Hi All!
I left a brief message in your mailboxes today. There are some things that I'd like to get going on and you are certainly more than willing to offer feedback.
1. I'd like to hold a department meeting next Tuesday, 9/9 at 3:00 in room 305. I understand that some of you are unable to attend after school meetings. I'll post what was discussed on the blog for your feedback, and I'll also try to alternate with a morning time. I'd like to meet twice a month, if at all possible. I'd like to discuss holding the Regents exam in January, return to the portfolio idea as a cumulative assessment, and any other issues. Also, I'd like to welcome new staff!
2. I need to know what books and how many you have in your classrooms. This will help me distribute needed books and shuffle them around based on changes in scheduling. For Language! teachers, there are some books in the supply closet and in the basement. (A dark, scary place I'll go to in order to provide you with materials. Or just send Ms. Chase. Mwahahahah.) If you need any others, I'll see what I can do.
3. Summer reading assignments are available on the blog...at least a copy is. I don't know how well it will scan, but I also have hard copies in my room. Last year we used the same as the 2007 assignment, so if you have those around simply use those. Remember, these assignments are 10% of the first marking period grade. Also, how and if you choose to allow makeup assignments is up to individual teachers.
These are the pressing points for now. Certainly post any comments to the blog with any additional points you'd like to discuss or make.
Cheryl
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Hey back! Forgive my typos as there is a baby crawling on me while I type this! Anyways, I think we need to emphasize the summer reading as a department. It is important and our students should understand that. In years past I have allowed the kids to write a makeup essay/requirement based on an SSR novel from the first five weeks of school(SSR at end of every week 1 class period with reading log). What does everyone think? Good idea or not? I want them to be accountable, but still give those kids a chance who did not do the work in the summer. Thoughts?
I think that's a good idea. It will help a little bit with 1st quarter pass rates without giving students too much of a break. I'm not sure about giving them 5 weeks though. Maybe have them write about a book they read over the summer (even if it wasn't on the list) or even something from last year. I think writing about an SSR book is a great idea, but 5 weeks seems like too much of a break to me. Just my thoughts...
ok. well each year we keep saying we need to get serious about summer reading and this year there will be no excuses or they will never do it and we keep giving them makeups and they still aren't doing it. we either need to keep counting it or start making it extra credit because it is pretty much optional when they get a second chance since most of us do book reports every marking period anyways. I don't know--if one teacher says it's ok you can do something else --they won't do it for their new teacher the next year either.
Good points, all. My opinion is that you can offer a makeup assignment, maybe give them two weeks, and dock credit. So students still have the opportunity to make up the assignment but can't receive full credit. This way they are penalized in some way but not demolished.
We'll discuss it more at the meeting.
Cheryl
Post a Comment