November 19, 2020 RCSD Educator Blog
Message from Jamey Schrey
For many years I watched Grey’s Anatomy. It was my Thursday show before Netflix, Prime Video, and who knows, maybe even on-demand. Yes, I am that old!
There are times I find nuggets of wisdom in shows, songs, and podcasts that I then ponder about in my own life. I have thought about gratitude in reflecting on my father’s recent diagnosis, not seeing my aunt and uncle live who only live one city over, and my constant awe of essential workers, you educators, both classified and certificated, that work to support students.
These words from Grey’s spoke to me when I tripped upon them as I believe the little things are the big celebrations to cherish.
Take a moment to answer these questions as you hopefully take some time to relax, enjoy your vacation, and celebrate your small victories in this second trimester!
- The people I am most grateful to have in my life are…
- Friendship means…
- Thanksgiving symbolizes…
- Being thankful means…
- I am grateful for my ability to…
- How does it feel to be thanked?
- What kinds of actions should be thanked for?
- How do you show appreciation?
- When was the last time you thanked someone?
- How are you fortunate?
- This year for Thanksgiving, I plan to show my gratitude by…
- A world where nobody says “thank you” would be…
- I forgot to say “thank you” to _____, and this is what happened…
- The last time my parents thanked me, they did so because…
- The most fun way I can think of to show someone gratitude without saying “thank you” is…
I wish each of you some rest, some fun, and much joy over the Thanksgiving break.
Sincerely,
Jamey
Independent Study Contracts
Independent Study assignments must be shared on Otus to promote consistency for families across the district, support safe self-quarantining practices, and support continuous learning. Because some families will be quarantined due to the virus and possible positive cases, we want to minimize the families' need to leave their homes to pick up work. If there is a need on the front end of an independent study to pick-up some materials, please provide as much as possible for the families during pick-up. Many of our families are trying to be proactive and not spread the virus and are very appreciative of the work you provide to their children. Teachers providing independent study work will be compensated according to the teachers’ contract.
Independent Study assignments must be shared on Otus to promote consistency for families across the district, support safe self-quarantining practices, and support continuous learning. Because some families will be quarantined due to the virus and possible positive cases, we want to minimize the families' need to leave their homes to pick up work. If there is a need on the front end of an independent study to pick-up some materials, please provide as much as possible for the families during pick-up. Many of our families are trying to be proactive and not spread the virus and are very appreciative of the work you provide to their children. Teachers providing independent study work will be compensated according to the teachers’ contract.
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Elementary Updates
ThinkCentral
The update and enrollment for ThinkCentral is completed. I have listed some frequently asked questions below to help with some questions that may arise. Here are additional ThinkCentral tutorials.
The update and enrollment for ThinkCentral is completed. I have listed some frequently asked questions below to help with some questions that may arise. Here are additional ThinkCentral tutorials.
All Teachers
- If you use Personal Math Trainer, make sure your adaptive products are on. This video will show you how to turn this feature on.
- Login through Clever
- Unfortunately, teachers and students will have to change their accounts each time they login.
- Once in ThinkCentral, make sure you are in the right account by clicking on the yellow person in the upper right-hand corner. You will want to make sure you have the correct class selected. If Champions is your only option, that is fine.
- Your students will have to do the same thing once in their account. They will need to head to the yellow person and make sure they are in their Champions account. Here is a video you can use to share with your students.
Elementary Teachers: Writing for Trimester 2
The rubrics for Informational writing are available in your grade level folder within Otus. Please note: The standards are already indicated on the rubric for each of the descriptors. The rubric can be cloned so that you can adapt it as needed for the areas you are focusing on this trimester. The on-demand writing assessment is available in the modified pacing guide (link below).
The rubrics for Informational writing are available in your grade level folder within Otus. Please note: The standards are already indicated on the rubric for each of the descriptors. The rubric can be cloned so that you can adapt it as needed for the areas you are focusing on this trimester. The on-demand writing assessment is available in the modified pacing guide (link below).
** 4th-grade teachers: you are actually teaching Opinion for Trimester 2. Apologies for the confusion!
Here is where you can find the 20-21 suggested pacing guides on the RCSD Learning Site. Scroll all the way down to "Pacing Guides & Standards Alignment" and look on the left side titled "20-21 Distance Learning Suggested Pacing Guide." Reach out to Julie Murdaugh for assistance and/or questions.
Here is where you can find the 20-21 suggested pacing guides on the RCSD Learning Site. Scroll all the way down to "Pacing Guides & Standards Alignment" and look on the left side titled "20-21 Distance Learning Suggested Pacing Guide." Reach out to Julie Murdaugh for assistance and/or questions.
Discovery Education, Champions Teachers
Champions Teachers, please make sure you are in the correct account when logging into Discovery Education. It should default to Champions, but please make sure you are in Champions.
Here is a quick guide on how to make sure you are in the correct account.
Students should default to Champions as well, but if not here is a video you can share with them.
Students should default to Champions as well, but if not here is a video you can share with them.
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Middle School Update
Middle School Assessments/Rubrics (Math and Science)
Please take some time to read over this document and to watch the videos that were sent out at the beginning of October. I (Megan) do understand it is a lot of information, but this will explain how to assign, use, and grade the rubrics and advanced assessments in your “Shared With Me” folders.
Please take some time to read over this document and to watch the videos that were sent out at the beginning of October. I (Megan) do understand it is a lot of information, but this will explain how to assign, use, and grade the rubrics and advanced assessments in your “Shared With Me” folders.
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Additional Information
Technology Services Student Chromebook Update
The Technology Services team will be at each school until the first week in December building and rewiring Chromebook charging carts and stations. In the event of a quarantine, or school closure, the Chromebooks are intentionally loosely wired, to enable teachers and site staff access to quickly remove the charger and deploy the Chromebook to the student. Based on our expected returned inventory, we are able to get transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade one-to-one for in-person instruction.
Please work with your Principal to identify when Technology Services will be onsite, or if you have any questions.
While I know we are all excited to have access to one-to-one Chromebooks for our students, to avoid possible instances of theft or vandalism, please do not post pictures of all your classroom technologies located in one place on social media or any public forum.
Tech Tip
Do you want to share just a piece of your screen or highlight a part of your presentation when presenting on Zoom? Here is a tip on how to share a section of your screen instead of your entire screen.
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