Quarter 2 Homework:
As I have reflected on my teaching and effective instruction, I have decided to make some changes to my homework to better meet the needs of our students. In a world where we seem to be pushing towards digital EVERYTHING, it only makes sense to meet our students where they are. I am going to give this a shot for quarter 2 and reflect as we move forward. I hope that you and your students enjoy this as much as I think everyone will! Please contact me with any questions, concerns, comments, or technical issues (as I know this is a risk as I embark on this endeavor ;) ! ).
Weekly Homework: Reading Passage
Students will continue to receive a paper reading passage with accompanying questions each week. Students will receive their reading passage on Monday and it will be due Friday of the same week. Students should use their UNWRAP reading strategy on the reading passage each week. I tell my students that I should be able to "see" that they have UNWRAP'ed their passage. They should be breaking apart the passage and digging deeper to find the information through underlining, highlighting, and previewing the texts and questions.
U- underline (or highlight) the title and make a prediction
N- Number the Paragraphs and Notice the text features
W- Walk through the questions, underlining (or highlighting) key words
R- Read the Passage (twice), the first time for flow, the second time skimming for information pertaining to the question they are answering
A- Answer the Questions
P- Prove your Answers
U- underline (or highlight) the title and make a prediction
N- Number the Paragraphs and Notice the text features
W- Walk through the questions, underlining (or highlighting) key words
R- Read the Passage (twice), the first time for flow, the second time skimming for information pertaining to the question they are answering
A- Answer the Questions
P- Prove your Answers
Weekly Homework: Reading Response (Optional Activity)
I plan to move away from the Daily Reading Log, provided to students via paper copy. The expectation of 80 minutes of reading per week still stands, however I will not be collecting signed reading logs. This quarter, students will be utilizing their Google Classroom and Google Drive in order to complete their reading responses. Students may choose to complete their reading response activity at home any night of the week/weekend, or students may choose to complete their activity at school during any free time. In the students "Shared with Me" folder on their Google Drive, they will find a number of different Reading Response activities that they may complete. Students may complete and submit ONE activity PER WEEK that reflects their reading for the week. If a student chooses to complete a reading response activity, they will earn 5 extra Dojo Points. They may choose which activity they want to complete for the week and may complete it on any night/day that they choose. For example, Students may complete the activity on Monday, however the response should reflect their reading that has happened since their last submitted response. Below are instructions for accessing the response sheets and information on how to submit assignments.
1. Students should log in to their google drive account. Students have practiced this at school and should know how to log on at home. Username will be similar to the following: [email protected], the password SHOULD be their lunch number.
2. Click on the link below labeled "Reading Response", choose the activity that you wish to complete for the week.
3. When you open the link, you will need to click on "file" and then scroll down and click on the "Make A Copy" button to transfer the document to your own google drive. ***THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!***
4. Complete the assignment, please enter thoughtful and complete responses.
5. Once you are ready to submit, rename your file to [YOUR NAME + READING RESPONSE (RR) + WEEK OF]. example Arielle Pickrel RR Week of Oct. 24-28. You can do this by deleting and changing the file name in the top left hand corner of the screen, just click on the current title to edit.
6. Click the blue "Share" button at the top right corner of the screen and when the "Share with Others" box comes up, add my email in and press send. My email: [email protected]
Here is the Link to the Response Pages, you will need your students WCPSS Google Log on Info to access:
Daily Math Homework:
This quarter we will begin trying a modified "Flipped Classroom" model for math. In the Flipped Classroom model, much of the note taking and beginning stages of learning happen at home before the lesson. This allows us more time to practice, remediate, and enrich the skill in the classroom. Students will be bringing home their math notebooks each day and will watch a video or complete practice questions that will be posted on the Math Homework tab. The video will guide students through taking down the notes in their math spirals, telling students when to pause the video and allow themselves time to copy down the notes. This model is also helpful to parents as parents are able to watch the videos with their students and learn this "new math" that is such a foreign concept to those of us that learned the old ways! ;)