy a few photos from our day.

P.S. The Blind Pig was inspired by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J. K. Rowling

October Important Dates

Welcome to October! Below you will find important due dates and events. Please check back regularly as these dates may change and be updated.

October 3 Final day for make-ups and retakes
October 4 First draft of our narrative project is due (Rubric). All feedback, writing, and revisions are done in students' narrative writing documents in their Google Drive ELA folder. Students can access this at home by logging in to their TCS Google account.
October 4 Front Desk comic strip due
October 7-8 Fall Break- no school
October 9 Theme and evidence from narrative due (Rubric)
October 9 Spirit Week: Wild West Wednesday
October 10 Spirit Week: School Spirit Day
October 11 Final revisions for 2nd draft of narrative project due (Rubric)
October 11 Report Cards come home
October 11 School Spirit Week- Decades Day
October 16 Final published narrative due (Rubric)
October 17 Guest Readers for the Global Read Aloud
October 18 Publishing Party
October 18 Pink Out- Wear Pink
October 23 Hideaway Hall of Fame
October 23 Parent Chromebook Camp at NMS
October 24 Guest Readers for the Global Read Aloud
October 28 Red Ribbon: Team Up Against Drugs (team wear)
October 28 Storytelling Project Due (rubric)
October 29 Red Ribbon: Wear red
October 29 Bring earbuds/headphones to class
October 29 Guest Readers for the Global Read Aloud
October 30 Throw Shade at Drug (wear sunglasses)
October 31 All Hallows Read
October 31 Red Ribbon: Say Boo to Drugs
November 1 Creepy Science
November 1 Red Ribbon: Sock it to Drugs

This month, we are participating in The Global Read Aloud with the book Front Desk. We will be doing a variety of activities to connect with other classes to discuss this book.

*Updated October 18. 2019