The Middle Update 11/25/2020

This Thanksgiving season, I want to express my gratitude for all of you.  I hope you are able to truly take some time and enjoy your family and a few days off.  My family will be experiencing our first Thanksgiving in a place other than Price County...we'll be staying home and not with our extended families...it's certainly sad if you dwell on it, but we've found some new opportunities to be excited about.  However, you choose to do your Thanksgiving, please understand the guidelines and do your part to get us closer to the end of this period with all of us and our families safe and healthy.

Resource of the Week

Google Classroom has become a critical part of our instructional practices this school year.  Despite the common platform, there is a variety of ways in which a teacher could use to set up the Classroom.  In my position, I've been able to see all of the different ways our teachers have set it up.  There are a few layouts that stand out in terms of "ease of use" for students to navigate.  Now is just as good of a time as any to take a look at some effective ways to set up your Google Classroom to make it as "user-friendly" as possible.  Our post this week highlights what makes a solid "user-friendly" Classroom, and gives a few examples of how a couple teachers utilize this platform.  In our current reality, we've had the opportunity for our colleagues to experience how each Classroom is set up...it's a good time to ask each other for feedback...focusing on the "user-friendly" aspect of how your Google Classroom is set up.  Seeking feedback and actively looking to improve is a sign of strength and wisdom.

Credit to Mrs. Morrissey for the following post:

Revisit Your Google Classroom Practices

Now is a great time to review and consider possible changes to your Google Classroom as we transition to virtual learning for a longer period of time. Looking at your classroom from a student or caregiver’s perspective allows you to see areas where you might be able to make it more user-friendly. Here are some examples and tips to consider as you review your own Google Classroom: 

Tip #1: Create or re-share a video showing how to navigate in your Google Classroom

Creating a brief video or re-sharing it (if you already made one) is a great way to remind parents, caregivers, and students how to access their work in Google Classroom. While your students may know, they now might have other adults helping them while they are virtual.   

In your video, consider sharing these key pieces of information: 

• How to find and access classwork

• How topics are setup/organized 

• How to see missing work 

• How to see upcoming work

Tip #2: Reconsider how you are using topics: Clear and Organized Helps Students Stay That Way Too

The more you work in Google Classroom, you begin to think about how you can better organize your assignments and work. Using consistent topics is key to helping students stay organized! Here are some thoughts and examples from colleagues as to how they have their work organized.  

Julie shares her organization setup: “I set mine up with a category for each week with an assignment posting each day. Since kids get multiple assignments from each subject, I make sure to put ELA in the title of each assignment, along with the date. I do have other categories for things that we use throughout the quarter, such as the metalog progress tracking and links categories. I have also tried using the feature where it lets you send assignments to certain students to send differentiated work to students.” 

Another way is to organize by units. Here, Stephanie shares how her Google Classroom is designed: “I organize my work in Google Classroom by Chapter for math. I also have the students work on IXL skills monthly so there is a topic where they access their monthly IXL skill assignment. I have a topic for math games that students can play if they finish work as well as a topic for math resources and links such as access to the class flipgrid, schedules, etc.” 

 

Tip #3: Be consistent: Routines Help Students Stay Organized

 

Reflect on how you are sharing information in Google Classroom with your students. Are you consistently sharing assignments/ work at the same time and same day of the week? For example, every Monday share the weekly slideshow and have students turn it in on Friday. Having consistency with assigning work and their deadlines help families or caregivers, as well as students, stay on top of what they need to accomplish.  

 

Here is an example of how Stephanie keeps assignments consistent for her students: “For my Google Classroom Assignments: “I organize them by day and date and have all of the directions outlined on a google document with links to the different work. “

  

 

 

Stephanie continues, “I have been including the textbook pages in my assignments and have students do their work in their math notebooks and then paste a picture of their work in the outlined box on the google doc. I feel that this organization works well for students and it is easy for me to see who is turning in and completing their daily work.” 

 

Tip #4: Consider the Workload: Remember That Students Have More than One Class

It is easy to forget that we are not the only teacher/course a student has. As you review your Google Classroom, think about the number of assignments students are getting and consider these questions: 

• Which of these assignments can be done during virtual class work time? 

• Which of these assignments are “homework”? 

• Could some of these assignments be done instead through discussions in breakout rooms or small group sessions? 

