News & Happenings:

Greetings Taylor Community!

So we’ve had to close the school for a little while — but we want to keep our learning going.   Here’s a guide to get you headed in the right direction.  Please read this document all the way through, as it has important tips and information on expectations for your work over these next months. Here we go…

GOOGLE CLASSROOM  will be the primary space where assignments will be posted and documents will be shared.  You can access the calendar on Google Classroom for assignments.  I will also be posting assignments and grades on parentvue.  

• Always turn in assignments after you have completed them.
• Click MARK AS DONE each day when you finish all of your work for the daily lesson.

1.  Set up a dedicated work space in your home if possible. There should be plenty of light, access to a charger, space for your laptop, binder, journal, and other materials needed.  Ideally, this is a quiet place in your home where you can work free from distractions and noise.  If you can’t find a quiet space, use headphones to listen to calming music (classical or other music without words works best!)
2. Turn in your phone to an adult during school hours.  Fight the urge to text/social media/chat during your breaks.  Movement break, lunch, and recess should be spent screen-free.  Move your body!! Get outside if you can, even for a few minutes. Sunshine and fresh air can do wonders for your mood and energy.
3. Follow the school schedule. Our minds and bodies need routines in times of change and stress.  This will also help you stay on top of your work. 
4. Use your planner to organize your work and hold yourself accountable. Write each assignment in your planner and check it off when you complete it, even if it’s not homework.   After you accomplish a task, reward yourself with a snack break, an energizing song, or a quick dance break. Doesn’t it feel great to cross that item off your list?!
5. Communicate with your teachers and students.  I won’t be there to check in with you in person but am still here for you!  Send a Google Classroom message, an email, or request a Google Hangout to get some help on an assignment. My office hours are 10-12 each day.

Empower yourself.  Now is the time to step up and take control of your learning.  Independence is something we strive for and this is an opportunity for you to become a stronger, self-sufficient learner. 

Now that we are studying reproduction we can reflect back on the Red Wiggler worms that we explored earlier and reproduce sexually.  They are a unique organism because have both female and male reproductive organs.  WOW, that is weird, but a great way to mingle in the dark/dirt I guess.

We now have a new meaning of “on your own”.    As we enter the last trimester, the schedule will be adjusted and I will be assigning lessons on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We will hold informational meetings on Zoom on Mondays 10:30 and 11:00.  Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30 and 10:30.

Please pick up the new math books on Tuesday.

I will continue to post assignments on Parentvue

Please check often to see if assignments are being completed.

Even though we are not meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, I expect students to complete 60 minutes each week of Khan Academy and am posting mastery progress on Parentvue.  I look forward to being in contact with everyone.

Yippie, we just finished our first week of online learning!   I am really impressed with how well everyone was able to adjust to the new routines.  Keep it up!

BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE ATTACHED MATH ASSIGNMENT EACH DAY AND TURN IT IN BY 2:00.  MANY OF YOU PASSED IT IN LATE.   NEXT WEEK LATE WORK WILL NO NOT BE GIVEN CREDIT.

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TIPS for home instruction.

1. Set up a dedicated work space in your home if possible. There should be plenty of light, access to a charger, space for your laptop, binder, journal, and other materials needed. Ideally, this is a quiet place in your home where you can work free from distractions and noise. If you can’t find a quiet space, use headphones to listen to calming music (classical or other music without words works best!)
2. Turn in your phone to an adult during school hours. Fight the urge to text/social media/chat during your breaks.  Movement break, lunch, and recess should be spent screen-free. Move your body!! Get outside if you can, even for a few minutes. Sunshine and fresh air can do wonders for your mood and energy.
3. Follow the school schedule. Our minds and bodies need routines in times of change and stress. This will also help you stay on top of your work.
4. Use your planner to organize your work and hold yourself accountable. Write each assignment in your planner and check it off when you complete it, even if it’s not homework. Doesn’t it feel great to cross that item off your list?!
5. Communicate with your teachers and students.  I won’t be there to check in with you in person but am still here for you!  Send a Google Classroom message, an email, or request a Google Hangout to get some help on an assignment. My office hours are 10-12 each day.

