Monthly Archives: April 2020

Co-op Update — End of Year Conferences

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I miss you all tremendously, but I’m excited to connect for student-led End of Year Conferences during the week of May 11th.   Obviously the format is going to be different this year, so I thank you for your patience through this process.
A few notes:
1) Please sign-up for conferences at this link.  I tried to schedule a variety of times to meet different schedule needs.

2) Here is the format for conferences.  This link contains the “to-do” list that students need to have ready for the conference.
3) Here is the Google Meet link for conferences.
4) Conferences will be about 12-15 minutes long.  I’m using ONE Google Meet room for all conferences.  So I ask for your help in showing up on time for the conference.  Please make every effort not to be early or late.
5) Students — if you need any help preparing for your conference, please reach out to me.  I’m happy to hop on Google Meets to connect.
Thank you for all your hard work in advance!
Best, -JF

8th Grade Seminar Update — Weeks of 4/27 and 5/4

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The big focus this week will be 8th grade goodbyes.  We’ll also be writing thank-yous and finishing TKAM on Thursday, May 7th.  Here’s the complete schedule, including due dates in fushsia.
MONDAY 4/27 —  8th Grade Seminar Daily Optional Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 24
TUESDAY 4/28
10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1:  Google Meet Link.
10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Optional Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 25
WEDNESDAY 4/29 at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Optional Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 26
THURSDAY 4/30
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Optional Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 27
 
FRIDAY 5/1
9am —HOMEWORK DUE: 8th Grade Goodbyes due to Closure Padlet.  Task Description Link
MONDAY 5/4 —  8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 28
TUESDAY 5/5
10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1:  Google Meet Link.
10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 29
WEDNESDAY 5/6 at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 30
9pm:  HOMEWORK: Email two thank you notes.  Task Description Link
THURSDAY 5/7
9am — HOMEWORK (Home Learning Survey #5 Due) 
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 31 (The Final One!)
 
Again, I have no official office hours, but I’m basically available nearly anytime for kids.   Always happy to hop onto a google meet meeting to talk about TKAM or about life or about high school or whatever… just email me.
 
Thank you!!!  -JF

Plants and Zombies Update — Weeks of 4/27 and 5/4

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It’s POL Time!  Crazy to think — but integrated class wraps up in two weeks.  Please note the special class time on Wednesday, May 6th.

For obvious reasons, this POL this Spring is going to look very different.  Full details are in the POL task description   I’m excited to convene LIVE all together to share and present our learning from the semester on Wednesday, May 6th.  Assignments Due in Green.
  • Friday, April 24th:  Ecology Game Due (See Step 11 on Game Task Description)
  • Monday, April 27th at 11:30am-11:50am:  Google Meet.  I’ll be introducing POLs during class.
  • Monday, May 4th at 11:30am-11:50am:  Google Meet (Optional) I’ll be online and I’ll walk through semester rubrics, but no new material will be introduced.
  • Wednesday, May 6th at 2pm-3:30pm: (NOTE SPECIAL DATE/TIME)  Google Meet.  Live POL.   Class is Required.  This will be our final class.  Students will be delivering POLs and we’ll have a few end of semester festivities.
  • Thursday, May 7th at 9am:  Semester Rubrics due via Google Classroom.   Last day to turn in any assignments from the semester.
I am always available to hop on Google Meets and answer questions or just hang out.  Thank you for all your continued support.  I miss you all!

Plants and Zombies Update — Weeks of 4/13 and 4/20

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We’ll be introducing an ecology game project in class this week.  Included in this task description is a day-by-day flow of student’s game design.   The FINAL game is due in two weeks on Thursday, April 23rd.
 Here is the upcoming schedule: Due dates are in red. (Note — There WILL be class on 4/20. Ms. Daerr will have an update about this soon.)
  • Monday, April 13th 
  • Tuesday, April 14th: POL Survey due (should take 60 seconds)
  • Wednesday, April 15th:  Completely OPTIONAL show at the CU Planetarium.  If you have any interest in Astronomy, the planetarium is doing “dome to home” shows every Wednesday for 6th-12th graders at 11am.  The first one is on “patterns in the Solar Systems” on 4/15.  Here’s the link.
  • Monday, April 20th: Google Meets at this link at 11:30am.  Students should be on step 7 of the Ecology Game Design by this day.
  • Thursday, April 23rd:  Ecology Game Email due to me with the following:
    • Picture of you and your family member playing your game.
    • A paragraph or two summary that includes
      • An overview of your game.
      • How it went to play your game.
  • Monday, April 27th: Google Meets at this link at 11:30am.  We’ll be introducing POLs.
 