• Could some of these assignments be modified/changed to limit student workload? Less problems? A paragraph rather than a full paper? An exit slip reflection? 

• Could the number of assignments be decreased by creating a weekly document? 

Reflecting on these questions and making modifications based on these can help students find more success. 

It’s important to remember that your Google Classroom is primarily for your students and their caregivers. Thinking about it from their perspective helps to ensure that your students can complete their work and find success in your class.  

Want to get more ideas about Google Classroom setup? Here is a brief video tutorial: How To Organize Your Google Classroom: Easy Tutorial.  

Please let Anna or Katie know if you would like support with your Google Classroom. We are always happy to help! 

Safety Drill for December

In December, our Safety Drill will focus on our Lock-down procedures.  We would use a lock-down in the event a dangerous person enters our building.  Instead of physically having students huddle together with lights off and out-of-sight, we will execute a cognitive drill.  An outline of discussion points and how to lead this cognitive drill will be shared soon, along with the specific date after we return from our virtual learning experience.

Transitioning from Remote to In-Person Learning

At this time, we are scheduled for one more week of remote learning.  We plan to be back in-person on Monday, December 7th.  While we are in a remote-learning period, please keep in mind the following:

     -Students and their families should be reporting any illness or "close contact" to the office, just as if school is in session.  If, during meetings with students, you hear or notice any illness or hear of a positive test or quarantine order, please let Robin or myself know right away.

     -We continue efforts to provide extra support to some of our students that are in need.  At the end of this past week, we built in more opportunities for more students to receive extra support from adults at school.  We'll continue to look for ways we can support all of our kids.

     -While in the building, it's important to continue to adhere to the mitigation plan.  It's easy to become comfortable with each other, but that comfort and letting your guard down is precisely how the virus has spread in many situations, including the school setting.  Masks at all times, if you choose to eat with a colleague, please do so while sitting across the room from each other, and avoid riding in a vehicle together...if you must, both should be wearing a mask. 

Have a Great Thanksgiving Holiday!  I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with all of you!

The Middle Update 11/20/2020

I want to start this post by saying thank you again for the flexibility and positivity during this past week.  Making an adjustment in lesson plans in the middle of the week and transitioning to teaching all of the students online is not an easy task.  Through these uncertain times, your ability to adapt and persevere when things are uncertain and challenging has been a model for students.  Our kids have had the opportunity to see up front how adults react to stressful situations, and I'm happy they are learning from true professionals.  Thank you for your efforts and pulling off solid learning experiences for our students!

Resource of the Week

The article this week provides some insight from a fellow teacher about effective assessment strategies in a remote learning situation.  

"4 Assessment Strategies for Distance and Hybrid Learning" - Kyleen Gray

Virtual Learner Expectations

In our staff meeting time a few weeks ago, we discussed the importance of setting up Virtual Learner Expectations with your groups of students.  Mrs. Wagner shared the expectations that her class came up with.  Simple, straight-forward, student driven are indicators of expectations that work well.

Keeping School Open During a Pandemic...

We have worked hard as a school district to understand what the leading health experts have recommended to open schools safely for students and staff, and have put in place those safety measures.  Part of those recommendations require the close monitoring of student/staff health and symptoms, and keeping people that have symptoms out of school.  Like we have seen this past week, we have acted cautiously when there has appeared to be an increase in the number of students/staff with multiple symptoms or in the event of a positive COVID case.  We are one of the first groups contacted if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID, and in those instances contact tracing and quarantine precautions are implemented quickly.  

Over the course of the first 12 weeks of school, the virus and its impact on schools has been studied extensively.  We continue to review not only our local situation, but also what is happening in our neighboring school districts, as well as school districts across the country.  Below are a couple of links to recent releases, research, or articles on the topic from non-biased sources.  A couple of opinion articles published this week in the New York Post and Washington Times are also interesting reads on the topic.

State of Michigan Order (11/15/20)

Brown University Study (11/16/20) 

NPR's analysis on Schools in Europe (11/13/20)

NPR on New York City's Latest Decision on Schools (11/18/20)

School Safety

Even during this unusual school year, we are still responsible for executing our safety drills.  One of the next safety drills that we will conduct will be our lock-down drill.  This year, we will not ask teachers to close the door, turn off the lights, and have students shelter in place.  In its place, we'll ask teachers to conduct a cognitive drill with your students.  We'll provide the talking points again, but the purpose would be to discuss what to do in a situation in which a dangerous person may enter the school.  More details including a guide to this discussion & day/time will be provided soon.