1. Take short breaks.  Even if you stick to the school schedule, you should have time for movement break, lunch, recess, and passing periods. After you accomplish a task, reward yourself with a snack break, an energizing song, or a quick dance break. You need these brain breaks from time to time so don’t try to push through all of your work in one sitting.

1. Empower yourself.  Now is the time to step up and take control of your learning.  Independence is something we strive for and this is an opportunity for you to become a stronger, self-sufficient learner. 

GOOGLE CLASSROOM  will be the primary space where assignments will be posted and documents will be shared.  You can access the calendar on Google Classroom for assignments. I will also be posting assignments and grades on parentvue.  

SCIENCE:  Most of the assignments will be sent to your McGraw Hill account. Go to 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=100OQouEm6DdclNW5BRPsbAnqYHM53XNy

for instructions to access your account

• All assignments will be posted on Google Classroom and many of the materials will be accessed here. 
• Always turn in assignments after you have completed or read them.

 MATH  All assignments will be posted on Google Classroom and many of the materials will be accessed here as well.  Please complete the lessons assigned each day. You can check your work with the posted answer keys.  

• REMIND your parents to take attendance for you.  They need to fill out the attendance form every day:  Google Form
• CORRECT previous day’s practice problems if necessary.  A link with answers will be posted if needed.
• For today’s lesson, read the LESSON SUMMARY first.
• Attempt the classwork problems in order on your own.  If you get stuck or need help, check Khan Academy for a lesson review, then move on to the next step.
• CHECK your answers to the classwork problems and correct any mistakes.  Photos will be posted on the daily Google Classroom assignment.
• Complete the practice problems assigned for that day.
• FILL OUT the Google Form attached to the lesson if there is one.  You will need to answer a few questions about your practice problems. TURN IN the form when done.
• Click MARK AS DONE each day when you finish all of your work for the daily lesson.
• You have also been given access to Khan Academy.  Please check your email for a link and click ¨sign-up¨.  Use the following access codes:

1st period QHKWC4EM

3rd period K4ZZRR7P

All students are expected to complete one hour of practice each week (starting 3/23) on the Khan Academy website.

ASSIGNMENTS are posted on Parentvue and Google Classroom calendar.

MATH:  Last week we completed lessons 5, 6, and 7.  Please assist your child and see if they were able to complete these lessons. 

• Each day they will receive one problem that they will return to me. I will count this as their classwork grade. 
• If they do not return that question they will not receive credit for that day. They will also be expected to complete most of sections 2 and 3 from each day’s lesson as well as 60 minutes of Khan Academy each week. 
• I will check the problems daily and Khan academy each Friday afternoon.

Please assist your child to access their Khan Academy account (invites were sent and email).  If you cannot find the email got to https://www.khanacademy.org/math and  use the following class codes to joint the class.

1st period QHKWC4EM

3rd period K4ZZRR7P

SCIENCE:  There are Science workbooks available in the classroom if students want to come get one.  I will be posting assignments on Google Classroom and the lessons will be sent to their accounts in McGraw Hill.

Follow these easy instructions to access the McGraw Hill account.  Make sure students are logged into their school account before access.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WndGkufejU8r9Es2ihOulwKRLznujsTkinT5yvL5Kq4/edit

I am scheduling google hangouts Mon., Wed., Fri.,  Links to the events are posted on Classroom.

• Periods 1-2   9:30
• Periods 3-4   10:30

It has been a big “push” to get these experiments done for the Science Fair this week.  Students were busy thinking about the scientific process and completing their posters and slide shows.  We are the only 6th grade classes entering the event this year!!  Special thanks to parents that helped out.    

Different forms of energy are all around us and our topic of Science.  Sound waves are used by animals to see and hunt.  We listened to then wrote our opinions about which organism has a better ultrasound system.

You can listen to the postcast here.

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/team-bat-versus-team-dolphin-a-sonar-smackdown/

We are now learning how energy moves within Earth´s systems.