Google Classroom

Hum Team,

Google launched their Google Classroom today for the general public that uses GAFE (Google Apps for Education). This looks like it might make our lives much easier.

If you are interested, here is the link for Google Classroom and here is (dry) video explaining its functionality. If you want to jump right in, make it happen and let's talk about the process.

For those who are more reticent, I will try it with my students and will be happy to tell you about the pros and cons so you can judge for yourself if it is worth it.

Google is advertising this as an application that will make the technology slip into the background to make teaching easier. May it be so.

RFS Protocol

We have an amazing Support Services here at MV. The volume of work they do and the quality of work they do is remarkable. When you have a chance, thank the Support Services team!

In order to facilitate the best work with them this is what Support Services has asked regarding a RFS:

As we are at the beginning of the year, if you have any requests regarding room setup, layout, or changes, please contact me and I will contact Support Services on your behalf. Support Services does not want to make any decisions about rooms.

However, if it is a question of maintenance or upkeep, feel free to submit an RFS directly.

Thanks!

Creating a Class Email List using Focus

HERE is an explanation in how to create a class email list using Focus. Hope it serves you as you set up your Drive with your students.

First Days Bumps

Hum Team, God is good and we have made it past day one! I want to be sure all is well for you.

If you have encountered any challenges yesterday or today, please let me know so I can address them.

If specifically technological, please just create an RFS.

However, if it is a facilities issue (desks, lights, bookshelves, paint, etc), please let me know by filling out this form. I will connect with Support Services to address any challenges as soon as possible.

If all is good in your room, excellent! You do not need to do a thing.

Monday Apps

Monday Apps Teaching:

• Advisory--Dig. Citizenship Video
• Period 2--Google Doc’s
• Period 3--Keynote
• Period 4--iMovie
• All ELA Teachers--Notability

"Poetic knowledge is admiration—love."

I read an article that I think does something to briefly describe a rich educational environment...something to answer the humanities nay-sayers...something to make us smile on good tradition as we start the year: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/what-is-poetic-knowledge.

So, who wants to teach some dancing classes?

Humanities Essay Grading Thoughts

I think the SAT and AP essay rubrics work well and can function as your benchmark when thinking about the basics of any written essay assignment.  But you and your students need to be on the same page before you can reap the benefits.  Consider going over a few SAT essays with them before you assign an in-class essay.  

• SAT: http://theoldthatisstrong.blogspot.com/2012/11/sat-scoring-guide.html
• AP: http://hyddeousstrength.blogspot.com/2011/09/ap-ice-rubric.html

The Bedford Grammar Breakdown for English Classes

9th

- Part 11: Grammar Basics (will probably take most of the year)

- Part 8: Mechanics

- (if you need more: Part 7: Punctuation)

10th

- Part 5: Grammatical Sentences

- Part 7: Punctuation

- (if you need more: Part 3: Clear Sentences)

11th

- Part 3: Clear Sentences

- Part 9: Critical Thinking

- (if you need more: Part 10: Researched Writing)

12th

- Part 2: Document Design

- Part 4: Word Choice

- Part 10: Researched Writing

All Years

- Section 55: Plagiarism

- Sections 57-58: MLA

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots in English This Year

Jessica DeForest (of the University of Michigan) is happy to share the fruits of her labor with our students.  Here is the breakdown of what you should plan to cover:

• Quarter 1 Prefix (28 for each grade)
• 9th: a to dis
• 10th: dominus to mortis
• 11th: nomen to vide
  
• Quarters 2-3 Root  (up to 80 for each grade...but you won't actually cover all 80, just go as far as you comfortably can)
• 9th: acer to germ
• 10th: gest to pac
  
• 11th: paleo to zo
  
• Quarter 4 Suffix (17 for each grade)
• 9th: able to escent
• 10th: ese to ist
• 11th: ite to y

#first5days

Please share some of the things you do or will do to establish firmness and kindness during your first five days of class.

Together in Ed Blog

Humanities Team,

This blog will be the venue where we can share information, ideas, best practices with one another over the course of the year.

You are an editor and can therefore publish when you have something relevant to our team.

I am looking forward to learning together!

Community Engagement

As we interact, team, learn, engage, disagree, and praise God together this year, we should agree on the parameters of our community engagement. This doc will be a record of what we agree upon. At this point we can modify it however we see fit.

What We Do Every Day Reflection

This reflection is an opportunity to take an innovatory of where we are and where we need to spend some time this year in community professional development.

The above is the winning design for the Google Doc announcement sheet.

If you have announcements you want to go out to teachers (student announcements will go out during chapel and midweek via video), please make comments in the doc. Consequently the doc will be live and always changing. However, on Monday mornings you will receive a link with The Post as a reminder to take a look at it. This will facilitate in removing announcements from Friday Meetings.