The Middle Update 11/13/2020

As we near the middle of November, I wanted to share a few of statistics taken from our Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted last year.  Did you know that...

In the middle school, students that identified as food insecure were less likely to feel like they belonged (45% insecure versus 73% secure), more likely to report bullying (53% insecure versus 28% secure), less likely to say they have a teacher to talk to (50% insecure versus 83% secure) and more likely to report mental health concerns (82% insecure versus 42% secure).  

What questions or wonders do you have after reading this data?

We plan to give out a school climate survey soon to gather data to see how changes that have been in place this year may compare to previous year's data...more planning and information to come on this topic, and how we'll use that information to inform future school planning.

Resource of the Week

The article this week has so many good nuggets about effective remote teaching strategies.  From highlighting the effective parts of the workshop model (mini-lesson, independent work/conferring, reflective closure) to being equitable in our practices to fostering independence in our learners, this article provides it all.  As we continue our efforts, we'll continue to analyze our practices and breakdown the specific strategies that we need to use to be most effective with our students.

"Using the Workshop Model to Foster Independence" - Paul Emerich France

Preparing for an Extended Remote Learning Situation

We have worked throughout the first 11 weeks of school to have a plan put in place where we can transition seamlessly from an in-person model to a remote learning experience.  After much collaboration and effort from all of you, I believe we are prepared.  In our staff meeting on Monday, we briefly discussed staff expectations for an extended learning situation.  This DOCUMENT details the staff expectations.  At this time, please be thinking about what your situation will look like, in terms of time spent in the building.  If this determination is made, I will send out a Google Form to collect information about each staff member's specific plan.

Our goals are as follows:

• Provide high quality instruction to all students in a remote/virtual format

• Provide some flexibility to teachers, students, and families in order to respond to the pandemic.

Appreciation

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm interested in learning your ideas of ways that students can continue to express gratitude towards others.  I don't think we can do enough of these types of activities with our kids...if students can start to develop an appreciation of the little things that the people around them do, the better able they will be at demonstrating empathy.  Routinely expressing gratitude has also been proven to improve mental health and self-image. 

An idea that Ms. Hecht shared that we will execute is having our students send a Holiday Card to troops overseas.  You'll notice a stack of holiday cards in your mailbox.  There is one in there for every student in your Homeroom.  We will be sending the cards out through a group that sends cards to our service members that don't get a lot of mail...a simple act like this can be huge for them.  Please have your student fill out a card and express gratitude for someone who is actively working in service to our country.  The student should address the card..."Dear Soldier,"  We'll also have a manilla envelope for you to place the cards from your homeroom inside.  When all of the cards are complete, you can bring them down to the office, and we'll get them mailed to the appropriate place.  

What are some other ways we can show students the power of sharing appreciation with others?

Art/Spanish/Technology Classes

For the following electives (Art, Spanish, Technology) in 5th, 6th and 7th grades, we will run those classes by trimester.  At the trimester, which ends November 24th, the following electives will switch: 5th - Art, 6th - Coding, 7th - Spanish.  The 2nd trimester will end on March 5th.  Then, it'll be 5th - Coding, 6th - Spanish, and 7th - Art.

Images from the Week

The Middle Update 11/8/2020

 A shorter blog post this week as we'll be meeting as a staff on Monday morning.

We'll plan to meet virtually on Monday morning at 8:00.  Please use your calendar link or the following link to join:  meet.google.com/xvp-yvaj-cry

I'm looking forward to our time together on Monday.  

Resource of the Week

Another resource that shares some more strategies that could help enhance the remote learning experience for both students and teachers.  

"Tools and Tricks for Engaging Learners Remotely"

1st Quarter Report Cards

We printed report cards on Thursday and have been in the process of mailing them home ever since.  If they haven't arrived in the mail boxes of our students yet, they'll be there early this week.  We'll plan to review report cards in Homeroom again this week, and set some goals for next quarter.

Fire Drills

We'll be conducting another round of fire drills on Thursday of this week.  We'll be using the same "Flight" system that we did in September.  We'll be starting the fire drills at 8:45 am this time.  So, please mark your calendars for this Thursday (11/12) starting at 8:45.

Images of the Week