Monthly Archives: November 2018

Co-op Update — Week of 12/3

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Not too much happening in co-op this week.  We’ll be doing some 360-led activities, working on our personal section of the portfolio (it should be done by the end of the month), and having council — last week’s was about stress and stress-management.
Other news and notes — Integrated classes end on December 7th.  Health classes commence on December 10th and continue through December 20th.  Students will be broken up by grade level for this curriculum. This year. Trasky and Lewis will teach 6th grade, Feiger and Dvorak will teach 7th grade and Rundell will teach 8th grade Health.  Please contact the relevant teacher with any questions. See this link to view the curriculum by grade level and use the form if you would like to opt your child out of any portion of the curriculum.
For those of you who are early-birds, here’s the sign-up for student-led mid-year conferences.
Thank you for all your continued support! -Josh Feiger

Courtroom Time Machine Update — Week of 12/3/18 (Final One!)

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It’s been such a terrific semester — I’m so enjoyed traveling in our courtroom time machine with your students.  (I’m really going to miss this class!).
Anyhow, it is our final week of class.  Here’s what’s happening:
Monday:  We’ll be practicing our POLs. (POL Task Description).  Last day for turning in any missing work in CTM.  Students should have their PSRs signed off.  Please check Infinite Campus for missing assignments.
Tuesday and Wednesday:  Join us for POLs.  Complete schedule is here.  Students should be in costume.
Thursday:  We’ll be wrapping up class — Reflecting through rubrics, class evaluations, and engaging in a few fun history challenges.
Friday:  It is a CHOICE tradition to have an end of class party at the conclusion of the semester.  We’ll be awarding our history champions, watching a PG “time machine” themed movie, and just having some fun. Students tend to bring in treats for this event.  Sometimes the amount of junk food can be a bit crazy, so I’m putting a few guidelines.  Thank you in advance for flexibility.  Here they are:
1) Any treats need to be homemade.  Cookies, cupcakes, and popcorn are great.  (Or anything else if people are feeling creative)
2) Drinks should be in recyclable aluminum cans.  No cups, plastic bottles, etc.  Please no caffeine.
3) I’ll have a sign-up sheet, but if it’s “one thing too many” — absolutely ok to bow out of treat-bringing.  Optional.
Semester Rubrics will be shared in co-op before the end of December.   Thank you again for all your support!  -JF

LA Update — Week of 12/3: Coffeehouse Details

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So we are all set for our coffeehouse event on Wednesday, December 12th. Thank you for all your support.  The key details:
Paul’s Coffeehouse and Tea:  956 W. Cherry in Louisville.  (East side of McCaslin)
  • Block 1 will be reading from 5pm-5:45pm.
  • Block 2 will be reading from 6pm-7pm.
The Cafe is well…  cozy.  It will be crowded and may be standing room only (especially with the cold weather on tap).  Thanks in advance for your patience and flexibility.  Students should plan on arriving 10 minutes before their class begins reading — and in the spirit of support and community, please plan on staying throughout the entire performance.  (You don’t need to stay for both performances!)
  • Every night:  Reading.
  • Tuesday:  Two copies of your coffeehouse excerpt, proofread, printed, and stapled to construction paper
  • Wednesday:  Your introduction and closing for your reading.
  • Friday:  Strong draft of your blurb for peer critique
  • Monday 12/10:  Final draft of blurb
  • Tuesday, 12/11:  Program cover design due.
Again, unless you have already communicated with me, it is the expectation that all students are attending the coffeehouse reading.  This is an important event to celebrate your student’s writing.  If your student is not attending for whatever reason, please let me know asap.  Thank you in advance.
Happy December!  -JF
Ps.  We’ll do a lot of microphone practice in class, but if your student is feeling particularly nervous — please encourage them to meet with me before or after school and we can practice together.

CTM Update — Week of 11/26

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I’m very much looking forward to our segregation scavenger hunt tomorrow.  I hope it really crystalizes some of the work we have been doing around Brown vs. Board of Education and how segregation was a big piece of our own history here in Colorado.
I know this is a bit early, but here’s a bit of what to expect after Thanksgiving break.
1) Mock Trial of Brown vs. Board of Education.  We are going to run out of time on this project a bit, but we are still planning to present our mock trial on Wednesday, November 28th at 2:45pm.  If you wish to join us here at school, you are welcome to do so. (It may be a bit rough)
2) POLs will be on December 4th and 5th.  Here is the tentative schedule    Here is the task description  You are encouraged to attend.  If you want a sneak preview, check out some of the student’s time capsule video diaries here.
3) Students need to select work from Courtroom Time Machine to include in their portfolio.  They should plan on choosing one piece and writing a reflection on that piece for their portfolio.  This was originally due on Monday the 26th.  If students can still hit that date, great.  If not, so long as they get “signed off” by Friday, December 1st — that’s fine.  Here are PSR detailed instructions.
4) I’m doing my best to keep IC up to date.  Please check that resource if there is a concern about missing assignments.
Thank you for all your wonderful support.  This class has been tremendous fun.  I can’t believe the integrated semester is going to end so soon!  (December 7th!)

