Classroom Content and Updates
I wanted to express my thanks to all my students and parents for their patience and support during this time!
I wanted to take some time to answer some of the questions you may have about e-learning:
1. Are assignments mandatory? The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued new guidance on grading during this school closure: "Student work completed during the mandated statewide school closure must not negatively impact a student’s grades or otherwise impact a student’s academic standing. As we do not yet know the full extent of the closure and want to minimize any negative effects on students, schools may allow student work to count during the closure only to increase a student’s academic standing." CPS has directed that "teachers can choose to grade and count student work completed during the closure in Aspen as long as it helps improve a students’ academic standing." We of course will adhere to these guidelines.
2. Technology & use of various platforms: Again, all assignments will be posted on Google Classroom now. I am hoping that this becomes less stressful for all. Since students have been missing their friends during this isolation period, I implemented the use of Flipgrid. It is by no means mandatory that students use it, just a social platform for them to play around with technology, answer questions, and watch videos of their peers. When questions are posted I will post a link to that grid in the Stream section of Google Classroom.
3. Math: Fractions can be a very difficult concept for some students. Making errors and experimenting with new strategies are a natural part of learning. However, if inappropriate thinking about fractions becomes established as a misconception, a barrier to progress in conceptual understanding is formed. In the coming days, with the implementation of Google Meet, I will become more aware of common misconceptions and look for evidence of them in their thinking. I will work hard to Identify misconceptions through careful observation and student-to-student discourse. We will also work hard with fractions when we return to school to bridge any gaps that students may have.
4. Science: We are working on science and hope to return to it soon. Our science curriculum is tricky to implement virtually as it contains many manipulative needed for implementation of the activities. We are working on alternative solutions. For the time being I will be assigning weekly activities in Google Classroom.
5. Virtual Teaching: As you may have heard, CPS has approved the use of Google Meet for virtual teaching. I am so excited that this was approved and ready to soon start meeting with groups of students and with the whole class to implement instruction! We are having a staff meeting on Tuesday to discuss what this will look like. Stay tuned!
Language Arts:
The Secret Garden Timeline, Assignments, and Activities:
Mood and Tone and Figurative Language: Typically students would have engaged in mood and tone lessons as well as a figurative language study prior to the novel. Below are some links to introduce them. Please watch with your children and let me know if there are any questions!
Mood and Tone Intro:
youtu.be/C3TZGZn5VwA
www.brainpop.com/english/writing/moodandtone/
Brain Pop Tips:
Username: Coonley Password: Cougar
Watch the video with your children. Stop and ask questions. Students can take an online quiz when they are through to check for understanding.
Figurative Language Intro:
Here is a power point with practice as well that I use during the Figurative Language Study. Watch with your children and review the practice portion as well to check for understanding.
drive.google.com/open?id=1tYK4fU5s13y8FPD7WXFIdyKF7EPPd8Z3
Informational:
Students are still focusing on cause and effect in informational text. I have assigned articles on Readworks. One will will appear in their assignments on Tuesday, 3/31, and another will appear on Thursday, 4/2. The suggested due date is Friday, 4/3.
Tuesday: Read assigned Cause/Effect Science Article. Complete the Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions. Remember if a question asks you to support your answer with evidence or details you must do so to get full credit.
Thursday: Read assigned Cause/Effect Science Article. Complete the Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions. Remember if a question asks you to support your answer with evidence or details you must do so to get full credit.
www.readworks.org/
Math:
I have been exploring Envision's online component this week along with all of you! After some digging I realized that the practice portion is a pdf of the same work the students have in their LIZARD math books. Therefore I rearranged and deleted some of the assignments from Google Classroom.
An Envision lesson begins with a solve and share where students are encouraged to solve the problem anyway they choose and explain their thinking, learn from their mistakes, and listen to other strategies from other students. Then their is the Visual Learning component which is a video lesson with practice and pauses to answer questions and discuss. After that the students in my class begin independent work while I work with small groups. For the time being I have assigned on Google Classroom only the Solve and Share (to do with parents or family members) and then Visual Learning piece that accompanies each lesson. Then students can work on of their books for the guided and independent practices. I have also assigned an online test at the end of the unit that students can take and submit to me.
Do one lesson a day. A suggested weekly timeline with the order of a lesson:
Monday: Topic 9 Reteach
*If above work is complete already work on your Khan Academy Mappers Pathway and/or Prodigy. 10-1 and 10-2 assignments (Solve and Shares and Visual Learning) will appear in Google Classroom on Wednesday.
Wednesday: Topic 10 Review What You Know
www.khanacademy.org/mappers
Social Studies:
This week we will be learning about the Midwest Region...the region in which we live means you know a lot about it . You will need to download and print your mini book and put it together, like we did in class with Southeast mini books. Then download and print the Midwest text and follow the schedule below and posted on my class web site to know what is expected each day. I included some videos on the timeline as well.
All the materials are in the Google Classroom assignment. I have posted the videos below here as well.
Monday: Print out and assemble the mini book. Print out the Midwest Text as well to refer to during this unit. Fill in page 1 with the states and capitals. Extra: Watch the YouTube video.
