Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Time to Reflect Tuesday

Day 1 is done!   


Huge props to all of the kids and parents in Team 201 and 202 who worked hard and persisted today. We are all finding our way in this new unchartered, e-learning territory. Many very resourceful students were able to work around tech glitches to get their assignments finished and turned in. Bravo!


Here are some updates to keep you informed:

  • All assignments will be posted and accessed via Google Classroom.
  • If your child has not logged on to "Classroom," advise them to sign in with their cps email. This is the same login that students use in Ms. Kosteki's class each week.
  • Students, please check the "stream" and the "classwork" sections to find your assignments.  "Classwork" assignments are organized by subject. Click on the subject, and you will see the assignment.
  • Students, please read the instructions with care!
  • Working together and collaboration is encouraged. Copying from peer work that is posted is dishonest. I doesn't help you learn, and it is disrespectful to those who are putting forth effort. 
  • Parents and students, I have heard from many of you today! Thank you for reaching out. I am here to help.


Google Hangout information:
I have sent invitations, via cps email, to a google hangout tomorrow morning.
202 will meet at 9:30 and 201 will meet at 10:30
*The free Meet app can be downloaded on any device. It can not be downloaded to your cps ipad, which means you will need another device, like a phone, tablet or laptop. Just log on to your cps email, find the invitation from me in your email, and click on the link when it is time for your hangout.

Want to be the star of Dr. Riskus's next  E-learning Email? Want to showcase your e-learning big brain? Read on to see an excerpt from today's email blast and learn how to get your "at home learning story" on the daily Disney email blast!

Dear Disney Community,
I'd like to give a big shout-out to all parents, students, and teachers for working so hard today. Parents, thank you for your support today in ensuring that student learning continues at home, and at a high level. To all teachers, excellent work providing an enriching, rigorous, and fun-filled academic experience for our students. Students, continue working hard and keep sustaining that high energy.

Please see the attachment for pictures and descriptions of the work occurring from home today. As we continue working from home, we'd like to encourage everyone to sustain this solid effort. Also, to accommodate students with internet challenges, we are allowing students to turn in their work by midnight of each day.

Moving forward, please continue sending pictures of what your students are working on at home along with a description and a shout-out to their teacher. Forward all of these pictures and descriptions to Anna Trilla at ahsmith3@cps.edu. In the email to her, indicate that you give us permission to send this picture and description out through mass email and on our social media pages (all parents of the students in the attachment gave their consent to share through email and social media). 

In addition, 500 meals were given out to families today. We are so happy to provide these meals and encourage you to stop by for food. I'd like to thank the engineers and custodians for their outstanding work deep cleaning the school. Let's all keep up the great work!
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE,
The Disney Team






Monday, March 16, 2020

Making Plans Monday

This post will be updated later! Please check later.

Today, we have been practicing how to use technology!
Kids answered some questions on Google Forms. Here is one of them: If you could be one kind of animal, what would you be?
Right now, they are creating Google Slide presentations to share their ideas.

This evening at home....
-Each student in 201 should finish the Animal Slide presentation and share it with me.
-202: we did not have time to do this today. I will challenge you to create and share this Google slide presentation.
-When you are finished, share it with me. Click on the "little round person" icon found in the top right corner of the screen. Add my email address: mport@cps.edu. You should see the picture of Boone. That's me. Push the "paper airplane" icon. You are done!
-Read for 25 minutes.

*Tomorrow's "class work" will involve reading and listening to Percy Jackson online.
201 will listen/read Chapter 14
202 will listen/read Chapter 13.


Kids, this is your job:

  • Check the blog, google classroom and your email every morning. 
  • Daily assignments will be posted by eight each morning.
  • You will turn in work in a variety of ways: posting photos of your work to Classroom, turning in work on Classroom or the Drive, or emailing me the work. Directions will be posted.
  • I will plan on holding Google Hangouts, once I get the "hang" of it. Check your email for the invitation.
Here is what kids will be coming home with today:
-Science Magazine- this will be used for reading and for some activities. It is yours to keep. 
-Social Studies Magazines: ditto
-A Reading Response Page that contains activities for responding to both fiction and non fiction text. 

