Cassidy Crew Newsletter
Updates, questions, schedule and more!
Staying Connected
Now that we have two weeks of this "New Normal" under our belt, I wanted to reach out to you. First, let me say how honored I am that I get to be your child's teacher, and how special each one of them is to me. I love seeing them on our Zoom meetings, and have done my best to find ways to engage them and inform them and you as parents of expectations, possible schedules, workload and meetings. There have been some questions that have come up I thought would be easiest to address in this forum, but as always, if you have questions please, please call me directly. While we have been encouraged to set specific hours, I know that some parents aren't available between 9-5, so call me anytime and I will do my best to be available to you. We are in this together.
Zoom Meetings
I am on Zoom with our class open to ALL students Monday through Friday, every week day from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. The students requested and then unanimously voted on having two days that they could see their friends for an OPTIONAL social group time on Wednesday for ladies and Thursday for the gentlemen. However, this is not rigid, and if your child has questions or just wants to come in on those days, regardless of gender, they are more than welcome to do so. Due to questions about this, I am making the following amendment to our optional social group times: Wednesday 12-12:30 Girls Lunch and Thursday 12-12:30 Boys Lunch. On both days the meeting will still be open until 1 pm, but if a student has a question and doesn't want to come during the social time, they can know that 12:30-1pm it is open forum. I hope this helps, and if there are concerns, please contact me. I am only offering these times this way because I wanted to allow students to interact more freely with one another, and at this age they feel tend to more comfortable within their own identified groups.
I strongly encourage students to attend Zoom meetings on Monday and Friday, whether they have questions or not because it is a great way to start and end the week. I typically have a question or activity we will review in person via those Zoom meetings. This Friday we will discuss our virtual tours of the San Diego and/or the Houston Zoo.
Also regarding Zoom meetings, I am always accompanied in the meetings by either Miss Rachel and/or Mrs. Solsvig, so there are three of us available to assist students with any questions they may have, Monday through Friday, 12 pm - 1 pm.
Zoom Meeting Schedule:
- Monday: 12pm-1pm STRONGLY ENCOURAGED all students
- Tuesday: 12pm-1pm Questions and check in forum all students
- Wednesday: 12pm-12:30 Girl's Lunch
- Wednesday: 12:30pm-1pm Questions and check in forum all students
- Thursday: 12pm-12:30 Boy's Lunch
- Thursday: 12:30pm-1pm Questions and check in forum all students
- Friday: 12pm-1pm STRONGLY ENCOURAGED all students
Classwork
Classwork is found in the Google Classroom and on CK12.org for Science and Math. I have included any and all links on the Google Classroom and students should always start there.
It is very important that your children stay on task and up to date with the course work, as this is what their grade will be based on. I will also give extra participation points for those who attend Zoom meetings on Monday and Friday.
I will close out any work, completed or not, one week after assigned. This means that Sunday, April 5th is the last day I will accept work from last week. If work is not turned in by then, they will receive a zero on the assignment, which will adversely affect their overall grade for the semester.
I recommend setting a specific time every day (my family does 9 am-12 pm as an example) for academics. Routines definitely can help with making sure all work gets done. Please check in with your children to make sure they are on task, or contact me with any concerns.
As you know, we have high expectations for students at Midnight Sun Family Learning Center, and although we are functioning outside of the building, our spirits and expectations remain the same.
I will continue reaching out to parents via the Remind App, home and cell phone calls, as well as email. I am pleased that the majority of students have been turning in their work on time and well done. Great job Crew! Keep up the great work, and stay strong!
OVERALL SCHEDULE
Each week: Spelling Definitions, Spelling Sentences, Spelling and Vocabulary Tests, at least 2 writing assignments usually relating to Social Studies or Current Events, Poetry, Book Reports or Essays, 2-3 Science Lessons (4th-5th 2, 6-8th 3), 5 math lessons. Additional activities such as virtual tours and STEM activities will vary from week to week.
Monday:
- Spelling - Go to Spellingcity and get your spelling list for the week. Begin writing Spelling Definitions, due on Wednesday. Play a Spellingcity game with your words.