Tuesday: Read the History section of the Midwest text. Write down two questions you have about the History section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Then read the Land section of the text. Write down two questions you have about the Land section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Then choose one of those sections and draw a picture. Make sure to include labels and a caption.
Friday: Read the Resources section of the text. Write down two questions you have about the Resources section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Extra: Watch the Britannica video.
youtu.be/UCIKNX-02Gg
https://www.britannica.com/video/72885/landscapes-American-Midwest
Science:
This week students will be using the videos below and the accompanying activities to learn about electromagnetism.
Begin with the Electromagnetic Introduction.
Electromagnetic Introduction:
www.brainpop.com/science/energy/electromagneticinduction/
Electromagnetic Spectrum:
www.brainpop.com/science/energy/electromagneticspectrum/
Brain Pop Login:
Username: Coonley Password: Cougar
Other Important Information:
Newsela: Due to all the changes this week I am exploring other options for e-learning and teaching opportunities. Newsela.com is a site used throughout Coonley to bring students news articles covering all content areas at differentiated reading levels. They are allowing teachers during this time to use their pro versions which offers online assignments. I have created a class. Please go to the link below:
newsela.com/quickjoin/#/KA8ZX9
And enter the class code below to join:
KA8ZX9
Google Classroom: Google Classroom is another tool I have set up to assign work, and help students along the way. This is great resource in these times. However, I am still exploring how this works too. I have invited all the students to join so I can begin trying it as well.
I will let everyone know when there are assignments posted when there are Google Classroom and/or Newsela when I learn about the best practices for using them.
My email is kjsullivan3@cps.edu.
My personal cell phone is 773-580-5661.
Please feel free to email or text me directly with any questions or concerns. I will work on keeping this web site as up to date as possible. Take care of yourselves and wonderful children. STAY HEALTHY AND HAPPY EVERYONE!
I wanted to take some time to answer some of the questions you may have about e-learning:
1. Are assignments mandatory? The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued new guidance on grading during this school closure: "Student work completed during the mandated statewide school closure must not negatively impact a student’s grades or otherwise impact a student’s academic standing. As we do not yet know the full extent of the closure and want to minimize any negative effects on students, schools may allow student work to count during the closure only to increase a student’s academic standing." CPS has directed that "teachers can choose to grade and count student work completed during the closure in Aspen as long as it helps improve a students’ academic standing." We of course will adhere to these guidelines.
2. Technology & use of various platforms: Again, all assignments will be posted on Google Classroom now. I am hoping that this becomes less stressful for all. Since students have been missing their friends during this isolation period, I implemented the use of Flipgrid. It is by no means mandatory that students use it, just a social platform for them to play around with technology, answer questions, and watch videos of their peers. When questions are posted I will post a link to that grid in the Stream section of Google Classroom.
3. Math: Fractions can be a very difficult concept for some students. Making errors and experimenting with new strategies are a natural part of learning. However, if inappropriate thinking about fractions becomes established as a misconception, a barrier to progress in conceptual understanding is formed. In the coming days, with the implementation of Google Meet, I will become more aware of common misconceptions and look for evidence of them in their thinking. I will work hard to Identify misconceptions through careful observation and student-to-student discourse. We will also work hard with fractions when we return to school to bridge any gaps that students may have.
4. Science: We are working on science and hope to return to it soon. Our science curriculum is tricky to implement virtually as it contains many manipulative needed for implementation of the activities. We are working on alternative solutions. For the time being I will be assigning weekly activities in Google Classroom.
5. Virtual Teaching: As you may have heard, CPS has approved the use of Google Meet for virtual teaching. I am so excited that this was approved and ready to soon start meeting with groups of students and with the whole class to implement instruction! We are having a staff meeting on Tuesday to discuss what this will look like. Stay tuned!
Language Arts:
The Secret Garden Timeline, Assignments, and Activities:
- Monday, 3/30 - Friday 4/3
- Chapters 7-10
- Packet Activities
- Close Reading Activities: As you read focus on the author's tone. What tone do you think the the author intends? What words or phrases from the text make you think that? How does the setting reflect the tone?
- Chapters 7-10
- Flipgrid Discussion Questions: I will be posting weekly discussion question using Flipgid so we can all discuss the novel together and hear each others' ideas. I will post I will post questions on Chapters 1- 6 this week. How might you summarize the novel up to this point? What are some cause/effect relationships in Chapters 1-6. Check the Google Classroom stream for Flipgrid discussions.
Mood and Tone and Figurative Language: Typically students would have engaged in mood and tone lessons as well as a figurative language study prior to the novel. Below are some links to introduce them. Please watch with your children and let me know if there are any questions!
Mood and Tone Intro:
youtu.be/C3TZGZn5VwA
www.brainpop.com/english/writing/moodandtone/
Brain Pop Tips:
Username: Coonley Password: Cougar
Watch the video with your children. Stop and ask questions. Students can take an online quiz when they are through to check for understanding.
