Hoffmann’s Big History Project
Where we are going…
The Big History class has been working on developing our ideas around the concept of Origins. We have annotated several texts around different origin stories and analyzed the differences in each and why they occurred. We are currently preparing for our Socratic Seminar next Monday. Students will participate using Today’s Meet, so we can annotate their contributions to the conversation. Please ask your student what topic they are researching and what annotations they plan on bringing to the Socratic Seminar.
Reading Expectations
Students are expected to continuously read a variety of texts during the school year. One activity we completed was the reading test. Students had one minute to read an article and to mark where they had finished when time expired. We calculated the time it would take each student to complete the remainder of the reading at that pace. We proceeded to reflect on how that can impact the time needed to complete assignments and assessments. Students quickly saw that reading rates have a huge ripple effect on potential homework loads. Through continuous and challenging reading students can work on developing their reading skills, hopefully reducing time needed in the future for completing tasks.
Infinite Campus
Much like last year, Infinite Campus will be a place for parents and students to check on their student’s progress and proficiencies. Students are asked to consistently check to ensure that everything is up to date on their accounts. One of my goals is to keep parents notified of how their student(s) are progressing. I know that navigating the many systems shared out can be time consuming and confusing. Therefore, periodically I will send out a missing work report indicating what I have received from the students in line with work. The list below shows everything that I should have from your student at this point, but that I do not. I also mark incomplete work as missing, since it needs several revisions before even falling on our continuum of proficiency. Please review this with your student and let me know if you have any cares or concerns.
On a side note, if a student submits late work, they need to contact either Mrs. Urban or myself of its completion. We will then update IC at that point. If your student feels that the list below is incorrect, please have them email with any updates. Thanks and have a great day!
Erickson’s, Oakland’s & Owens’ Literacy
Writing
Developing writing skills is an essential piece of the work students do at STEM. Literacy students have been writing a narrative realistic fiction short story. After taking time to explore short stories as readers, they have been trying to emulate the techniques that they have been studying. At this point in the writing process, students are finishing up their rough drafts. We will be moving into the revision and editing stages of writing, and looking to publish soon. Along the way, students have received whole group mini lessons as well as personalized opportunities through individualized conferences and seminars. We have been introducing parts of the rubric to students within mini lessons to create a clearer understanding of the proficiency pathways. The entire rubric is posted on Google Classroom. As the year continues, students will continue to strengthen their skills as they craft multiple narrative, informational, and argument writing pieces.
Reading Expectations
Students should continue to read at least 20 minutes per day and track the books they are reading in their reading log. Their goal is to read at least 20 books by the end of the school year. While many students enjoy reading pieces on Wattpad, we highly encourage them to seek quality literature elsewhere. Students should be interacting with complex ideas and vocabulary found within professionally published texts.
Where we are going…
The Big History class has been working on developing our ideas around the concept of Origins. We have annotated several texts around different origin stories and analyzed the differences in each and why they occurred. We are currently preparing for our Socratic Seminar next Monday. Students will participate using Today’s Meet, so we can annotate their contributions to the conversation. Please ask your student what topic they are researching and what annotations they plan on bringing to the Socratic Seminar.
Reading Expectations
Students are expected to continuously read a variety of texts during the school year. One activity we completed was the reading test. Students had one minute to read an article and to mark where they had finished when time expired. We calculated the time it would take each student to complete the remainder of the reading at that pace. We proceeded to reflect on how that can impact the time needed to complete assignments and assessments. Students quickly saw that reading rates have a huge ripple effect on potential homework loads. Through continuous and challenging reading students can work on developing their reading skills, hopefully reducing time needed in the future for completing tasks.
Infinite Campus
Much like last year, Infinite Campus will be a place for parents and students to check on their student’s progress and proficiencies. Students are asked to consistently check to ensure that everything is up to date on their accounts. One of my goals is to keep parents notified of how their student(s) are progressing. I know that navigating the many systems shared out can be time consuming and confusing. Therefore, periodically I will send out a missing work report indicating what I have received from the students in line with work. The list below shows everything that I should have from your student at this point, but that I do not. I also mark incomplete work as missing, since it needs several revisions before even falling on our continuum of proficiency. Please review this with your student and let me know if you have any cares or concerns.
On a side note, if a student submits late work, they need to contact either Mrs. Urban or myself of its completion. We will then update IC at that point. If your student feels that the list below is incorrect, please have them email with any updates. Thanks and have a great day!
Erickson’s, Oakland’s & Owens’ Literacy
Writing
Developing writing skills is an essential piece of the work students do at STEM. Literacy students have been writing a narrative realistic fiction short story. After taking time to explore short stories as readers, they have been trying to emulate the techniques that they have been studying. At this point in the writing process, students are finishing up their rough drafts. We will be moving into the revision and editing stages of writing, and looking to publish soon. Along the way, students have received whole group mini lessons as well as personalized opportunities through individualized conferences and seminars. We have been introducing parts of the rubric to students within mini lessons to create a clearer understanding of the proficiency pathways. The entire rubric is posted on Google Classroom. As the year continues, students will continue to strengthen their skills as they craft multiple narrative, informational, and argument writing pieces.
Reading Expectations
Students should continue to read at least 20 minutes per day and track the books they are reading in their reading log. Their goal is to read at least 20 books by the end of the school year. While many students enjoy reading pieces on Wattpad, we highly encourage them to seek quality literature elsewhere. Students should be interacting with complex ideas and vocabulary found within professionally published texts.