I will work on scanning these materials and will make them available online.
Parents, feel free to email me with any questions!
Please, please, please stay tuned and in touch.
Don't forget, the Book Buffet project is due April 1, or whenever we come back, if it is later than April 1.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Sunday Salutations

Hello 201 and 202,

I hope that all are doing well, hunkering down and enjoying the weekend. I have just received an email from Dr. Riskus that contains some important information.

-On Monday, we will work with our students to prepare them for "distance learning," shoring up passwords, logins, and how to access the content at home.
-Students will bring home iPads on Monday.
-Students will be expected to turn in assignments daily. Students can expect at least one daily assignment for each subject: Math, Reading, Science, Writing and Social Studies.
-Here are some ways that assignments might be delivered: e-spark, IXL, google classroom.
-Students should check their cps emails daily!
-I will be communicating via this blog, email and google classroom.
-Each day, I will be available to consult your child between the hours of 7:30- and 2:30.

Please check back later for updates. This is new for all of us, and we will find our way. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions!

Boone says, "Go with the flow, kids. It's all going to be o.k.!"



Friday, March 13, 2020

FreeWriteFreshenUpFishForFlunchFriday

Today's title is a collaboration. Fanks to all in 201!

This weekend at home...
-complete all unfinished work. Most kids are in the green. Some kids, due to absences, may have some "make up" work.
-Read!
-Bring your math book home. YOu have math homework. So do you. 
-Make some progress on the Book Buffet.
 KIDS, EMAIL ME THIS WEEKEND. I NEED TO MAKE A 201 AND 202 GROUP EMAIL LIST.
* If for any reason there is no school next week, it will be important that families and kids check the blog. It is also crucial that you send me your cps email. I will write back!

*LSC election notes are going home today.
*Congrats to Audrey and  Heaven. They have earned both 5 Book and 10 Book Swag Tags.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

This evening at home....

-Read the Sacagawea section of the Louisiana Purchase packet.
-Complete graphic organizer that follows.
-Study this week's vocabulary words.
We have a reading test tomorrow!

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Workout Wednesday

There were many good suggestions today. We voted, and 202 selected Khai's idea. Today was about working out for 202; They had gym. It was also about words.
Image result for accountable talk

Today we are working on talking. Really! 201 and 202 students are practicing how to use Accountable Talk in and outside of the classroom.  Becoming more precise, respectful and effective,  communicators is the goal.  Here are some of the "talking tags" we are using in our speaking and writing.



Book Buffet inspiration can be found on this blog. Use the search engine above, on the left, to search book buffet.
I hope that everyone is deep into their book by now.

There is a reading/vocabulary test this Friday. There will not be
spelling test.

SW and W States and Caps test: Monday

IAR testing begin for 201 soon.
Reading: 3/25, 3/26, 3/27
Math: 3/30, 3/31, 4/1

Do we need more wipes? Yes, please, yes!

This evening at home...
-read for 25 minutes or more
-finish the vocabulary comic strip that we began in class. All six should be finished and colored or outlined in color. Personal best, please.
*If you have time to finish the Figurative Language project, great! If not, that is o.k.. I am looking for your "personal best."

Monday, March 9, 2020

Mapping the Route Monday

Today we traveled with the Corps of Discovery, learning about Sacajawea's instrumental role in this journey.

Thanks to all who have submitted a book approval request for the Book Buffet project.  Don't forget that the project is due on April 1!

This evening at home.....

  • Read!
  • Complete the Text Structures packet by Wednesday.  The first page is entitled "Wildfires." Each text section should be annotated(highlight key words and take notes). Each graphic organizer should be complete.
This week, we will finish up our Unit on "The West." 201 will take a States and Caps test on Monday for both the SW and the W regions.

It is time to move on to Illinois History and Midwest.