"Words are our most
inexhaustible source of magic."
-J.K. Rowling
We have another big week ahead. We are officially collapsing the cohorts and doubling up our Dragons. I reconfigured our classroom to make room for all and manage to maintain a generous 3’ between desks. I also secured a large table for outside our classroom - in our “backyard” as I like to call it. We’ll be well within the state recommendations in all of our team classrooms. I’m very excited to ease closer to normal after such a trying time, and, most importantly, to do so safely
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, we will take the KDS exam in lieu of official state testing. This more succinct KDS version covers our 7th grade standards in less testing time. Results will be mailed home. Like everything else in these unprecedented times, it remains to be seen what the results will show. Every 7th grade standard was taught and practiced this school year, but with reduced instructional hours and a lack (until recently for some) of face-to-face education, there is no way to predict just how much this will influence our results. I actually don’t need to see scores to be proud of this group who managed to show off their flexibility, creativity, and tenacity - even through a Zoom lens. The missed weeks of my blog are a commentary for just how crazy it was anticipating, launching, and adjusting to hybrid teaching and learning. That being said, it was well worth the effort. I love that my students are able to choose the learning environment that works best for their families in this unprecedented time. My goal has been to make both students at home and those at school feel included. It’s very important that while we are learning differently, we still feel like a single group. I think we’ve accomplished this. As our focus is poetry, last week we composed poems with two voices. I loved watching students from my on campus cohorts partner with distance learners. And while I once hated Zoom, I am now more grateful than ever for its ability to connect.
Just as we’ve seen for the last 13 months, bumps along the way should be expected. Surfing through uncertainty is not quite as daunting as it once was; it is a skill we have all honed. What is new and beautiful is the joy of returning to what we have missed. Chatter in the hallways, supportive exchanges with my teaching partners, and laughter in my classroom are all music to my ears. We’ll be wrapping up our argumentative writing unit this Friday. This week we’re presenting, “What would it make to take you care?” slides, in an effort to get our classmates passionate about the causes we care about. By putting ethos, pathos, and logos into play, it’s going to be hard not to be swayed by these ardent pleas.
Q3 closes this Friday. Check your grades immediately in each of your classes. Make sure the grade you earned is the grade that you see before report cards get mailed. The good news is that DMS is soon to be back in session! Don’t forget to submit your surveys to let us know what your plans are for Q4. Both In person and Distance Learning options are available; decide which one is right for you and your family. It’s on! We launched our Argumentative Writing unit last week. I’m sure everyone can agree that 7th graders have a natural tendency toward argument! It’s an absolute joy to teach students to back up their claims with evidence and fight for what they believe in. Ask your students what topic they have chosen to research and write about. This big-hearted group is poised and ready to champion their causes and learn that their words can make a difference.
By the way, I need our book club novels returned to Dartmouth at your earliest convenience. Just swing by campus anytime between 8:30 and 5:00pm and drop it in the box outside the office labeled, “Dragons.” Make sure to write your name, my name, and ELA class period on note tucked in the text so I can check you off the list. Thanks! Last week off was s-w-e-e-t! Hope you all enjoyed a little down-time with your families.
I finished grading our Literary Analysis work from Book Clubs over break. It was so rewarding to read everyone’s observations and original thinking about the books we enjoyed together. You students got it! Reading a book is far more about internalizing the text and making connections, than simply regurgitating the plot line in a succinct way. It’s one of the reasons I love to teach 7th grade; we make the leap early from elementary school to high school style writing and thinking. I was very proud to see my students embrace the practice and demonstrate it in their writing. Up next: Argumentative Writing We’ll be kicking off this week with the KDS test. This test is designed to evaluate students’ comprehension of 7th grade ELA standards. While still addressing all of our learning goals, this year the exam has been scaled back so that it can be completed in one class period. I’ll use the results to guide my teaching for the balance of the school year.
With our testing complete, we will close the week with an assignment to showcase creativity and enjoy a fun, collaborative activity to celebrate our book club novels. Next week is President’s Week. Students, if you're behind on your Independent Reading, take advantage of the extra time and lose yourself in a new book. Remember book club novels will not count toward Q3 Independent Reading goals, you know, because you didn't read them independently. Q3 pages and responses are due March 11th. Have a great week off! Book clubs are well underway. We’re figuring out how to divvy up tasks and set aside our self conscious worries long enough to read the text aloud. We’re helping each other and stepping back when we sense that is not what is needed. It’s not easy. But it does feel familiar and closer to normal that online school sometimes feels. Some breakout rooms buzz with off-topic chatter, some with enthusiasm, some with tension, and some with the struggle to connect. But, with the aid of technology, we are in actual groups. That alone feels like progress. Parents, you may notice a lack of grades being posted. Don’t worry, a writing assignment is on the horizon. For now it’s all about the reading. It’s such good fun to watch the plots thicken, let’s just enjoy that.
You guys are on it! I have to confess, I was a little nervous about the book club book pick-up last Wednesday. I mean over 200 Dragon students, 5 different novels, and only two hours to hand them all out. Let’s face it, it was a recipe for disaster. Except that it wasn’t. Almost as though you telepathically spaced out your arrivals, there was no back-up, no lag time, and almost no forgetting. Every one of my students now has his/her Q3 materials. I’m so grateful for everyone’s enthusiasm and support.
The best part was seeing my students. I know it was brief and masked and mega-socially distanced, but it was an utter joy. The Dragon teachers are still talking about it. This week we will read together. And students will get to talk together and think together in a way that only book clubbing together allows. Third quarter is going to rock! To kick off Q3, I've decided we need virtual book clubs. I know the kids are starved for interaction with their peers and the joyful distraction of a good book, so we're going for it!
This means you'll need to swing by campus to pick up your student's book club novel as well as other Q3 math and science materials. Just one trip this time! Plan to drive through at Dartmouth on: Wednesday, January 13th: 9:30 - 11:30am. Just pop the trunk and we'll drop in the goods. Holding up a sign with your student's first and last name will help make the line go faster and get you in and out quickly. Thank you for helping make this happen! Welcome back! Two weeks off is a beautiful thing. We want to keep this new year, post-break bliss going as long as possible. This week we will focus on a fun celebration of reading. Students will write themselves into their favorite novels and visually create the scene they imagined. At the end of the week, we’ll share our reimagined storylines. It’s possible that my ultimate plan is for students to become interested in reading a book their peers chose to jump into. A new year just calls for a new book to read.
It is also the last week of Q2. My grading is complete. Students and parents should check grades for all classes. I’d love to give partial credit for missing work - send me a very polite email and we’ll work through it together. |
AuthorBeth Fabiano - Busy 7th Grade ELA teacher, wife, mother Archives
May 2021
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