LA Update — Week of 11/26

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It’s so exciting to see the stories evolve over time.  Our focus this week will be on polishing and proofreading as we finish the final drafts of our stories.  Here’s the grammar/polish protocol that we’ll be using to finalize our work.
Also, friendly reminder that our coffeehouse event at Paul’s Coffeehouse in Louisville (on Macaslin) on the evening of Wednesday, December 12th.  This evening is a really important celebration of their hard work and it’s an expectation that all students attend.  It is also a collaborative performance so if your student is unable to join us that evening (and you haven’t already let me know), please do so by Wednesday, November 29th so I can adjust accordingly.  Again, block 1 will be reading from 5pm-5:45pm and Block 2 from 6pm-7pm.
Upcoming due dates:
Every day (including Thanksgiving break):  Read 30 minutes.
Thursday, 11/29 by 9pm:  Final draft due via Google Classroom.
Thank you for all your continued support!   Best, -JF

Co-op Update — Week of 11/26

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Hopefully your student has shared their LA and Math rubrics with you.  Sometime between now and our mid-year conferences (late January), Your student should print these out and insert these into the portfolio.  Expect to see integrated rubrics just before winter break.
Here’s what else is happening:
1) We’ll be welcoming visiting 5th graders into our co-op on Friday, 11/30 and 12/14 as part of the open enrollment process.
2) We have our first athletic day on Friday, December 21st.  Students will sign up for one of three choices.  1) A day of swimming/ice-skating at the Apex Rec Center in Arvada, 2) a “Hot Chocolate” hike in Boulder, and a ski day at Loveland.  As we upped CHOICE donation fees, we are able to offer most of these activities at no additional cost.  The only expense will be lift tickets (~$40) for those who wish to ski at Loveland.  (If you already have a pass, no cost whatsoever).
3) Students will be continuing to work on their personal section.  The hope is that this section is complete before Winter Break.
4) POLs are December 4th and 5th.  Parents are encouraged to attend.
5) Integrated classes end on December 7th. Health classes will commence on December 10th and continue through December 20th.  Students will be broken up by grade level for this curriculum.  Check out the CHOICE Weekly for more details.
Thank you for all your terrific support!  -JF

LA Update — Week of 11/13

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Between the ADI on Friday and the holiday on Monday, we have just three days of LA class this week.  I hope students spoke with you about the film festival experience last Friday.  We didn’t get a chance to fully debrief it, but the film about a blind man kayaking down the Grand Canyon offered many lessons about what it truly means to overcome adversity.  It was exciting to meet the director of the film after the screening too.
In class, we’ll be learning how to “end a story” as we learn about different techniques authors use to make that final connection with their readers.
Upcoming Due dates:
Every night:  Choice reading
November 30th at 9pm:  Final draft story due via Google Classroom.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  -JF

Courtroom Time Machine Update — Week of 11/13

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Here’s what’s happening in Courtroom Time Machine.
1) We are going to start practicing for our Brown vs. Board of Education Mock Trial.  Students will be developing their arguments/overviews/speeches to prepare for our presentation.
2) Segregation Scavenger Hunt.  As part of our Brown vs. Board work, students will be visiting the African-American Research Library, History Colorado, and the Black American West Museum in Denver on Friday, November 16th.  Here is a DRAFT version of the scavenger hunt fyi…
3) Portfolio PSRs.  Students will be identifying pieces for their portfolio from Courtroom Time Machine.  Complete PSR details are here.
Upcoming due dates:
Thursday:  Students should have a draft of their Brown vs. Board writings.  We’ll be having our first mock trail at that time.
Monday, November 27th at end of class:  Portfolio PSR Signed-off. (Many students may wish to complete this prior to Thanksgiving break)
Thank you so much for all of your support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  -JF

Courtroom Time Machine Update — Week of 11/5

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Lots happening in Courtroom Time Machine.  As with all integrated classes at CHOICE, this is a “double class” — in that a year’s worth of work is happening in one semester.  Most work should be happening in class, but there will be some homework spillover as we approach the end of the course (December 7th!).

1) We have begun preparations for our Brown vs. Board of Education Mock Trial.  I am hoping this will happen on Wednesday, November 28th at 2:45pm. At the moment, students are creating concept maps in class to help research the trial.  A full task description can be found here.
2) Students are finalizing their LTP Time Machine Video Diaries.   We reviewed credits last week and these should be complete by Tuesday.
3) Students should also be working on their additional LTP artifacts for their POLs (Presentations of Learning). Our time machine travels will be presented on December 4th and 5th.  We hope you will join us for your student’s presentation.  A tentative schedule can be found here.
Upcoming due dates:
Tuesday:  Video Diary posted to Padlet
Thursday:  Brown vs. Board of Education Concept Map due
Tuesday 11/13:  Legal brief or judicial paper or historical overview complete.
Thursday 11/15:  Artifact #1 for LTP Complete.  CTM Portfolio Piece(s) should be signed off and inserted in portfolio. (This date may slip)
Friday 11/16:  ADI #3:  Students should bring a sack lunch, good walking shoes, and clothes appropriate for the weather.
Thank you so much for all your support.  Have a terrific week!  -JF

LA Update — Week of 11/5

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We’ll be tackling peer critique this week. This is one of the most important topics that we’ll address all year in LA.  If students can learn to give one another kind, helpful, and specific story critiques, they also learn to  “step outside” of themselves as editors.  This allows students to begin to see their own writing with a more critical eye.
Here’s the peer critique protocol that we’ll be using to guide our process.  We’ll be introducing this on Monday and working on it throughout the week. Upcoming due dates:
  • Every night:  Reading 30 minutes.
  • Thursday by 8:30am:  All peer critiques should be complete. Peer Critique Survey due.  (Students will have time to do this in class)
  • November 29th:  Final Draft Stories Complete
Have a great week! -JF