- Complete 1 Math Lesson (CK12)
- Complete 1 Science Lesson (CK12)
- Zoom at Noon - STRONGLY ENCOURAGED all students
- Read 45 minutes-1 hour per day, can be dispersed throughout the day
- Do a physical activity, get outside, do optional activites I have outlined in the Google Classroom (Kidz Bop dance routines, exercise videos, etc).
- Independent Study - This can be art, Duolingo (foreign language study), tinkercad, Prodigy or Khan Academy math/coding practice, Nitrotype or Typing.com, or pursue some other academic interest)
Tuesday:
- Spelling - Continue working on definitions, play Spellingcity games, or begin sentences.
- Complete 1 Math Lesson
- Do one Social Studies lesson as assigned (could be a Newsela Article writing assignment, or something different)
- Zoom at Noon - Question Forum all students
- Read 45 minutes-1 hour per day, can be dispersed throughout the day
- Do a physical activity, get outside, do optional activites I have outlined in the Google Classroom (Kidz Bop dance routines, exercise videos, etc).
- Independent Study - This can be art, Duolingo (foreign language study), tinkercad, Prodigy or Khan Academy math/coding practice, Nitrotype or Typing.com, or pursue some other academic interest)
Wednesday:
- Spelling - Spelling Definitions DUE. Work on Spelling Sentences, due Friday.
- Complete 1 Math lesson
- Complete 1 Science lesson
- Zoom at 12:30 - Question Forum All students
- Read 45 minutes-1 hour per day, can be dispersed throughout the day
- Do a physical activity, get outside, do optional activites I have outlined in the Google Classroom (Kidz Bop dance routines, exercise videos, etc).
- Independent Study - This can be art, Duolingo (foreign language study), tinkercad, Prodigy or Khan Academy math/coding practice, Nitrotype or Typing.com, or pursue some other academic interest)
Thursday:
- Spelling - Spelling Definitions DUE. Work on Spelling Sentences, due Friday.
- Complete 1 Math lesson
- Do one Social Studies lesson as assigned (could be a Newsela Article writing assignment, or something different)
- Zoom at 12:30 - Question Forum All students
- Read 45 minutes-1 hour per day, can be dispersed throughout the day
- Do a physical activity, get outside, do optional activites I have outlined in the Google Classroom (Kidz Bop dance routines, exercise videos, etc).
- Independent Study - This can be art, Duolingo (foreign language study), tinkercad, Prodigy or Khan Academy math/coding practice, Nitrotype or Typing.com, or pursue some other academic interest)
Friday:
- Spelling - Spelling Sentences DUE. Take Spelling and Vocabulary Tests on Spellingcity.
- Complete 1 Math lesson
- Complete 1 Science lesson (ONLY 6th-8th grade. 4th and 5th grades only 2 lessons a week)
- Zoom at Noon - STRONGLY ENCOURAGED all students
- Finish any work not otherwise completed and turn in.
- Read 45 minutes-1 hour per day, can be dispersed throughout the day
- Do a physical activity, get outside, do optional activites I have outlined in the Google Classroom (Kidz Bop dance routines, exercise videos, etc).
- Independent Study - This can be art, Duolingo (foreign language study), tinkercad, Prodigy or Khan Academy math/coding practice, Nitrotype or Typing.com, or pursue some other academic interest)
Again, other than the due dates, students are free to work at their own pace. I have some students who will get most of it done in one or two days. That is fine, as long as they are reading every day and doing some sort of physical activity. For those who need more motivation or time, I am allowing an entire week to turn things in late for credit. In this way I hope to meet the needs of all of my students while still holding them accountable.
I hope this has been helpful. Again, please know we are in this together. If you have any questions or concerns, call me anytime. My home number is 376-4710, cell is 775-4707.
Thank you for all you are doing, and stay safe and strong!
Mrs. Cassidy
Example for this Week's Schedule (also posted weekly on the Google Classroom)
Miss you all!!
Video: How to turn in the Social Studies Quiz for this week (Also in the Google Classroom)
Mrs. Cassidy
2018 Master of Education Technology, Walden University
2019-present Pursuing doctoral degree in Education Technology, Walden University
Email: kristina.cassidy@matsuk12.us
Website: https://www.matsuk12.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=36664
Location: Cell: 907-775-4707
Phone: 376-4710