Abraham Lincoln has said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” So as the new year gets off to a great start, the Online Learning department is excited to look towards the future and embrace all of the possibilities in 2022. The online teachers continue to meet with scholars and families to meet during connection meetings and provide an opportunity for scholars to showcase all of the fantastic ways they are diving in and learning in their courses.

Looking ahead to Semester 2, the teachers are looking forward to continuing to work with scholars and help them be innovative, creative, and self-directed learners through personalized learning in their courses, learning labs, connection meetings, and one-on-one meetings. Through this personalized learning and teacher support, the Online Learning Department knows that our scholars will continue to create their futures to reach their goals and accomplish greatness.

Janae Smith

Director of Online Learning and The Online Learning Team

jsmith@compasscharters.org

@JSmith_Compass

Online Elementary scholars have been working on a handful of wonderful things. Our K-3 scholars have been working on iXL skill mastery and have shown tremendous growth over the past several weeks. Also, the K-3 scholars have been learning about winter and winter animals in their synchronous instructional learning lab sessions. Scholars continue to work in their digital portfolios while our 3-graders finish multiplication and prepare for division.

The 6-grade Online Middle School math scholars are proving to be math experts as they finish up and fine-tune adding and subtracting fractions. Scholars have developed arguments regarding the benefits of technology when writing their persuasive essays in 7-grade English/Language Arts. The 8-graders completed their oceans assignment in Science and are preparing for a virtual trip to an aquarium. The 6-grade math scholars are finishing up learning to add and subtract fractions.

Lastly, in Online High School, English scholars work with complex texts and engage in historical literary criticism focusing on Jane Eyre, the great nineteenth-century English novel by Charlotte Bronte. In American Government, scholars are exploring the role of media in influencing public opinion and lobbyists' role in the legislative processes. We have a cohort of scholars graduating in January, and we are working to support their semester completion with gusto! We are so very proud of this great group who are spending their last high school days with us, and we wish them the best of luck as they depart with diplomas in hand! Go #ClassOf2022!

Ms. Thomson shares a little about herself.

”I am a middle school math teacher at Compass. I have been here for five years now! Teaching is my passion. I love working with our youth and inspiring them to grow as happy, productive, dignified, respectful, and kind members of society. I want them to see their value and help others to recognize their value as well. I believe this is the key to creating a healthy society for all.”

Advice that she would share with scholars and learning coaches is to “Keep a notebook and practice, practice, practice! My scholars are probably tired of hearing me say this, but it is the best way to study. Help your children create a daily schedule. Write down the planned times for each class, and be sure to schedule breaks. Check their grade books at the end of each week to ensure they are completing all assignments.

Ms. Thomson has also taught yoga for five years! When by herself, she loves to cook and bake. She loves to spend time outside with her family, walking, and hiking.