Students — if you have any questions (or even if you don’t), feel free to reach out via email.  I’m always available for a quick google meet.
Thank you for all your support and for your AMAZING students.
Best,   -JF

8th Grade Seminar Update — weeks of 4/13 and 4/20

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Hi 8th Graders and Families!
The schedule will look very similar week-to-week.  I’m trying to keep the routine consistent for everyone.   We’ll finally be getting to the Trial in TKAM and learning about the Scottsboro Boys as well.
A few notes:
1) There WILL be class on Monday, April 20th.  Ms. Daerr will send an email with more details.
2) I have no official office hours, but I’m basically available nearly anytime for kids.   Always happy to hop onto a google meet meeting to talk about TKAM or about life or about high school or whatever… just email me.
3) Again, all guided read-alouds are optional, but encouraged.
4) Here is the schedule for the next couple of weeks fyi…
MONDAY 4/13 —  8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 17
TUESDAY 4/14
10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1:  Google Meet Link.
10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 18
WEDNESDAY 4/15 at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 19
THURSDAY 4/16
9am — HOMEWORK (Home Learning Survey #3  Due)
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 20
 
MONDAY 4/20 —  8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 21
TUESDAY 4/21
10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1:  Google Meet Link.
10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 22
WEDNESDAY 4/22 at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 23
THURSDAY 4/23
9am — HOMEWORK (Home Learning Survey #4  Due) — This assignment will be available on Google Classroom on 4/20.
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 24
Thank you for all your support!   -Josh Feiger
 
Ps.  If students want an OPTIONAL extension, here is a TKAM Character Map project they are welcome to complete.

Co-op Update — April…?

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In an effort to streamline communications, I may not be sending out weekly updates for Co-op going forward.  I will try and communicate as decisions are made and we learn more.  In the meantime, here is what you should know:
1) Co-op will continue to meet every every Monday at 11am.  It’s the same Co-op Google Meet link every week.
2) I am almost always available to connect about anything.  Super easy to hop on a quick google meet to connect as needed with students.  Just email me.
3) I really miss you all!
4) No decisions have been finalized yet as far as portfolios, end-of-year conferences, 8th grade continuation, etc.  BVSD has to make their call about return in May (unlikely) and then we can develop our plan.  I will let you know either through a direct email or a special edition of the CHOICE Weekly as soon as we have finalized our plan going forward.
5) Community Service should still be happening!  — Home Service Learning Ideas.  All students should be doing AT LEAST one hour of community service each week (even if they have met their allotment for 2019-2020 already).   I’ll be asking students about this during our “check-in” during co-op on Monday.
Thank you for all your support.  Please reach out if I can be of any assistance.
Best, -JF

8th Grade Seminar Update — Week of 4/6

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Here’s the plan for next week.  Again, all guided read-alouds are optional, but encouraged.  I hope they have been helpful so far!

MONDAY 4/6 —  8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 13

TUESDAY —  I’ll be teaching about the connection between eugenics and TKAM during class.

10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1:  Google Meet Link.

10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link

Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 14

WEDNESDAY at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 15

THURSDAY

9am — HOMEWORK (Home Learning Survey #2  Due)

Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud:  Google Meet Link.  Chapter 16

FRIDAY — We do not meet, but I am always available for extra help if needed — just email.  Always happy to hop onto a google meet meeting as well.

 
I miss you!!!  Best, -JF

Plants and Zombies — Week of 4/6

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Students will be creating 3D Models of their LTP Future Organisms this week.  Here is the Task Description
Upcoming dates:
I’m always available for a quick google meet as needed or just to check-in.  Students are welcome to reach out via email.
Sending everyone lots of good wishes!  Thank you for all your support and for your AMAZING students.
Best,   -JF
Ps.  If you are looking for additional life science extension projects to do at home, there are a bunch of ideas located here.

8th Grade Seminar — Quick Update 4/1/20

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Hi Excellent Eighth Graders,

Just a quick update…. tomorrow (Thursday), we’ll be reading/annotating chapter 12 at noon.  As it is our first significant introduction to the African-American community in Maycomb, I would like you to either handwrite or copy this chart digitally prior to tomorrow’s reading. We’ll be completing the chart during our read aloud.  If you aren’t able to join us, no worries — you will want to do this independently as you read though.

Character Actions/Words –

Specific Evidence

 Significance (What do these characters express about African American Society in this story?)
Lula
Reverend Sykes
Zeebo

You all are awesome.  I so appreciate all of you.

Best, -JF

Ps.  If you haven’t turned in home learning survey #1 yet, it is due tomorrow.  (Most of you have already)

Pps.  Friendly reminder that we’ll continue read-aloud  (chapter 13 — my least favorite one!) on Monday at noon.  There will not be any noon reading sessions on Fridays.