Herndon Happenings Faculty & Staff
April 3, 2020
Evelyn Romero
Boston Kent
Kasie Henderson
Info and Reminders
Google Classroom
* You should be using Tier 1 curricula, resources you create using Tier 1 curricula, and/or the resources provided via Caddo Learning as your primary content.
* Many of the lessons I have seen in Google Classroom are creative and fun. You all have really stepped up in learning how to use Google Classroom and create your own teaching videos and resources. It is so cool to see!
* This is a new way of teaching and learning. You cannot expect to assign the same amount of material that you would if students were in the classroom. Also, you cannot expect a video of some other person teaching the material to be the sole resource you provide for a lesson.
* If you haven't yet, start thinking about teaching this way for the remainder of the school year. I have not heard anything definitive, but that is my "gut" feeling. You already had an idea of the topics that you knew you needed to cover after Spring Break and before testing. Look at the modules/chapters/standards you haven't taught and determine what is necessary for students to be prepared for next year. If you're not sure, log into DRC and look at the diagnostic exam for the grade level ahead of you. Is there anything on that test you haven't covered or need to review?
April 6 - 30
* Post 2-3 lessons per week per core subject and French.
* Post 1-2 lessons per week per elective.
* Some parents have requested more/additional assignments. You can post "Enrichment," "Just for Fun," and/or "Review" content in addition to the mandatory 2-3 lessons per week. Please label them as such.
* Post all lessons for the week on Monday. (This will help those with sporadic internet to be able to go to a place with wi-fi and download the assignments for the week)
* Please schedule assignments to post between 8 AM and 3 PM. We have night owls and early birds on staff. We need to be mindful of the notifications going through at proper hours.
District Updates
*The district resources on Caddo Learning are not strict lessons you have to post. You should not be posting those lessons just because they have been provided - especially if you have already taught those lessons. You should be supplementing with Tier 1 material or creating your own lessons with Tier 1 material.
* Caddo's Philosophy is "Do NO Harm." Caddo is "providing a service to help students."
* Grading - the state is providing guidance for grading and we will get details from Caddo next week. Teachers should continue to assess within Google Classroom to provide parents with an update of students' work.
* Grading needs to be thought of more in terms of mastering the standards than assigning points. Where is the child in mastering the standard of counting to 100? Where is the student in terms of mastering the standard of writing arguments to support claims? Has the student met the standard - consistently and independently? Is the student approaching proficiency - with teacher and peer guidance? Has the student exceeded the expectations - they can apply the learning to other situations, teach others?
* There was a Zoom call with the Superintendent's and LDOE Thursday. We should receive some updates next week.
* Links to Training - Google Classroom - Zoom for Home Learning - Google Forms for Assessments
* Library Resources can access from home can be found here
* Remember that beginning March 30 you are supposed to be "at work" virtually. Do not post pictures on your social media of you at the beach, in the mountains, or "vacationing."
Herndon News
* Zoom faculty meeting Monday, April 6, 2020 at 2:30 PM. Meeting ID: 924 255 200
* How to keep your Zoom meeting safe. Because of the recent reports of Zoombombing or Zoom meetings being hacked, district has asked us to ensure we are all following protocols to keep our meetings private. I made a quick three-and-a-half minute video showing you how to set up your Zoom meeting. Do NOT share meeting details via your social media or other public venues. We want to continue to be able to use Zoom, so please make sure that you are following the settings as demonstrated in the video. Please watch this video.
* Please remind students that they need to make sure that they are logged into ClassLink and Google with their Caddo credentials. If students are sharing devices, they may complete Google Forms with their siblings credentials making it difficult for teachers to know who that person really is.
* Virtual STUCO Spirit Week is April 6 - 10 - please participate and post pics of yourself dressed up each day.
* Please complete this Google Form concerning our roll out of Google Classroom and distance teaching and learning.
* Devices have been distributed. There were a few students/families that requested devices but never showed up to get one. If any students/parents tell you they need a device, please email me the parent's name, parent's cell, student's name, and student's grade. We are to compile a list to submit to district. They will be contacting parents with a central location for device pick-up. Devices will no longer be distributed from Herndon.
* Please make sure you are checking your email multiple times a day.
* If you are having a Zoom meeting with your students, please consider inviting administration and counselors. We would love to have a minute to talk to the students and see what is going on in your virtual classrooms.
* We are working on some ideas to keep our students and families involved in Herndon's activities. We are planning a virtual 3rd nine weeks Honor's Assembly, some grade band parent meetings via Zoom, and more. If you have ideas or see something another school has done that you think we should do, please share them.
* Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Newman, and myself all have virtual office hours. Please reach out to us if we can help you with anything at all. We can easily have a Zoom meeting if needed.