Figurative Language Intro:
Here is a power point with practice as well that I use during the Figurative Language Study. Watch with your children and review the practice portion as well to check for understanding.
drive.google.com/open?id=1tYK4fU5s13y8FPD7WXFIdyKF7EPPd8Z3
Informational:
Students are still focusing on cause and effect in informational text. I have assigned articles on Readworks. One will will appear in their assignments on Tuesday, 3/31, and another will appear on Thursday, 4/2. The suggested due date is Friday, 4/3.
Tuesday: Read assigned Cause/Effect Science Article. Complete the Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions. Remember if a question asks you to support your answer with evidence or details you must do so to get full credit.
Thursday: Read assigned Cause/Effect Science Article. Complete the Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions. Remember if a question asks you to support your answer with evidence or details you must do so to get full credit.
www.readworks.org/
Math:
I have been exploring Envision's online component this week along with all of you! After some digging I realized that the practice portion is a pdf of the same work the students have in their LIZARD math books. Therefore I rearranged and deleted some of the assignments from Google Classroom.
An Envision lesson begins with a solve and share where students are encouraged to solve the problem anyway they choose and explain their thinking, learn from their mistakes, and listen to other strategies from other students. Then their is the Visual Learning component which is a video lesson with practice and pauses to answer questions and discuss. After that the students in my class begin independent work while I work with small groups. For the time being I have assigned on Google Classroom only the Solve and Share (to do with parents or family members) and then Visual Learning piece that accompanies each lesson. Then students can work on of their books for the guided and independent practices. I have also assigned an online test at the end of the unit that students can take and submit to me.
Do one lesson a day. A suggested weekly timeline with the order of a lesson:
Monday: Topic 9 Reteach
- Complete pages 533-534
- khanacademy.org/mappers (20-30 minutes)
- Assigned through Google Classroom
*If above work is complete already work on your Khan Academy Mappers Pathway and/or Prodigy. 10-1 and 10-2 assignments (Solve and Shares and Visual Learning) will appear in Google Classroom on Wednesday.
Wednesday: Topic 10 Review What You Know
- Complete page 540
- Review Vocabulary
- khanacademy.org/mappers (20-30 minutes)
- Solve and Share
- Visual Learning
- Guided/Independent Practice pages 545-546
- Homework Pages (If student needs extra practice)
- khanacademy.org/mappers (20-30 minutes)
- Solve and Share
- Visual Learning
- Guided/Independent Practice
- Homework Pages (If student needs extra practice)
- Prodigy (20-30 minutes)
www.khanacademy.org/mappers
Social Studies:
This week we will be learning about the Midwest Region...the region in which we live means you know a lot about it . You will need to download and print your mini book and put it together, like we did in class with Southeast mini books. Then download and print the Midwest text and follow the schedule below and posted on my class web site to know what is expected each day. I included some videos on the timeline as well.
All the materials are in the Google Classroom assignment. I have posted the videos below here as well.
Monday: Print out and assemble the mini book. Print out the Midwest Text as well to refer to during this unit. Fill in page 1 with the states and capitals. Extra: Watch the YouTube video.
Tuesday: Read the History section of the Midwest text. Write down two questions you have about the History section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Then read the Land section of the text. Write down two questions you have about the Land section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Then choose one of those sections and draw a picture. Make sure to include labels and a caption.
Friday: Read the Resources section of the text. Write down two questions you have about the Resources section and three facts you learned in your mini book. Extra: Watch the Britannica video.
youtu.be/UCIKNX-02Gg
https://www.britannica.com/video/72885/landscapes-American-Midwest
Science:
This week students will be using the videos below and the accompanying activities to learn about electromagnetism.
Begin with the Electromagnetic Introduction.
- Watch Video
- Complete the Graded Quiz
- Read the Related Reading
- Optional: Graphic Organizer, Vocabulary, Worksheet, Games
- Watch Video
- Complete the Graded Quiz
- Read the Related Reading
- Optional: Graphic Organizer, Vocabulary, Worksheet, Games
Electromagnetic Introduction:
www.brainpop.com/science/energy/electromagneticinduction/
Electromagnetic Spectrum:
www.brainpop.com/science/energy/electromagneticspectrum/
Brain Pop Login:
Username: Coonley Password: Cougar
Other Important Information:
Newsela: Due to all the changes this week I am exploring other options for e-learning and teaching opportunities. Newsela.com is a site used throughout Coonley to bring students news articles covering all content areas at differentiated reading levels. They are allowing teachers during this time to use their pro versions which offers online assignments. I have created a class. Please go to the link below:
newsela.com/quickjoin/#/KA8ZX9
And enter the class code below to join:
KA8ZX9
Google Classroom: Google Classroom is another tool I have set up to assign work, and help students along the way. This is great resource in these times. However, I am still exploring how this works too. I have invited all the students to join so I can begin trying it as well.
I will let everyone know when there are assignments posted when there are Google Classroom and/or Newsela when I learn about the best practices for using them.
My email is kjsullivan3@cps.edu.
My personal cell phone is 773-580-5661.
Please feel free to email or text me directly with any questions or concerns. I will work on keeping this web site as up to date as possible. Take care of yourselves and wonderful children. STAY HEALTHY AND HAPPY EVERYONE!
